Stories & News

Get the latest news, how-to advice, and feature articles about the trail community, the current hiking season and issues impacting trails you love.

Get local news, how-to advice, and feature articles about our trail community, the current hiking season in Washington and issues impacting trails you love.

Learn more about: WTA member magazine | Signpost blog

WTA crew leaders inspire fun and a love for nature in youth volunteers

Mar 22, 2024

On trail in March, WTA's Kaci Darsow celebrated six years as WTA's youth crew leader, but their milestone was only one of many to mark the growth and maturity of WTA's youth program.

Hiker Headlines: Wildlife March Madness; Enchantments daily lottery change; Heather Lake Trail closed Saturday

Mar 21, 2024

Head to WTA’s Instagram stories over the next few weeks to vote in our March Madness - Washington Wildlife Edition! The daily Enchantments walk-up permit lottery process will be mobile-based this summer. And take note: The Heather Lake Trail and visitor center in Stehekin have upcoming closures.

What’s in a park? Reshape the way you think of greenspaces

Your local park and national parks aren’t as different as you might think. By Joe Gonzalez

Hiker's guide to backpacking chairs

Take a seat and learn everything you need to know about which hiking chair is right for you. By Sandra Saathoff

Washington’s best-kept secret for funding the outdoors just got better

Mar 18, 2024

You may have never heard of Washington state’s Recreation Conservation Office (RCO), but for the past 60 years it has been protecting and improving our state’s outdoors. To help ecosystems and communities thrive, RCO invests in projects that protect lands and develop parks and trails. This spring, RCO is taking a new equity-focused approach to their grantmaking, so this best-kept secret just keeps getting better.

Dog mountain permits available now

Mar 14, 2024

Permits for Dog Mountain in 2025 are on sale March 15. If you drive to the trailhead on Saturday, Sundays or on Memorial Day between April 26 and June 15, you will need a Dog Mountain permit in addition to a Northwest Forest Pass.

Hiker Headlines: Free day, Trails and Ales, legislative wins, warm weekend weather

Mar 14, 2024

Next Tuesday, March 19, is Washington State Parks’ birthday and parking fees will be waived in some areas. Put Trails and Ales with WTA and the annual Washington Coastal Cleanup on your calendars. We’re excited for some wins from the 2024 state legislative session, and we’re also excited that spring is here!

Wins for trails: Legislature funds forest conservation and work with tribes

Mar 12, 2024

Each year, WTA works with hikers like you, partner organizations and lawmakers during the state legislative session to get trails and public lands the funding they need. The 2024 state legislative session ended on March 7 with good news for trails and public lands. Nearly every priority that WTA was supporting ended up funded in the final state budget.

How to pick the right hiking socks for you

Happy feet, happy hiker. The right hiking socks can make a huge difference to your day on trail. (And your time chilling in camp.) Here’s some tips to help you find a pair that works for you. By Sandra Saathoff

Columbia Mountain trail gets a brushing on WTA's first winter BCRT

Mar 11, 2024

In February a crew of 12 plucky volunteer snow camped to address backlogged maintenance on Columbia Mountain. See what a winter BCRT looks like.

How one volunteer is building solutions that help keep WTA's programs running

For 18 years, John Mackenzie has been using his carpentry skills to support WTA's work, including our trailwork and Outdoor Leadership Training programs.| By Anna Roth

Hiker Headlines: Free day, Mount Rainier National Park turns 125, I-90 closure

Mar 07, 2024

March 9 is Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday, and parking fees will be waived in some areas. Mount Rainier National Park just celebrated its 125th anniversary! Be aware of a couple of closures and some snowy/rainy weather this upcoming week.

How Denice Rochelle and the Bronze Chapter Champion Diversity

I grew up in the outdoors — and I started The Bronze Chapter because I want more people of color to have that opportunity. By Denice Rochelle

Share a story: A snowy backpacking trip

Mar 04, 2024

From time to time, we like to share memorable moments from our community. Here’s one of those stories, from Hwei Ling Ng, @thenomadicartist on WTA trip reports and Instagram.

Want to avoid the snow? Hit the beach this winter.

Mar 01, 2024

Beat the snow this winter with these tips and tricks for coastal hiking.

Hiker Headlines: Mount St. Helens and North Cascades permits, plus a webinar to explain passes and permits

Feb 29, 2024

Happy Leap Day! Mount St. Helens permits will start getting released March 1, and the North Cascades early access lottery opens on March 4. If you're confused about permits, an upcoming webinar can help. And a North Shore Quinault Road closure and snowy weather might affect your upcoming hiking plans.

Hikers helped win funding that’s fixing Washington state’s longest trail

Feb 28, 2024

Two years ago, hikers like you helped secure a huge win for public lands in Washington state: $15 million of annual funding to tackle the recreation maintenance backlog on our state lands. Ever since, that funding has been improving trails, roads, bathrooms, campgrounds and more. We like to celebrate those wins, including recent work on the Palouse to Cascades Trail.

Where's the snow? WTA's newest map layer helps winter and spring hikers plan

Feb 27, 2024

WTA's new snow-depth layer helps hikers plan their trips around snow.

Fun moments from backcountry work parties

Feb 23, 2024

Yeah, we work hard and get a lot done on our backcountry work parties, but we have a lot of fun too!

Know Thyself: The First Rule of Backcountry Safety

Whether you’ve been adventuring for a few days or a few decades, you can always learn more about staying safe. By Loren Drummond

Hiker Headlines: Snow coming, avalanche safety event, trip reporting prizes, WTA survey

Feb 22, 2024

It's Feb. 22. Brace for a winter storm this weekend. While you're weathering it, you can sign up for our backcountry trips on Saturday morning, and complete our community survey, which closes on Sunday. And next week marks the end of the Enchantments lottery period as well as our #lovelocaltrails promotion. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Volunteering with WTA helped me explore new places and make new friends

Volunteering with WTA isn't just a way to give back to trails. For one volunteer, it is an opportunity to build community. By Kathy McLean

WTA visits Washington, D.C., to ask for the funding trails and hikers need

Feb 20, 2024

WTA is advocating for Congress to pass the Transit to Trails Act, which would create a federal grant program to fund more public transportation to trailheads. More than 1,640 people have signed a WTA petition to express their support for this bill. Michael Decramer, WTA’s policy and planning manager, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to deliver those petition signatures and to participate in the 27th annual Hike the Hill.

8 tips for land-based whale watching

Feb 16, 2024

Washington has some of the best land-based whale watching opportunities in the United States. Celebrating International Whale Day on Feb. 18 we are sharing with a few tips on best practices for land-based whale watching.

Hiker Headlines: Rainier and Enchantments lotteries open, WTA launches snow layer, volunteer backcountry trip preview

Feb 15, 2024

Lotteries for early access to permits for Mount Rainier and the Enchantment have opened. WTA's volunteer backcountry trips will be available to preview tomorrow and Mount Rainier’s timed-access reservations open next week. Some closures might affect your hiking plans this week. Plus, we just launched a snow depth layer on our Hike Finder Map to help you plan your weekend.

How an introductory backcountry work party helped one volunteer feel more comfortable backpacking

Feb 14, 2024

Jess Wolf had never been backpacking before signing up for a 3-day intro BCRT work party. Not only did she gain more trail work experience that weekend, but she left with the confidence to take on more backpacking trips afterward.

Seven tips to stay warm hiking on cold days

Feb 09, 2024

What you wear, the food you choose and even where you sit to take a break — they all make a difference to staying comfortable when hiking in winter.

Four Hot Drink Ideas for Winter Hikes

Feeling chilly? Warm-up with these hot drink hacks. By Jessi Loerch

Hiker Headlines: Backcountry permit season starting, winter hiking bingo

Feb 08, 2024

Backcountry permit season starts next week. Submit your winter hiking bingo card to us this week for a chance to win a WTA thermos. Be aware of a couple of closures when planning your hikes this week. Buy your tickets now for a symphony event celebrating Washington’s landscapes. Plus, happy Lunar New Year and happy Valentine’s Day!

8 ways hikers are benefitting from critical federal funding

Feb 07, 2024

WTA was thrilled in 2020 when we rallied our hiking community and joined with partners to help pass the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Here’s some of the work that the GAOA has supported in Washington state, from 2021 through 2023, to help support millions of outdoor experiences.