Volunteer News

The stories of our volunteers and trail maintenance around the state.

Stories about volunteers and trail maintenance.

You can also read WTA volunteer stories, meet our hardworking crew leaders, and see standout volunteers at the Rock Wall of Fame.

Summer School: WTA's Crew Leader College

May 20, 2015

How do the people you volunteer with know so much about trail maintenance? They went to college -- Crew Leader College, hosted annually by WTA.

Volunteer Twice, Earn a Free Pass

May 20, 2015

When you participate in two work parties on National Forest land, you'll earn an annual Northwest Forest Pass—the $30 pass that you need to park at many trailheads in the state.

Before & After: Repairing a Blanchard Mountain Route to Oyster Dome

May 07, 2015

A popular hiking route to Oyster Dome was all but impassible before WTA crews cleared the way earlier this year. Now, a Backcountry Response Team crew camping nearby will put in four intensive days of additional work on the Blanchard Mountain trail system.

Four Trails That Need Your Help in May

May 07, 2015

This month WTA is working in several locations that need some special attention, and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun, and work, and make your mark on the trails you love. No experience is needed to join a work party, and anyone is welcome. We'll teach you what you need to know and find the right job for you. For more information on what to expect when you join us on trail, check out our FAQ page.

Taking Steps to Repair a Popular Peninsula Trail

May 20, 2015

After a volunteer work party on the Lena Lake Trail, it became apparent that popular trails need some extra maintenance help. Whether you're hiking or volunteering, here's what you can do to keep these trails in great shape.

Seeking Creative, Determined Girls: Join a WTA Youth Volunteer Vacation Today

May 07, 2015

WTA's youth volunteer vacations are a great opportunity for girls to try something new, learn a new skill, and have a ton of fun in on some of Washington’s most beautiful trails this summer. Sign up solo and meet a whole crew of new friends, or bring a friend and have an adventure together.

Three Trails That Need Your Help in April

Apr 08, 2015

This month we're working in some locations that need some special attention and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun and work, and make your mark on the trails you love.

Rediscover the Suiattle: Give a Day to Trails (Video)

Mar 30, 2015

The Suiattle River Road, a key access road into the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, reopened to hikers in October 2014 after 11 years of closures. Here's a look at what WTA has planned for the area's trails in 2015.

Volunteer to Explore Washington

Mar 12, 2015

Trying a new trail can be intimidating, but there's a way to do it without worrying about wasting the day. Take a day, a weekend, or a week and volunteer with WTA in a part of Washington you've never seen. You might find your new favorite trail, or a new hiking friend.

Four Trails That Need Your Help in March

Mar 03, 2015

Plan Your Summer: Backcountry Volunteer Trip Preview

Jan 30, 2015

WTA’s Volunteer Vacations and Backcountry Response Teams (BCRTs) are a great way to give back to the trails that take you into the heart of Washington’s gorgeous wilderness. Get a look at some of the best locations, and make your plans before sign ups begin

Early Season Maintenance on the Olympic Peninsula

Feb 02, 2015

With a positively balmy January on the books, Washington's trails have seen more traffic than normal for midwinter. You can help WTA provide repairs and improvements to those trails, as hikers tromp the tread. The Olympic Peninsula in particular has plenty of opportunities for you to come help out. Take a look at our upcoming work parties in February and see when you can step up and pitch in for trails.

Wandering the Wonderland Trails: One Hiker's First Volunteer Vacation Experience

Feb 02, 2015

Read about Archana Bhat's first volunteer vacation experience, where she spent seven days in the wilderness, maintaining trails and hiking in the shadow of the iconic Mount Rainier.

Four Trails That Need Your Help in February

Feb 02, 2015

This month we're working in several locations that need some special attention and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun, and work, and make your mark on the trails you love.

Help Build Two New Miles of Trail at Grand Ridge

Jan 27, 2015

This week, WTA is beginning work on a new 2-mile loop that will wind through a sweet stretch of hemlock and fir forest, and we could use your help to make it happen.

New Trail Opens on Badger Mountain

Jan 16, 2015

Hikers at the Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve, a 650-acre park in Richland, will be able to enjoy a new trail at the preserve as of noon today.

Timelapse: Moving a Thousand Pound Boulder by Hand

Jan 09, 2015

Yesterday on a brand new trail project on Squak Mountain, first time volunteer and trail runner Matt Hagen captured a timelapse showing how the crew used pulleys and ingenuity to shift a massive boulder into just the right place.

Four Trails that Need Your Help in January

Jan 01, 2015

Four Trails that Need Your Help in December

Dec 10, 2014

Fight the December doldrums and get outside with our volunteer crews on one of these trails, from Poo-Poo Point to Beacon Rock State Park, where we could really use some your help.

Trail Talk: PCT Expert Bob Woods On Washington's Iconic Trail

Dec 11, 2014

Each year, volunteers work on the PCT, which meanders along Washington's Cascadia spine from the Bridge of the Gods to Manning Park in Canada. And for years, Bob Woods has been WTA's main contact as the North Cascades Regional Representative for the iconic trail. Now, he's onto new adventures. We asked him to reflect on his time with Scenic Trails and let us know what's in store for the future.

Meet WTA's Newest Trail Mentors

Dec 19, 2014

Our volunteer assistant crew leaders—better known by the orange hard hats they wear—have stepped up to be leaders on trail for a variety of reasons: camaraderie, a call to stewardship, the restorative powers of wilderness in a modern world. From favorite trail snack to where you'll run into them on trail, learn what makes our newest nine orange hats tick.

Hooray! The Suiattle Road Finally Opens

Oct 30, 2014

On October 25, the Suiattle River Road, closed for 11 years due to washouts, was opened to the percussive beat of rain and much applause, restoring access to the Glacier Peak wilderness and a myriad of hikes in the area, most notably the Green Mountain Lookout. This widely-publicized destination is an extremely popular destination for hikers and history buffs alike. The road is also a boon for the nearby town of Darrington, which relies heavily on tourism dollars for the local economy.

Three Trails that Need Your Help in November

Oct 29, 2014

Crew for a Week: Volunteering in the Enchantments and on the Wonderland

Oct 31, 2014

This summer, volunteer Karen Story joined WTA on two backcountry response team trips (BCRTs). She wrote about her experience, and included photos of the amazing work that can be accomplished by volunteers working multiple days in the backcountry.

Four Trails that Need Your Help in October

Oct 15, 2014

Spokane Outdoors: 7 Things to Do in October

Oct 08, 2014

From fall hikes to joining our WTA crew at Iller Creek to connecting with other area organizations and groups, there's a lot going on in Spokane this month.

WTA Volunteers = New Trails + Great Work on our Public Lands

Oct 06, 2014

WTA hosted seven different work parties for National Public Lands Day, working on trails up and down the Cascades and in the Olympics.

Made by Hand! New Route Opens on Mailbox Peak

Sep 16, 2014

On National Public Lands Day, the ribbon will be cut on a trail to the summit of one of Puget Sound's most popular destinations. A new trail was scoped and built to the summit of the popular Mailbox Peak. WTA helped build a new trail that offers a 5.25-mile alternate route that safely and sustainably transports hikers up the mountain. It even offers some of the steepness of the original route, without the treacherous descent.

Be a Part of Something Big: National Public Lands Day

Sep 16, 2014

WTA volunteers give back to trails all year round, but National Public Lands Day is a national opportunity to come together with volunteers all across America and give back to trails! Join WTA on trail September 27, and help keep Washington's trails hikable and safe.

Horses and Handsaws: Repairing Trails with the Help of Back Country Horsemen

Sep 10, 2014

Each year, several of WTA's Volunteer Vacations and Backcountry Response Teams (BCRTs) are supported by Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW). This year, WTA employees got a firsthand look at what goes into repairing trails with the help of a pack string.