Protecting Lands & Trails: Funding, Conservation and Policy
With more and more people getting outdoors, funding for public lands has not kept up with the demand. This makes it more difficult to keep our backcountry trails open and accessible and make the most iconic hiking destinations sustainable long term. Join WTA in becoming an advocate for increasing funding for our public land agencies and protecting the wild places surrounding the trails we love, from the remote wilderness to local parks and greenspaces.
With more and more people getting outdoors, funding for public lands has not kept up with the demand. This makes it more difficult to keep our backcountry trails open and accessible and make the most iconic hiking destinations sustainable long term.
WTA has long been an advocate for increasing funding for our public land agencies and protecting the wild places surrounding the trails we love, from the remote wilderness to local parks and greenspaces. Whether you take action by writing to your legislator, joining our Hiker Rally Day in Olympia or signing a petition on Washington Trails Day, hikers’ stories have the power to effect powerful change.
We protect our trails and lands through:
- Funding for federal, state and local land management agencies.
We strongly supported the historic Great American Outdoors Act, which was passed in 2020, creating the Legacy Restoration Fund and funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund fully and permanently. In 2025, we are working to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund, which is paying for vital maintenance work on federal lands. Every year, we work during the state legislative session to get trails and public lands the funding they need and expand equity in outdoor recreation. We supported ballot initiatives, such as King County's Conservation Futures Program and Parks Levy and Tacoma Prop. 1: Park & Recreation Maintenance & Operations Levy, to increase funding for green spaces and parks at the local level. - Protecting wildlands and parks.
We advocated for the state’s acquisition of the Teanaway Community Forest to expand opportunities for hikers while boosting the recreation economy. We participate in regional collaboratives in places such as the Olympic Peninsula, Alpine Lakes Wilderness area, and East Cascades — to balance the needs of recreators and protected wildlands. We are strong advocates for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which provides funding to conserve natural areas, parks, forestlands and farmlands. - Mitigating climate impacts.
In the fall of 2024, we joined the No on I-2117 coalition to defeat an initiative that would have repealed Washington state’s Climate Commitment Act. We push for increased funding and policy solutions for public lands to ensure that Washington’s forests are healthy and can mitigate climate impacts. - Bringing hikers’ voices into legislation and policy.
We work every year in both Washington D.C. and Olympia, discussing with lawmakers the importance of our public lands and trails for people’s hearts, minds and bodies.
How to help Protect Washington's Trails
- Join our Trail Action Network and receive 1-2 alerts per month with opportunities to speak up for public lands.
- You can also support our work with a donation.