Success Stories

Learn about how WTA is creating a powerful community of hikers who know how to care for and advocate for our state's amazing trails. Check out some of our recent success stories.

12 Inspiring Trip Reports from 2016

Dec 22, 2016

We find inspiration from trip reporters all year long. They help us discover new wonders and revisit our old favorites. Here are 12 trip reports that kept us inspired in 2016.

Revisiting 18 Standout Trail Projects from 2016

Dec 15, 2016

Looking back on an amazing year of volunteer trail work--partnerships, preservation and unearthing lost trails.

Then and Now: WTA's Youth Program

Nov 23, 2016

From equipping teachers with the knowledge and gear to take their students outdoors to inspiring the next generation of trail stewards, WTA's youth program is working to get young hikers on trails and connected with their communities.

In Final Days Before Recess, Congress Passes Legislation to Support Forest Trails

Nov 17, 2016

Trail lovers have something new to be thankful for during the holiday: the Senate passed a bill to preserve trails.

County Council Approves Plan for 98 Miles of New Trails at Lake Whatcom

Nov 14, 2016

After more than a year of collaboration with the recreation community, the Whatcom County Council will ensure sustainable access to this local gem.

WTA's Krista Dooley Recognized at Washington State Trails Conference

Nov 01, 2016

Krista Dooley, Washington Trails Association’s youth programs director, who recently received the Youth Advocacy Award from the Washington State Trails Coalition.

Russian Ecotourism Project Learns from WTA's Model

Nov 01, 2016

This summer, volunteers from Russia participated in a work party on the Slab Camp trail. They did so as part of a Sustainable Travel Group dedicated to learning about more sustainable trail practices.

D.C. Update: House Passes Bill to Increase Volunteer Maintenance on Forest Trails

Oct 14, 2016

The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act could increase volunteerism to maintain 157,000 miles of trails across the nation.

Lost Trails Found: Creating a Sustainable Future for the North Fork Sullivan Trail

Oct 10, 2016

Strong partnerships, trail funding and a lot of hard work in the field means brings one trail in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness come back from the brink.

Hikers Gather to Celebrate Trails

Sep 26, 2016

Thanks to the nearly 600 people who gathered at Snoqualmie Point Park for our 50th Anniversary Celebration!

Outdoor Leadership Training: Backpacking

Sep 15, 2016

Getting teachers and youth program coordinators out into the wilderness was a milestone in rounding out the suite of WTA learning experiences (including hiking, snowshoeing and camping workshops) available to schools and community organizations that want to increase access to the outdoors for the youth they serve.

Interview with Bill Sunderland and Alyssa Kreider

Sep 08, 2016

We sat down with, long-time supporters Bill Sunderland and Alyssa Kreider, to learn more about their history with WTA and what inspired them to contribute to the Greg Ball Trail Fund.

Video: The Power of Community and Hike-a-Thon at Access Living

Aug 24, 2016

Hike-A-Thon has opened up a whole new community for 20 individuals receiving services and several staff at Access Living. The staff created a short video to capture their excitement about trails.

PHOTOS: On Washington Trails Day, Hikers Spoke Up for Trails

Aug 12, 2016

Saturday August 6, hikers across the state celebrated the third annual Washington Trails Day by getting outside and showing their support for increasing trail funding.

Slideshow: Where We've Worked (So Far) This Summer

Jul 12, 2016

Many trails have already benefited from volunteer work crews this summer. See where we've been, and where you can join us for the rest of the season.

Boeing and WTA, Coming Together for Trails

Jul 11, 2016

At WTA, we are so grateful for Boeing's investment in our organization, and for the many individual volunteers and members who make our work possible. Together we are making a big collective impact for trails!

Forest Service Hires WTA Volunteer for Trail Crew

May 24, 2016

This summer, WTA assistant crew leader Cindy Nguyen will join the Gifford Pinchot National Forest as a member of a wilderness trail crew. We asked her how WTA helped shape her path, and get her to where she is now.

New Trail Links Recreation Areas near Anacortes

May 24, 2016

The nearly-complete John Tursi Trail is a vision decades in the making. WTA volunteers have helped make this connector between Deception Pass and Anacortes a reality, and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for June 4.

New Partnerships Strengthen WTA's Volunteer Education

May 01, 2016

WTA has partnered with the Mount St. Helens Institute and other organizations to improve our impact on trails as well as the community in Southwest Washington.

UPDATED: Victory! Congress Revives Land and Water Conservation Fund

Apr 21, 2016

Conservationists and outdoor recreation enthusiasts celebrate the inclusion of a critical conservation program in the federal budget deal.

Raising Tomorrow's Trail Stewards

Apr 11, 2016

The Homeschool Stewardship Squad allows kids and parents to volunteer, play and learn together outside. Heidi Watters organized the squad in 2011, and we asked her some history and tips for encouraging your own little ones.

Then and Now: The First Online Trip Report

Mar 04, 2016

Hear about the humble beginnings of wta.org and the first trip report filed online.

Learning to Get Along

Mar 01, 2016

Before the internet, websites, blogs and social media, hikers and land managers lacked opportunities to communicate and stay connected.

Snowshoeing, Backpacking Workshops New to Outdoor Training Program in 2016

Feb 02, 2016

The WTA Outdoor Leadership Training program has expanded its offerings in 2016 to include backpacking and snowshoe workshops.

Victory! Hikers Celebrate New Additions to Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Dec 11, 2014

Today, Congress passed The Alpine Lakes Wilderness bill, which will protect an additional 22,000 acres to one of hikers' most beloved destinations. WTA and hikers have been working towards this victory for seven years.

Learn, Lead & Inspire: WTA's New Outdoor Leadership Program

Jun 04, 2014

WTA’s new Outdoor Leadership Training Program (OLT) will be oﬀering four resources to adults interested in leading trips on their own: workshops on a variety of trip-leading topics, a free gear-lending library, mini-grants for transportation and trip costs and ongoing community support to foster connections and crowdsource solutions to common problems.

WTA Appointed to Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee

Mar 13, 2014

WTA is part of a twenty-member advisory group that has been appointed to help Washington State departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife develop a management plan for the Teanaway Community Forest, located in the Teanaway River valley of Kittitas County.