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

Hiker Headlines: Hike-a-Thon, road to Artist Point reopening, more Entiat-area fire closures

Jun 26, 2025

Registration is open now for Hike-a-Thon! The Mount Baker Highway to Artist Point is fully reopening on Friday. The U.S. Forest Service is now offering the option to buy Northwest Forest Passes online. More trails have closed due to the Pomas Fire. And WTA has some open spots on an LGBTQ+ youth work party this summer.

How to decide if a single-walled tent is right for you

Have you been shopping for a shelter lately? With all the double-walled and single-walled options, it can feel in-tents. Here’s how to learn if a single-walled tent is right for you. By Joseph Gonzalez

Returning to the trail after a big change — one parent's story

I discovered hiking as an adult and fell in love. But I lost track of that passion after parenthood. Here’s how I found it again — and how I’m getting out more than ever. By Sarah Nordstrom

Pack your patience and an extra trash bag this summer

Jun 18, 2025

With national public lands stretched thinner than ever on staff and funding, hikers and trail users can help by taking extra care of the lands we all love. Here are a few ways you can help our shared lands and the people and organizations who work hard to protect them.

Hiker Headlines: Washington Trails Day, public lands at risk, Entiat-area fire, Lake 22 closure

Jun 18, 2025

This Saturday is Washington Trails Day, a day to celebrate trails and take action to protect them. The potential for public lands sales is in the news. The Lake 22 trail will be closed on weekdays starting July 15 for trail maintenance, and Mystery Bay State Park will be closed for a month for renovations. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Our national public lands are in crisis

The administration’s actions are making it nearly impossible for the U.S. Forest Service and other land managers to do their jobs, leaving hikers less safe and reducing access to public lands. By Jaime Loucky.

Cutting-edge saw training: How WTA is sharing skills statewide

Cutting timber is a specialty task. Without sawyers, we wouldn't be able to create and maintain trails that last the test of time. That's why WTA's saw program and professional services are being tapped to help train sawyers statewide. By Joseph Gonzalez

WTA celebrates a big win with a ribbon cutting on a revamped local trail

Jun 17, 2025

Neighbors, WTA staff and volunteers, and City of Everett staff gathered recently to celebrate the official opening of Loganberry Lane, a revamped trail system in Everett. "If you want to see a big variety of what you can do on a WTA work party, this is it."

Hike-a-Thon: Uniting hikers to make a difference

Jun 16, 2025

Every August, hikers come together to support WTA during Hike-a-Thon, our annual community fundraiser. But it's more than just a fundraiser; it’s an opportunity for participants to join a community, spend time outdoors and make a difference for the trails they love. We talked to a few Hike-a-Thoners to learn why they participate.

Use your voice: Our national public lands are not for sale

Jun 15, 2025

This year, leaders across the federal government have proposed selling our national public lands — to give them away for development, open them to resource extraction or use them to generate revenue. You can help protect public lands by adding your voice to WTA’s petition.

Hiker Headlines: Gold Creek Pond summer closure, early fire season, free day

Jun 11, 2025

Saturday is National Get Outdoors Day, and parking will be free at national forests. Wildfire season is here, and Mount Rainier National Park and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest now have fire bans. A landslide on Albion Hill Road is making the road difficult to navigate. Gold Creek Pond is closed for the summer. And it was hot last weekend — folks really got outside!

Post 84 helps hundreds of high schoolers get outside every year

Jun 11, 2025

Post 84, a partner with WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program since 2018, helps teenaged campers from the Puget Sound area get outside by offering more than a dozen camping trips a year. WTA's gear library makes it possible for even more teens to attend the trips.

Night lights: how to illuminate your next hike

A headlamp is a must-have — and just the start of lighting options to make your next trip fun and cozy. By Sandra Saathoff

Public lands are places of belonging. We cannot stand to lose them

In a time of disconnection, national public lands connect us — back to ourselves, to our loved ones, to the natural world and to everyone with whom we share these places. By Linnea Johnson.

Hiker Headlines: Icicle Creek, Stehekin areas closed; Rainier reservations; free weekend

Jun 05, 2025

The Icicle Creek area near Leavenworth and the Stehekin area in North Cascades National Park are closed for an active law enforcement operation. This is a fee-free weekend on state lands! A batch of Mount Rainier timed-entry reservations will be released this Friday, June 6. A couple of fun events are this Saturday: a talk on Spokane hikes and a celebration of a new trail segment opening.

Scan and Pay: Digital payment option added at many national forest trailheads, campgrounds

Jun 04, 2025

This summer, hikers visiting trails on U.S. Forest Service land will see a new way to pay for day use passes at trailheads that require them. Using a feature called Scan and Pay in the recreation.gov app, hikers will be able to scan a QR code and pay for a day pass right at the trailhead.

WTA helps defend national parks in Congress

May 27, 2025

Last week, Washington state senator Patty Murray defended our national parks during a Senate hearing. Sen. Murray consulted with WTA and other outdoor recreation partners to highlight how National Park Service cuts impact businesses, outdoor access and public safety for communities across Washington state.

Building connections to nature

Woodland Park Zoo is a leading expert in wildlife conservation and empathy-based curriculum in their education programs. The Wonder in Nature photography camp, a part of their Community Collaborative, partners with WTA through our gear lending library-- ensuring youth are comfortable outside by lending backpacks, rain gear, warm layers and hiking boots. By Erin McQuin

Hiker Headlines: Tiger Mountain trailhead closure, Second Creek Fire, trail grand opening

May 27, 2025

Join WTA and Everett Parks and Facilities for the Loganberry Lane Trail’s grand opening at Kasch Park next week! Be aware of closures of Tiger Mountain Summit Trailhead, Silver Star Road and Boston Basin. And, the Second Creek Fire is currently burning in the Leavenworth area — see where it is using the wildfire layer on WTA’s Hike Finder Map, now live for the season.

Hiker Headlines: Discover Pass cost increase; Chinook, Cayuse passes reopening; St. Helens, Smokey Bear license plates

May 22, 2025

The cost of an annual Discover Pass will increase to $45 in October. Cayuse and Chinook passes are opening for the season this week! WTA is hiring for two new positions. And, the governor signed the new budget — as well as bills that authorize two new license plates that hikers might be excited about.

Community through carpooling: Tips to make the most of the ride

May 20, 2025

Looking for a way to make the drive to the trailhead more fun as the days get longer? We chatted with our partners at Western Washington Honda Dealers about how carpooling can help conserve resources — and how it can be a fun way to build community before your boots even hit the trail.

It's time to act on climate change

Climate change is already impacting hikers and campers in Washington. It’s time to act. By Loren Drummond

From The Dalles to Portland or Vancouver, take the bus to the trailhead this spring

May 16, 2025

There's more transit available in the Columbia River Gorge than the Dog Mountain Shuttle. A variety of interconnected bus lines offer hikers the chance to visit more than 20 trailheads in the Gorge. Can you hit them all, car-free?

Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct, new light rail station connects to trails, print North Cascades permits at home

May 15, 2025

Trailhead Direct is back for 2025! King County Parks has opened two new connector trails at one of the new Sound Transit Light Rail stations. North Cascades National Park is allowing most advance backcountry permits to be obtained through email this season. And the U.S. Forest Service will be offering a Scan and Pay option at many of its recreation sites.

Dust, sweat and big smiles: WTA's backcountry trips are delivering clear trails to hikers

May 14, 2025

Despite the uncertainty around Forest Service funding this year, WTA has managed to run several backcountry crews already. There is some juicy work out there.

WTA's Emerging Leaders Program celebrates a successful fifth season

May 09, 2025

"Overall, the past 5 years of the program show a huge testament to investing in early professionals, and there is so much to teach about the outdoors: trail work, backpacking, snowshoeing and more."

Hiker Headlines: Mount Rainier timed entry reservations, Upper Hoh Road reopens, Hike the State

May 08, 2025

Mount Rainier National Park will require timed entry reservations for the Sunrise area this summer season. Join WTA for Hike the State on May 21 — it's free and online. The Trump Administration revoked nearly $400 million in grants to AmeriCorps programs nationwide, threatening nonprofits and conservation corps programs. The county sheriff is reminding people to park properly on Olalla Canyon and Nahahum Canyon roads. And Upper Hoh Road has been repaired and is reopening!

Hikers speak up and help protect state funding for trails

May 01, 2025

The Washington State Legislature adjourned on April 27 after an incredibly difficult session. With the state facing a budget shortfall similar to the Great Recession, budget writers had to look for reductions across the board. Our state now has a budget for the next 2 years (2025-2027), and it includes essential funding for our outdoor places.

Hiker Headlines: GiveBIG, WTA is hiring, Mount Pilchuck delays, PCT bridge work

May 01, 2025

Next week is GiveBIG — we’re asking for your support! WTA is currently hiring for three positions. And we have info on some areas you might expect delays on the way to the trailhead as well as some bridge work on the PCT this summer.

Roads & Rainier: What a bridge closure, construction and timed-entry permits mean for hikers, backpackers and campers this summer

Apr 30, 2025

A bridge closure, road work, timed-entry permits and short staffing in Mount Rainier National Park mean hikers will need to pack plenty of patience and flexibility this summer.