Hiker Headlines: Sno-Parks, Highway 20, Gorge Trails, Winning Photos

It’s January 7. Review tips for visiting Sno-Parks. The North Cascades Highway closure boundary moved farther east. Trails in the Eagle Creek area have reopened. Check out the winning photos from WTA’s Northwest Exposure Photo Contest. And, a website where you can listen to forests from around the world. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Frolicking in the snow. Photo by Mathew Leaman. 

Sno-Park planning: The many Sno-Parks across the state are hubs for winter recreation. If you’re planning to visit one, check out these tips for a successful outing (like having a backup plan in case the parking lot is full and researching road conditions before heading out). Trip reporters have been writing great reports reminding visitors to park in appropriate areas and follow proper trail etiquette on trails that are shared by different user groups.

North Cascades Highway: The North Cascades Highway winter closure boundary recently moved about 6 miles east, from the Silver Star gate at milepost 171 to Early Winters Campground at milepost 177.

Gorge trails reopen: In 2017, the Eagle Creek Fire damaged a number of iconic trails in the Columbia River Gorge. Some of those trails recently reopened after 3 years of being closed. The reopened trails include the Eagle Creek Trail, Wahclella Falls, sections of the Gorge 400 Trail and Elowah Falls and McCord Creek Falls. Restoring these trails took a monumental effort from agencies and organizations in Oregon. Some volunteers from WTA’s trail maintenance community even headed over the border in 2018 to lend a hand.

Photo contest winners: The winners of WTA’s 2020 Northwest Exposure Photo Contest have been announced. Check out these great shots submitted by Washington’s hiking community.

Forest sounds: Get the calming effects of a forest from the comfort of your home by listening to sounds from forests around the world, including some right here in Washington. You can submit your own recordings too, and they may even become part of new music produced by a few artists as part of the project.

BE IN THE KNOW

• Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter. 
• Check our Hiking Guide for information on what trails are open. 
• Check trip reports for latest conditions on trails. And if you go for a hike, file your own trip report.
• Sign up for Families Go Hiking, our email newsletter for families with plenty of tips on keeping kids busy.