Stories & News

Get the latest news, how-to advice, and feature articles about the trail community, the current hiking season and issues impacting trails you love.

Get local news, how-to advice, and feature articles about our trail community, the current hiking season in Washington and issues impacting trails you love.

Learn more about: WTA member magazine | Signpost blog

Find the perfect backpacking pillow

For a modest weight, the right backpacking pillow can help you sleep better and wake ready to cover more miles. By Sandra Saathof

Congress works to fund trails in 2027 and beyond — you can help

Jun 17, 2026

Funding is critical to protect our national public lands and keep them open for people to enjoy. WTA is heartened to see Congress’s recent progress to fund trails in 2027 and beyond. Take 60 seconds to ask Congress to provide the vital funding that our outdoor places need.

From accident to wheelchair accessibility advocate — a journey back to nature

Ian Mackay is using his experience to help others with limited mobility enjoy time on trail. By Jessi Loerch

Hike It, Summer 2026: Adventures for Summer

Three trails to hike this summer — plus nearby fun to extend your trip. | Washington Trails magazine, Summer 2026 issue.

Hiker Headlines: Highway 20 will open soon, road to Artist Point open, free weekend, fire restrictions start

Jun 11, 2026

The road to Artist Point is open for the season, and Highway 20 is expected to open soon. Both days this weekend are fee-free days for some federal lands. Fire restrictions are starting in some areas. Join us at Hiker Happy Hour! And the World Cup is coming to Seattle soon — we’ve got some resources on how to be a good steward of our trails as more visitors come to Seattle.

A new Teanaway trailhead and 18 miles of trail — a victory 13 years in the making

Jun 09, 2026

Over the weekend, community members and trail users came out to the Teanaway Community Forest to celebrate the grand opening of the West Fork Teanaway trailhead and 18 miles of trail for hikers and other non-motorized trail users. WTA helped lead the planning and trail work in the area.

Underfunded roads are putting trails out of reach, but WTA is working to change that

As maintenance funding for forest roads is dwindling, we are losing our ability to reach parts of Washington’s amazing outdoors. Learn what WTA is doing, and how you can help.

Hiker Headlines: WTA storm damage webinar, Lake 22 closure, free weekend, Teanaway Community Forest ribbon cutting

Jun 04, 2026

Join WTA's webinar to learn how this winter’s storm damage could affect your summer hiking. Saturday, June 6, is National Trails Day and also the opening of the West Fork Teanaway trailhead; join us to celebrate! And, be aware of several construction projects that may cause closures or delays, including on the Lake 22 trail and Cascade River Road.

Help trails recover from storms: Your trip reports needed

Jun 03, 2026

This spring, people are going outside and encountering damage from this past winter’s storms. Land managers and their partners, including WTA, are working to recover trails and your ability to get outside — but we need your help.

WTA staff share their self-care habits on trail

Jun 01, 2026

Going outside, for many of us, is a form of self-care. But hiking and backpacking can also certainly tire us out, and it’s nice to have a way to take care of yourself or a packed creature comfort. We asked WTA staff what they do to take extra good care of themselves at camp or when taking a break on an especially brutal section of trail.

Hiker Headlines: Rainier roads open, Enchanted Valley permits releasing soon, Marblemount bridge nightly closures

May 28, 2026

Multiple roads at Mount Rainier National Park have opened for the season! Work on Graves Creek Road has completed, and backcountry permits for Enchanted Valley for the summer are releasing soon. The Skagit River Marblemount Bridge will undergo nightly closures every weekday from June 1–19 for repairs. And the Wedekind and Greenline trails at Capitol State Forest are closed until further notice.

3 ways to make the trip to the trailhead more affordable

May 28, 2026

From taking transit to carpooling, here are three ways to save a buck and keep hiking.

Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct service starts, free day, Hurricane Hill weekday closures

May 21, 2026

Memorial Day is a fee-free day on federally-managed lands. Trailhead Direct service starts up this weekend! Ahead of the long weekend, multiple national forests have shared info about road work this summer. And be aware of other closures too, including weekday closures of Hurricane Hill Road and a segment of the East Lake Sammamish Trail.

A pathway to outdoor leadership: Volunteering with Outdoor Asian

May 20, 2026

Saira Shahid shares her path to the outdoors and becoming a volunteer leader with Outdoor Asian.

Hiker Headlines: Mountain Loop Highway, many roads reopening soon; Stehekin limited services; new free day

May 14, 2026

The Forest Service added a new fee-free day. WTA launched our Outdoor Leadership Training co-instructor program! Many road openings are on the horizon. The Mount Baker Highway will be closed on the morning of May 24 for the Ski to Sea race. And, read the Seattle Times' editorial about how the Forest Service reorganization spells bad news for our public lands.

3 (more) reasons why nature is so important for mental, physical and kids’ health

May 12, 2026

What do mental health, healthcare costs and youth leadership development have in common? They're all improved by nature! Find out three new things we learned at the Northwest Nature & Health Symposium. By Linnea Atherly.

Why WTA Is the Best Place I’ve Ever Worked

Trail work is something we do. Connection is what we’re about. By Liza Noworyta

Hiker Headlines: Hike the State; WTA in the news; Cascade River Road, Labor Mountain Fire area closures

May 07, 2026

Join WTA for Hike the State on May 21 from 6–7 p.m. online! WTA was in the news earlier this week, highlighting our thousands of hours of volunteer trail work across the state. Be aware of road work and repair projects, including on Cascade River Road and in the Labor Mountain Fire burn area, as well as herbicide application in Olympic National Forest.

A good idea and hard work

How old-school organizing and a fierce determination to connect hikers laid the foundation for WTA starting in 1966. By Jessi Loerch and Victoria Obermeyer

Hiker Headlines: Highway 20 partial reopening, Trailhead Direct, DNR budget cuts, hot weekend

Apr 30, 2026

The eastern portion of Highway 20 is opening today but a portion remains closed due to storm damage. Trailhead Direct transit service is starting up soon! Several forest roads in the Methow Valley are closed due to storm damage. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources will be reducing service and closing some campgrounds this year after budget cuts. And, expect hot weather this weekend!

DNR budget cuts mean closed campgrounds and less work on trails

Apr 29, 2026

Due to budget cuts, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources recently announced they will need to close some campgrounds and reduce services at other outdoor sites this year, including less maintenance on some DNR trails.

Backpackers, here's the deal for the Chelan Lakeshore trail in 2026

Apr 28, 2026

What's closed, what's open and what to bring to camp on this popular trail this year.

Keeping the Pacific Crest Wild

The Pacific Crest Trail is home to some of the finest wilderness areas in the U.S. — and they need your help. By Joseph Gonzalez

Hiker Headlines: Harts Pass Rd closed, road to Enchanted Valley damaged, Rainier and North Cascades permits, Mountain Loop Hwy opens

Apr 23, 2026

The road to Hart's Pass, a key Pacific Crest Trail access point, is closed due to storm damage. Graves Creek Road, which provides access to the Enchanted Valley trailhead in Olympic National Park, is closed due to erosion. Mount Rainier and North Cascades national parks are set to release more backcountry permits. The seasonal Deer Creek gate on the Mountain Loop Hwy is open. And summer-long construction on Forest Road 29 (Sitkum-Sol Duc Road) is about to kick off.

Rolling out safety: How a student inspired a new gear solution

Apr 22, 2026

Thanks to a collaborative effort between WTA, the BRIDGES program and Switchback Repair - WTA's OLT program has a safe solution to knife and utensil storage.

New trail to top of Big Rock took jackhammers, rock drills and many volunteers

Apr 17, 2026

The WTA crews have dared to do what the glaciers could not: Make a trail up Big Rock. The new route offers safe access to stunning views of the Skagit Valley.

Hiker Headlines: Stehekin and Johnston Ridge Observatory road repairs begin, fee-free day, mountain snow

Apr 16, 2026

April 22 is Earth Day, and parking fees will be waived on state-managed lands. Work has started both on a temporary road near Stehekin and the road to the Johnston Ridge Observatory. A couple of campgrounds and day-use areas in Capitol State Forest are closed this summer. And, a new layer of snow hit the mountains this week!

What’s the future for the bridge to the Northwest side of Mount Rainier?

Apr 13, 2026

In April, the 103-year-old Fairfax Bridge over the Carbon River closed permanently to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic, effectively cutting off access to the northwest side of Mount Rainier National Park. The Washington State Department of Transportation is now considering two options for the future: rebuilding the bridge north of its current location or keeping the bridge permanently closed.

Hiker Headlines: Olympic National Park permits, share your support for the Roadless Rule

Apr 09, 2026

Olympic National Park permits for the summer season will be available starting April 15. You’re invited to a community meeting to provide public comments on the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule, sponsored by WTA and other conservation and recreation organizations. Washington State Parks now has same-day camping reservations at all campgrounds. And join the annual Washington Coast Cleanup on April 25!

Re-organization and massive budget cuts, including 64% cut to trail maintenance, could break the U.S. Forest Service

Apr 09, 2026

New plans to move the headquarters of the U.S. Forest Service, eliminate regional offices and massively cut trail maintenance funding increase risks to the public lands we love and rely on.