Hiker Headlines: First Day Hikes, Fee-Free Days, Trail Re-Opens

It’s Dec. 19, 2019. It’s time to start planning 2020 hikes — and other adventures! And a trail recently reopened, thanks to some help from WTA volunteers. Here’s some news you might have missed while out on trail this week.

 
Start off 2020 right by getting outside. Washington State Parks photo. 

Happy New Decade: To celebrate the start of 2020, many state parks are offering adventures on Jan. 1, 2020. Most of them are hikes, but there are other activities as well. The state parks has information on what’s planned in Eastern Washington, Southwest Washington and Northwest Washington and Puget Sound. And, whether you’re planning to take an official First Day Hike or just venture out on your own, no Discover Pass will be required to park at state parks on New Years Day.

Speaking of free: Public land agencies all over the state — from state parks to national parks — offer days where you don’t need to pay an entry free or pay to park. If you’d like to plan ahead, you can now. Fee-free days are a great way to visit somewhere new or introduce new folks to the outdoors.

Ready for hikers: The Cal Magnusson Trail, which was closed after a heavy rainstorm, is back open again thanks to dedicated WTA volunteers. The trail, which is near Enumclaw, offers access to the top of Mount Peak. 

Some snow, more needed: While Paradise at Mount Rainier has plenty of snow for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, it will be awhile before the popular sledding area is open. In the meantime, you could sign up for a guided snowshoe trip. 

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• For the most up-to-date information on trails, check out our trip reports. And then write one of your own!