Hiker Headlines: Olympic Improvements, Conservation Funding, New Place Names

It’s March 31. Ruby Beach will be closed for about three months this spring while access and parking is being improved. Ozette triangle trails are in need of repair. The funding proposal for the Land and Water Conservation Fund meets the minimum but more is needed. A long-awaited trail bridge over the Columbia River will open on April 8. Eighteen derogatory place names in Washington are in the process of being replaced. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week. 

Ruby Beach will be closed for a few months this spring and summer while improvements are made to the access road and parking lot. Photo by Robert Baganz. 

Ruby Beach temporary closure: A project to improve the access road and parking area for Ruby Beach will get underway starting in May or June of this year. The project is anticipated to last about three months, during which time the area will be closed. The paving and regrading of this area will improve accessibility and traffic flow. 

Cape Alava and Sandpoint Trail rehabilitation: The popular Ozette triangle trails are in need of repairs, and Olympic National Park is seeking public input before moving forward. Several sections of boardwalk need to be replaced, and the park is looking at a few different options. Weigh in by April 26 to make sure your thoughts are heard. 

Land and Water Conservation Fund outlook: WTA is a member of The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition, who recently released a statement about the funding outlook for 2023. The Biden administration’s budget proposal for 2023 funds the LWCF at its normal mandatory level, but the coalition is asking for additional funding to meet all the conservation demands of the coming year. 

Bridging the gap over the Columbia: The Beverly Bridge, a non-motorized bridge over the Columbia River, and a crucial link in the Palouse to Cascades Trail, will open on April 8. The opening of the bridge will provide a long-awaited corridor to connect the western and eastern portions of this statewide trail. 

Renaming places across Washington: Eighteen derogatory place names across Washington are slated to be renamed. The process is part of a proposal from the U.S. Department of Interior to replace derogatory place names across the country. The public can provide input on the proposal at a special meeting on April 7, or via email. 

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