A whirlwind trail work tour — from Frog Pond to Turtleback, Big Rock to Three Corner Rock

As the year starts to wind down, we’re taking a look back at some of the projects we’ve completed in the last few months. Here’s what’s new in the trail work world, including finished project work and new projects we’re looking forward to digging into!

Eastern washington

If you’re a regular volunteer out in Eastern Washington, chances are you’ve joined a work party on Mica Peak over the past several summer seasons. Mica Peak’s Saltese Ridge Trail is now ready for visitors, thanks to the amazing work of WTA crews. Enjoy a gorgeous view overlooking the Spokane Valley and marvel at the rock work needed to create this trail.

WTA will return to this trail in the summer of 2026 for some additional finishing touches, but in the meantime Saltese Ridge will be a great winter snowshoeing option for folks looking to get out and play in the snow.

Volunteers stand at the base of a newly constructed switchback on the Saltese Ridge trail at Mica Peak. Photo courtesy of Holly Weiler.

Central Washington

In Central Washington, crews wrapped up their work on the Frog Pond loop trail in the Teanaway Community Forest. The project was a mix of new trail construction and improving existing trails to create a cohesive loop. Hikers on this trail will encounter gentle climbs along a ridgeline that loops its way towards a seasonal pond and a large sandstone slab with views of the Teanaway and nearby Stuart Range.

Frog Pond is just one of three trails that are set to officially open in June next year when the Washington Department of Natural Resources opens the newly constructed West Fork trailhead.

Northwest Washington

With the completion of our second Turtleback Mountain backcountry response team trip on Oct. 12, the 2025 Northwest BCRT season is complete, but the work isn’t stopping there.

In the last few weeks, WTA has started work parties back up at the Big Rock trail at Hoag Memorial Park just east of Mount Vernon. This trail-in-progress ascends steeply up the flanks of Big Rock or Yudwasta (of the heart) as it is known by the Upper Skagit tribe. In addition to trail work, WTA is collaborating with Skagit County and the Skagit Land Trust to open access to this important cultural heritage site, as well as to the land around the rock, which will eventually be opened to the public.

Volunteers construct a crib ladder stairway for the upper portion of trail at Big Rock. Photo courtesy of Mike Bellis.

south puget sound

The Puyallup Loop trail in Puyallup is a busy and popular 4-mile loop that gently meanders through multiple city parks and winds along Clark’s Creek. Trail users have been requesting repairs and improvements for some time, so this fall WTA partnered with the City of Puyallup to bring WTA crews to the area.

Crews had many visitors throughout their work party and received nothing but positive feedback from the many hikers passing by. In total, volunteers improved nearly 900 feet of trail and improved drainage, removed rotting puncheon and replanted dozens of sword ferns along the route. Special thanks in particular to Karin Plagens and Bob Zimmerman for their leadership on this project.

puget sound

Last year, WTA partnered with the City of Everett to begin work at the popular Loganberry Lane trail, which connects several parks and green spaces and is a valuable recreational corridor for the Everett community. Volunteers worked to improve existing trails, decommission social trails, and replant native vegetation along sections of trail in the park. Crews also built sections of split rail fence to encourage users to adapt to the new flow and to avoid the creation of additional social trails.

On Oct. 11, WTA completed its final work party at Loganberry lane, installing an interpretive sign and cutting back overgrown vegetation from the new sections of trail WTA built earlier in the year.

Volunteers install an interpretive sign panel at Loganberry Lane in Everett. Photo courtesy of Alex K. 

southwest washington

After being left untouched by WTA crews for over 5 years, the trails around Leadbetter Point at Fort Columbia State Park were in need of some attention. Over 3 days in early October, WTA volunteers camped at the park and prepped the trails for a wet winter season. Volunteers cleared brush and removed logs from 3.5 miles of trail at Leadbetter Point, making the hiking experience in this area much more pleasant.

WTA’s Southwest team has continued to partner with the WSU Outdoor Recreation team to get college students out on trail. In September, students completed work on their own campus, then in October and November they’ll be working in Clark County parks.

WSU students volunteered with WTA at Whipple Creek Hollow on Oct. 18. Photo courtesy of Janeen Licatovich. 

And last but not least, WTA is kicking off a long-term project to re-open the entirety of the Three Corner Rock trail. This trail has been closed for 8 years due to a timber sale, but volunteers broke ground on Oct. 23 to begin the process of reopening the bottom portion of the 4.5 mile trail. Although it will be a while before you can walk the entirety of the trail, we’re excited to be doing work on this trail and can’t wait to reopen it in the coming years.