Advancing Trail Smarts

Supporting trails is not just about the much-needed trail maintenance and additional investment. It’s also about hiker awareness, transportation access, trip-reported conditions and so much more. We need targeted education to improve on-trail experiences and help hikers discover brand-new adventures.

Supporting trails isn't just about doing trail maintenance and increased funding. It’s also about hiker awareness. Transportation, road access, trip-reported conditions and so much more all help make a healthy trail system.

All of this requires targeted education to improve your on-trail experiences and help you lessen your impact on the places you love. If you haven’t seen our Trail Smarts video series, now's a great time to check it out. These tools provide quick refreshers on some of the most important hiking best practices.

Fun fact: Trip reports aren't just good for planning your next hike. They are critical to land managers as they make decisions and plan for the future needs of hikers. Write one today!

EXPAND YOUR TRAIL SMARTS

10 Trip Reporters who are Hiking Smart

May 11, 2020

As public lands begin to reopen, hikers are starting to get out a bit farther from home. Here are some highlights from recent trip reports.

FAQ: What Hikers Need To Know For May 5 Reopening of State Lands

May 04, 2020

Washington's state lands and trails will be reopening to hiking on May 5. Here's what hikers need to know before they go to get outdoors safely and responsibly.

Turning the Dial: State Lands Will Reopen to Hiking

Apr 27, 2020

State lands are reopening, but hiking will look different for a little while. Pack a few extra supplies (like masks, extra toilet paper and hand-sanitizer), skip that post-hike beer, and be more willing to head to a different trailhead if your first choice is busy.

Plan Now, Hike Later

Apr 14, 2020

Take some time now to daydream about your adventures that await you. Then plan it all out.

What Do I Need for a Close-to-Home Hike?

Mar 17, 2020

For a walk in your local greenspace, packing along the Ten Essentials may feel like overkill — but then where does that lead us?

3 Tips for Planning a Group Hiking Trip

Outdoor Leadership Training participants share the lessons they've learned. By Andrew Pringle

I Picked Up 80 Pounds of Trail Trash in a Year. Here's What I Learned

Dec 30, 2019

If you're looking for hiking resolutions for 2020, here's what I learned from a year of collecting 80 lbs of light sabers, orange peels and water bottles.

How to Keep Your Gear Dry on Wet Days

Fall signals the return of rain in the Pacific Northwest, and there are few things more discouraging than pulling wet gear out of your bag when you get to your destination. These tips will help you keep your gear and clothing dry so you can hike in comfort year-round.

Safety Essentials: A Toolkit for Hikers

Before you head out for a hike, here are the 5 key things you need to know to have a great time, and return safely.

Teaching on Trail: Custom Workshops For Educators of Youth

Jan 06, 2020

Through workshops, a free gear library and trip funding, the OLT program provides customized training for educators who want to take youth groups outside.

Halloween on Trail: Sith Lords and Zombies and Bears, Oh My!

Oct 28, 2019

As autumn rolls in, our favorite summertime forests and lakes turn moody with moss and mist. What better way to celebrate this holiday than to swap out your usual trail attire with a quirky costume.

How to Research Lesser-Traveled Trails

What to do when your hike doesn’t have any recent trip reports.

A Drop in the Bucket

At the very moment when public lands need passionate hikers as advocates, more people are falling in love with Washington’s backcountry trails. But decades of budget cuts have wreaked havoc on backcountry infrastructure, creating problems with no easy solution. Managing poop, it turns out, is one of those problems | By Loren Drummond

Hiker Headlines: Wildfires, Columbia Gorge Trails, Hunting & Hiking

Aug 29, 2019

It’s wildfire season...isn’t it? After the burn comes the build: trails are reopening in the Columbia River Gorge. And hunting season is soon to be in full swing in the Pacific Northwest.

Summer, Sun and Sweat: A Guide to Keeping it Cool

A collection of expert tips for how to keep your hiking cool in the heat of a summer day.