Blog Posts of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association

Western Michigan Academy of Environmental Sciences Volunteers With PNTA

Western Michigan Academy of Environmental Sciences Volunteers With PNTA Earlier this month, 14 high school students and 3 chaperones from the Western Michigan Academy of Environmental Sciences (WMAES) flew halfway across the country to join the Pacific Northwest Trail Association for a week of hands-on trail stewardship.  “We’ve had the opportunity to bring students out…
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PNTA Releases 2026 Maps

PNTA Releases 2026 Maps The Pacific Northwest Trail Association is taking orders for 2026 print maps! The maps are tear and water resistant, and provide hikers with information they might miss out on with other guides.  Order here by May 15 to secure your copy for the 2026 hiking season. Why Should I Have A…
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The Sharper the Saw, The Stronger the Trail Crew

The Sharper the Saw, The Stronger the Trail Crew Near Seattle, there’s a garage with sawdust drifting across the floor, classical music playing over an FM radio, a wooden workbench with hand files, clamps, sandpaper and notes from old projects and over twenty crosscut saws hanging on the walls. This is where you’ll find Jeff…
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Olympic National Park Requires Bear Cans Throughout All Wilderness Areas

Olympic National Park Requires Bear Cans Throughout All Wilderness Areas Olympic National Park has updated its wilderness food storage requirements — and the change directly impacts Pacific Northwest Trail hikers traveling through the park. What’s Changed? For many years, hard-sided food storage containers (bear canisters) were required along the PNT only if you planned to…
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Year-end Reflection from PNTA Executive Director, Jeff Kish

Year-end Reflection from PNTA Executive Director, Jeff Kish  As I reflect on 2025, I’m encouraged by the strength and resilience our community showed in a year unlike any other. Even as our federal partners scaled back dramatically, PNTA stepped forward with determination, creativity, and a renewed sense of purpose. We strengthened our staff, expanded our…
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PNTA Performance Crews Successful at Reopening North Cascades Closure

PNTA Performance Crews Successful at Reopening North Cascades Closure For the past three years, six miles of the PNT within North Cascades National Park have been closed due to a wildfire in 2022. This closure has prevented trail users from enjoying the beauty of the North Cascades whether they’re passing through on a day hike,…
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After Three Year Closure, The North Cascades Brush Creek Trail Re-opens!

After Three Year Closure, the North Cascades Brush Creek Trail Re-opens! After three years of being closed due to wildfire damage, the Brush Creek Trail in the North Cascades National Park is open! This allows trail users to fully traverse North Cascades National Park — and the entire Pacific Northwest Trail — for the first…
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Small Crews Go To Great Lengths To Protect the PNT

Small Crews Go To Great Lengths To Protect the PNT Our performance trail crews have their boots on the trail and cross-cut saws in their hands — putting their time and grit into keeping the Pacific Northwest Trail open. From multi-day logouts to excavating giant boulders, our five PNTA Performance Crews are now completing their…
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Land Management Cuts Continued: What to Expect in the Year Ahead

Last month, I wrote about how staffing and funding cuts to federal agencies and nonprofit partners like PNTA would likely impact the management of public lands. This is a report of the most recent developments for the PNT and what trail users should expect in the year ahead. Agency Budgets In March, congress averted a…
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PNTA Executive Director in the United States Capitol in 2025.

Who Will Keep Our Trails Open? The Federal Cuts Threatening Public Lands

Pacific Northwest Trail Association’s Executive Director, Jeff Kish, recently flew to Washington, DC to advocate for the Pacific Northwest Trail, public lands in general, and the dedicated workers who care for them. Read below to learn what’s at stake.   Since mid-February, the news that federal land management agencies have been forced to lay off…
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