Breaking Down Barriers to Getting Outside

The history and current reality of racism have created barriers for many people getting outside to enjoy the benefits of nature. WTA has been supporting the hiking community since our founding, but in the past decade we have been more intentionally focused on lowering barriers to access the outdoors and making our community more welcoming to all.

The history and current reality of racism have created barriers for many people getting outside to enjoy the benefits of nature. When you consider the uneven distribution of funding, information, green spaces and other resources, it is clear that many Washingtonians aren't able to benefit from or deepen connections to nature.

Trails for Everyone is building off of work WTA has been doing for years to make experiences on trail accessible and rewarding for everyone. We’ve been supporting the hiking community since our founding, but in the past decade we have been more intentionally focused on lowering barriers to accessing the outdoors and making our community more welcoming to all. We're doing that in a few ways.

Reducing Barriers to Getting Outside

We want to make it easy for hikers to find the information they need to get outside. We do that in a lot of ways — through our Hiking Guide and by sharing basic hiking skills in our Trail Smarts series, for instance. Our website is full of good information — and thanks to the support of our members, it has always been free.

We’re also doing hands-on work to help people gain new skills and get outside. One way is through our Outdoor Leadership Training program, which in the 10 years since it was founded, has trained more than 400 leaders. Those leaders have taken more than 19,000 people on outdoor excursions.

Creating Safe Spaces

WTA began offering shared-identity trail work parties more than 10 years ago to provide a safe space for volunteers from similar backgrounds and communities, including women and the LGBTQ+ community. This approach expands our volunteer base and helps more people gain skills in trail stewardship and access opportunities in the outdoor industry. Volunteers who have joined us on these trips have said that, while they had considered volunteering in the past, it was this community opportunity that encouraged them to finally sign up.

We've also built successful weeklong Latinx trail crew experiences in partnership with Latino Outdoors, in addition to work parties with other community-based organizations. And we created a New to Trail Work series to lower barriers for folks to try trail stewardship for the first time.

Our leaders are trained how to foster a welcoming environment, how to recognize bias and how to step in as needed to ensure everyone feels safe and supported while volunteering their time for trails.

We're also helping diverse individuals, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, gain skills and experience while exploring career paths in the natural resources and outdoor recreation sectors.

building Partnerships — the Cornerstone of Trails for Everyone

None of the work we are doing to create trails for everyone is done alone. Partner organizations are key to making this vision a reality. We are constantly learning from one another and finding new ways to collaborate and grow. Together, we can all get more done.

Read about our work in action

Hiker Headlines: New ADA trail, Newhalem visitor center closed for winter, now hiring

Oct 01, 2026

WTA is hiring for a full-time volunteer and training coordinator, as well as for our seasonal Emerging Leaders Program! It’s your last chance to speak up for the Roadless Rule. The off-season has begun in the mountains: Bear poles are coming down at Mount Rainier and the North Cascades Visitor Center is closed. A new ADA-accessible trail has opened at Heybrook Ridge County Park. And there’s still time to sign up for a WTA Outdoor Leadership Training hiking workshop this weekend!

Balancing outdoor access with the environmental footprint of outdoor gear

WTA's gear library undoubtedly helps people get outside. At the same time, we recognize that the production of outdoor gear has an environmental cost that we work to understand and mitigate. By Mandy Kwan

WTA statement on ICE arrest of family members camping on public lands

Sep 09, 2026

We are deeply disturbed by the recent report that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested five people who were camping with their families in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. WTA believes that everyone should have opportunities to get outside and enjoy the benefits of time in nature.

The Woods Project: Empowering youth, one outdoor adventure at a time

Aug 28, 2026

The Woods Project connects high school students to the outdoors — leading to unforgettable memories and powerful moments of growth and empowerment. By Mandy Kwan.

Hiker Headlines: Little Giant Pass, PCT Northern Terminus, Rachel Lake and more fire closures

Jul 30, 2026

Tomorrow is World Ranger Day! WTA is hiring for an Outdoor Leadership Training Gear Library Assistant. Maintenance projects will temporarily close some trailheads on Highway 20 in August, including Rainy Pass. And fires are burning across the state, resulting in dozens of trail closures.

Hiker Headlines: Wildfire season starts, now hiring, free day, closures

Jun 18, 2026

This Friday is Juneteenth, and parking fees will be waived on state-managed lands. WTA is hiring for a seasonal trail crew leader. Join us at a backpacking workshop in mid-July. Goodell Creek Campground and Mallardy Road are currently closed. And wildfire season is upon us!