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

Helping youth find hope in the face of climate change

Apr 02, 2025

“I am motivated to confront the climate crisis today because it’s really not fair that a bunch of people, animals and environments are suffering and being destroyed without a care in the world.”

WTA's guide to charging backcountry electronics

Phones and other electronics have become a key tool for modern hikers. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your electronics charged while on trail. By Joseph Gonzalez

Backpackers, here's the deal for the Chelan Lakeshore trail this year

Mar 28, 2025

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

Hiker Headlines: Icicle Road traffic delays; state park same-day camping reservations, Riverside State Park closures

Mar 27, 2025

Repair work starts on Icicle Road on April 14 — expect delays and closures! Washington State Parks now accept same-day campsite bookings. And several trails at Riverside State Park will be closed for a few months for a forest health treatment project.

When big damage requires heavy duty trail cleanup

Mar 25, 2025

In November 2024, the Pacific Northwest was hit by a bomb cyclone, and many of our trails were damaged by fallen trees and debris. For the last several months, WTA has been working with land managers and other organizations to get trails in the Issaquah Alps back open again.

Music and Nature: An evening of stunning images accompanied by a symphony orchestra

Mar 24, 2025

Join WTA on April 25 at Benaroya Hall for a celebration of Washington landscapes.

Hiker Rally Day: Meet the hikers who spoke up for trails

Mar 21, 2025

153 hikers from 39 legislative districts across the state rallied in Olympia on Tuesday to advocate for trails and public lands.

Tell us where the ticks are: Hikers can now help DOH track tick distribution in Washington State

A new project will use WTA's trip reports to help the Department of Health determine where people are encountering ticks in Washington. | By Anna Roth

Hiker Headlines: Historic Columbia River Highway closure, upcoming car-free hiking workshop and symphony concert

Mar 20, 2025

Happy spring equinox! We have some fun hiker events coming up, including a car-free adventuring workshop and a nature-inspired symphony concert. The Historic Columbia River Highway has an extended closure. And some agencies are getting ready for wildfire season, which might affect your hiking plans.

Northwest Weekend: Take a break from Oregon skiing with high desert hikes

What to do on an off day when not skiing? Winter and early-spring hikes are perfect for the canyons and arroyos north of Bend. By Julia Duin

Hey bear! Years of delightful bear encounters on trail

When you spend a lot of time on trail, you get a lot of chances to see bears. Here are some of my favorite stories from the thousands of miles I've hiked. By Craig Romano

Miles, smiles and community with Miles Hike Club

Mar 17, 2025

Miles Hike Club gets out on trail with hikers of all ages — and WTA helped them get there. By Joseph Gonzalez

Hiker Headlines: Update on Forest Service firings, repairs for Hoh Road, Dog Mountain permits

Mar 13, 2025

U.S. Forest Service probationary employees who were fired will be rehired on a temporary basis — the longer term status of those positions is still uncertain. Dog Mountain parking permits will be available on March 15 and the North Cascades backcountry permit lottery is closing soon. And the Upper Hoh Road is slated to be repaired.

Trip Report Roundup: Greenery, snow melt and early-season blooms

Mar 11, 2025

While there's still snow at high elevations and most wildflowers are still a ways off, folks have been getting out on trail and seeing a lot of that soothing, lovely green that our state is known for. Check out some trip reports of the green hikes folks have been going on these last couple of weeks.

Help WTA save vital funding for public lands

Mar 10, 2025

The 2025 state legislative session runs from Jan. 13 to April 27. This year, like every year, WTA will show up to work with elected officials, land management agencies and conservation partners to secure — and maintain — funding for our public lands. By Melani Baker.

Remembering Pete Dewell

Pete Dewell — assistant crew leader, community leader and teacher of thousands of trail workers — passed away at home at the age of 95. Pete was a loyal trail worker who shaped WTA as an organization. By Anna Roth.

How learning the ways of the crosscut saw helped one hiker foster joy outdoors

Crystal Hudelson is a climber, volunteer and BIPOC community leader. Here's how learning how to use and refurbish crosscut saws brought her closer to community. By Joseph Gonzalez

Chasing the Ice Age Floods

A guide to hiking and exploring some of Washington’s most fascinating geology. By David Hale and Kelsey Vaughn

Hiker Headlines: Free day; traffic delays and temporary road closures

Mar 06, 2025

March 9 is Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday, and parking fees will be waived on state-managed lands. And some road closures and traffic delays may affect your hike.

How WTA builds trails for climate resiliency

WTA does work each year to build trails that hold up to the challenges of climate change. Here's what we keep in mind when we do.

How WTA is building trails for a changing world

Washington needs resilient trail systems — WTA is helping to build a trail system that can stand up to the test of climate change. | By Andrea Waite

Nosotros En Naturaleza is building community on trail

Mar 05, 2025

Nosotros en Naturaleza, a partner of WTA's Outdoor Leadership Training program, is helping young adults in the Latinx community connect to each other and to the outdoors.

Volunteer profile: Meet new ACL Cour Billadeau

Mar 04, 2025

Why Cour Billadeau — one of WTA's newest assistant crew leaders — joined WTA's trail maintenance leadership team.

Volunteers chip away at early season trail projects

Mar 03, 2025

WTA crews made progress on several early-season projects in the first couple months of the year.

Armchair Adventures: A perfect day for a second try

Feb 28, 2025

When Alden Ryno headed for a winter summit of Tomyhoi Peak in the North Cascades, it was his second attempt. He wrote a trip report detailing how it all went.

Hiker Headlines: Wind damage, North Cascades permits, WTA's op-ed on Forest Service and Parks firings

Feb 27, 2025

The early access lottery for North Cascades backcountry permits opens on March 3 — and other early access lotteries are closing soon. Big winds hit Washington earlier this week, so be careful of fallen trees and debris when hitting the trails this weekend! And read WTA’s op-ed in the Seattle Times on the recent federal staffing cuts.

WTA visits D.C. to urge rehiring of Forest and Park service staff

Feb 25, 2025

This week, WTA’s policy and planning manager Michael DeCramer is in Washington, D.C. Along with partners, one of the key issues Michael will be discussing is the recent firing of thousands of U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service employees. Michael will be speaking to our state’s delegation and bringing the message of thousands of hikers who have asked for those firings to be reversed.

10 easy ways to care for trails (and the outdoors)

Feb 20, 2025

Trails give us so much — here are 10 easy ways to give back.

Hiker Headlines: Email Congress for public lands; last call for #lovelocaltrails; register for backcountry volunteer trips

Feb 20, 2025

A reduction in Forest Service and National Park Service staff is putting our public lands and hikers at risk — take a few minutes to email your members of Congress. Registration for WTA's backcountry trips opens Saturday Feb. 22, at 10 a.m.! Don’t forget to enter our #lovelocaltrails giveaway by the end of the month. Fort Worden Historical State Park will start requiring Discover Passes. And we’ve got some warm, wet weather on the way.

What firing Forest Service, National Parks staff means for public lands, trails, communities

Feb 19, 2025

Last week, thousands of hard-working Forest Service and National Park staff, including hundreds in Washington and Oregon, were fired by the current administration. The impact to public lands, recreation and communities across the state are immediate and far-reaching. Learn what's at stake and join WTA in calling for Congress to reverse the decision.