Why Urban Trails?

See why urban trails are a key part of a healthy and sustainable trail system.

Trails in cities and urban centers are a critical piece of our state's trail system. They boast many of the things we look for in the backcountry — fresh air, wildlife and the greenery our Evergreen State is famous for — often with a fraction of the time commitment. Many can be accessed by public transportation or require no transportation at all. And they're great places not only to hike, but to spend time with friends and family, exercise or commute — often on a daily basis.

But there's a problem. Most of our urban green spaces and trails are concentrated in affluent parts of Washington's cities. We believe everyone deserves access to these places to enjoy green space, get exercise or simply connect with other people. The benefits of time in nature are undeniable, and urban trails and parks make it that much easier for more people to access those benefits.

With The Trail Next Door, we're building on the successes of our other campaigns, Lost Trails Found and Trails Rebooted. Together, the three campaigns will help build a healthy, sustainable trail system from neighborhood parks all the way to remote backcountry trails. And just as one trail work project might require a shovel while another needs a crosscut saw, supporting close-in trails will require different tools than caring for remote trails. We are excited to deepen our partnerships in urban spaces over the course of the next year and learn how we can best increase access to urban trails and improve folks' experiences on them.

See what we're up to next door

Vote “yes” for our parks in King County

Jul 30, 2025

Now through Aug. 5, King County residents can vote to renew the county’s parks levy for the next 6 years. Funding from the levy provides 85% of King County Parks’ budget, making it essential to operating the county’s parks and trails.

WTA celebrates a big win with a ribbon cutting on a revamped local trail

Jun 17, 2025

Neighbors, WTA staff and volunteers, and City of Everett staff gathered recently to celebrate the official opening of Loganberry Lane, a revamped trail system in Everett. "If you want to see a big variety of what you can do on a WTA work party, this is it."

Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct, new light rail station connects to trails, print North Cascades permits at home

May 15, 2025

Trailhead Direct is back for 2025! King County Parks has opened two new connector trails at one of the new Sound Transit Light Rail stations. North Cascades National Park is allowing most advance backcountry permits to be obtained through email this season. And the U.S. Forest Service will be offering a Scan and Pay option at many of its recreation sites.

WTA and partners celebrate opening of Glendale Forest

Apr 30, 2025

Over the weekend, WTA, King County Parks, Earth Corps and members of the community celebrated the opening of Glendale Forest. The 5-acre parcel of land was acquired by King County in 2020 to create trail accessibility for the historically underserved neighborhood.

Urban forestry and why it matters

Spending time amid trees boosts the enjoyment of time spent in nature. But tree do a lot more than that — they sequester carbon, help create the air we breathe, provide shade, mitigate heat, absorb stormwater and create habitat. But the benefits of those trees are not distributed equally among neighborhoods.

A case for hiking near home

Apr 07, 2025

Hiking is a great way to de-stress, but there’s nothing like traffic to instantly evaporate joy felt while on during your time on trail. Here is our case for considering a hike near you.