Hiker Headlines: OK to Hike Right Now? Some Good News for Trails, Coronavirus & WTA

It’s March 19. Coronavirus is dominating the news. Our thoughts are with our community and everyone who is being affected. With the need to distance from other folks, we have some advice on how to get outside responsibly and safely. And, in these challenging, uncertain times, we’re happy to share a bit of good news from the state legislature. Here’s some news you might have missed with everything else going on this week.  

Even if you can't be outside right now, we hope you can find ways to find comfort from the beauty of nature. Photo by Oscar Ramirez. 

Hiking tips for right now: We know how important time outside can be for mental and physical health. With that in mind, we’ve collected some tips to help you get your dose of nature while still keeping yourself — and everyone else — safe and healthy. We also have information on trails and facilities that are closed.

Bring nature inside: During this time, we all need to stay close to home. If you’re feeling a bit restless, we have 9 ways to connect with trails even when you can’t hike.

Some welcome good news: The state legislature recently wrapped up their work for the year. We’re happy to share some important wins, including funding for public lands agencies and a grant program to help kids get outside. Take a look at the details and take a minute to thank your lawmaker for their good work.

What WTA is doing: In order to keep our community safe, we have paused all trail work parties and in-person events. Our Gear Library is closed, as are our physical offices. We’re supporting our staff to allow them to work from home and care for their families. That said, we’re still here and we’re still working. If you have questions, leave a comment on this blog, find us on one of our social channels or send any of us an email. We’ll do everything we can to help.

BE IN THE KNOW

• Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter. 
• Sing up for Families Go Hiking, our email newsletter for families, for tips on getting outside with kids. 
• For the most up-to-date information on trails, check out our trip reports. And then write one of your own!