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

Trip Report Roundup: WTA Members On Wildflowers, Snowshoeing Conditions and Nesting Birds

Apr 20, 2023

Members make our work, including our website and trip reports happen. For Member Appreciation Day, a few went above and beyond to file trip reports on the lastest spring conditions.

Hiker Headlines: Now Hiring, Earth Day, Meteors, Mount Rainier Permits

Apr 20, 2023

WTA is hiring! This Saturday is Earth Day, and parking fees in some areas will be waived. The Lyrids meteor shower will peak this weekend. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has new food storage rules. The Washington Department of Natural Resources wants to hear your thoughts about recreation on their Yakima County lands. And, all available Mount Rainier wilderness permits will be available to the general public on April 25.

There’s a Filter for That

Smartphone cameras have a number of creative tools to enhance your trail photos. Knowing these tools is the key to unlocking your phone's camera potential. By Erika Haugen-Goodman

Honoring a Volunteer for Decades of Dedication to Trails

Apr 17, 2023

WTA thanks Pat Limberg for years of volunteering, both on and off trail, with our white hat award. By Laura Norsen

Snapshot: Hikers Helping Hikers

Apr 14, 2023

"Where" and "when" are memorable parts of any hike, but "who" and how they made you feel sticks with you forever. Doug Diekema reflects on capturing a touching moment with family while on trail. By Doug Diekema.

Hiker Headlines: Olympic Camping Permits & Road Closures, Urban Forest Funding, Wildflowers

Apr 13, 2023

Olympic National Park camping permits for the summer will be available to reserve on April 15. Expect some road closures and a trail closure in the Quinault area. The Forest Service is allocating over $9 million to support urban green spaces in Washington and Oregon. And, wildflowers are here!

Celebrating WTA's Members

Apr 11, 2023

We're celebrating WTA members and the incredible contributions they make for Washington trails on April 15, 2023.

How a Professional Guidebook Author Researches Trails

Author Craig Romano has written 25 guide books (and hiked over 2,000 trails in Washington alone). Before he can write a book to help you with your hike planning, he does some researching of his own. By Craig Romano

Hiker Headlines: Paradise Road Reopening Soon, Ski Season Extended, New Reservation System

Apr 06, 2023

The road to Paradise may reopen in the next couple of weeks. The ski season has been extended at some ski resorts. Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park will have a new reservation system this summer. And due to snow, Mount St. Helens climbing permit holders may be able to request refunds through April 20.

Full Crews, Clear Trails, Can't Lose

Apr 06, 2023

Are you ready for spring? Washington's trails are, thanks to the volunteer crews who've been working all winter to prep them for hikers this season.

14 Hikes With Fun and Curious Easter Eggs

Our Washington trails — as we all know — have a lot to offer. Some of them, however, feature the extra flair of some unique Easter eggs. You might have to do some hunting, but head out on one of these trails to find the fun “extras” they’ve got in store for you.

How King County Parks Meets Local Trail Needs

Apr 04, 2023

WTA partners with King County Parks to make local trails more accessible. Check out their ongoing work to meet local residents at the parks they enjoy close to home.

Trails Gave Me the Space to Become Myself

Taking a step back can help put things in perspective. One hiker had to let trails go first before she could learn the power they have to transform. By Robin Roff.

How to Recommend a Hike to Friends

Recommending a hike to a friend: easy, right? Not quite. Remember these factors next time a friend, coworker or family member comes to you seeking advice for where to hike. By Joe Gonzalez.

Hiker Headlines: WTA Now Hiring, Highway Spring Cleaning, Trails Reopen, Upcoming Snowy Weekend

Mar 30, 2023

WTA is hiring! The North Cascades Highway seasonal clearing has begun. Trails at the Cowiche Canyon Preserve have reopened. Be aware of prescribed burns starting this spring. Some campgrounds in Olympic National Park are temporarily closed. And, expect snow in the mountains this weekend.

Get Ready for Youth Volunteer Vacations This Summer

Mar 29, 2023

This summer, youth ages 14-18 can join us on trail for extended volunteer work parties, either in the backcountry or car-camping trips. Here's what you need to know before applications open up on April 3.

Tales from the Trail: Trip Reports With Stories We Love

Mar 28, 2023

Trip reports are a big part of what WTA is known for. Every week, dozens of people like you tell us what conditions they came across on trail. We also see a lot of lovely life stories in trip reports: birthday celebrations, anniversaries, getting engaged and sharing Washington with a first-time hiker. Check out some of the highlights from last year.

We Survived Winter in Eastern Washington with Hot Cocoa, Camaraderie and a Rethinking of Trail Work

Mar 27, 2023

Outside Spokane, WTA trail volunteers find a way to give back to trails, help snowshoers and keep community all winter long.

14 Family-Friendly Hikes to Do Over Spring Break

Looking to hit the trail over spring break? We've got some hike suggestions that'll be great for the whole family.

What You Need to Know about How to Pick and Use Your Stove

Food tastes so good after a day of hiking, but first you need to cook it. Here's everything you need to know about picking a stove for your hiking adventures. By Sandra Saathoff

How to be Your Own Best Hiking Resource – Your Brain is the Most Important Tool

Planning hikes and having rewarding, safe outdoor adventures takes a variety of skills and knowledge. WTA provides you with many of these resources. The most important tool to keep you having the experiences you want to have though, is your own brain.

The Wisdom of Crowds

How WTA's crowd-sourced information makes us all better hikers. By Anna Roth

Backcountry Response Teams: Seven Trips to Sign-up for in 2023

WTA's BCRTs combine backpacking and trail work for volunteer trips that range up to 8 days at a time! These trips have opened up trails across Washington in recent years. Here are a few of those trips for 2023 and what makes them special.

Hiker Headlines: WTA’s March Madness, Closures, Waterfall Corridor Permit System Ends

Mar 23, 2023

Join in on the fun for our annual March Madness, Washington Wildlife Edition! Be aware of some road and area closures in Olympic National Park and the Skagit Wildlife Area. The Oregon Department of Transportation is ending its “Waterfall Corridor” permitting program. And, the Forest Service has invested nearly $25 million in wildfire risk mitigation and response projects.

Crew Leader College 2023

We are back and we can’t wait to continue to build our skills together.

From Mud to Magnificent: How WTA Helped Transform a Neighborhood Park

Mar 21, 2023

WTA, in partnership with other groups, helps transform the muddy trails in Whipple Creek Park into a neighborhood greenspace fit for year-round use by hikers, bikers, equestrians and more.

Trekking by Transit: Tips from a WTA trip reporter

Mar 17, 2023

Kim Huntress Inskeep is a Seattle-based writer and transit and active-transportation advocate who writes trip reports under the name TransitTrekker. When we noticed how far afield she had gotten using transit systems, we had to know more about her approach. So we called her up and asked her a few questions.

Hiker Headlines: Hiker Rally Day, Fee-Free Day, Closures and Openings

Mar 16, 2023

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Hiker Rally Day this week! This Sunday is Washington State Parks’ birthday, and parking fees in some areas will be waived. Several trails are closed, and one state park has reopened after the winter season. And, Skyway Park has some new local artwork.

What Hiker Rally Day Meant to 5 Participants

Mar 16, 2023

Every 2 years, WTA’s Hiker Rally Day brings together outdoor enthusiasts from all across Washington to advocate for trails with our state lawmakers. This week, more than 70 people joined us from 40 state legislative districts to speak up for reliable funding for trails and equity in outdoor career. We talked to some participants to hear what the experience meant to them. Here’s what they had to say.

WTA Loves Local Trails

Mar 13, 2023

Check out this roundup of local hike trip reports across the state from our February #LoveLocalTrails giveaway.