Blog Posts of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association

Many Hands, One Trail: Celebrating Our 2026 Volunteers

Many Hands, One Trail: Celebrating Our 2026 Volunteers From ambitious backcountry projects to behind-the-scenes contributions, PNTA volunteers made a difference in more ways than ever this season. What a season! From rebuilding trail structures in the Pasayten Wilderness to clearing overgrown trails near the Salish Sea, PNTA volunteers made their mark across the Northwest in…
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Five Crews. 5,103 Fallen Trees. One Remarkable Season.

Five Crews. 5,103 Fallen Trees. One Remarkable Season. Despite heavy blowdown, wildfires, and an unpredictable summer, PNTA’s Performance Trail Crews delivered an extraordinary season of trail stewardship in 2026. Some years, the trail throws a little more at us than others. In 2026, it threw a lot. Thousands of fallen trees blocked trails across the…
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Kettle River Range

The Roadless Rule Is at a Crossroads. Here’s How You Can Help.

For 25 years, the Roadless Rule has helped protect some of the wildest remaining lands in our National Forests. Along the PNT, 156 miles of trail pass through 25 Inventoried Roadless Areas. Now, USDA has proposed repealing the rule. Learn why these protections matter, what repeal could mean for roadless lands, and how you can submit a personal comment to USDA.

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When Fire Changes the Plan

When Fire Changes the Plan Wildfire has always shaped the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest Trail. Increasingly, it also shapes the work required to keep the trail open and maintained. This summer, fires, smoke, evacuations, and changing restrictions have repeatedly forced PNTA Performance Trail Crews to change where—and sometimes how—they work. It is a challenge…
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An Increase In Fire Activity Leads To Three Closures Along The PNT

An Increase In Fire Activity Leads To Three Closures Along The PNT As global temperatures continue to rise and summer seasons become hotter each year, more fires impact the wild lands that National Scenic Trails traverse. Just in the past month, several fires have started to burn near the Pacific Northwest Trail. The current closures…
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PNTA Saw Training 2026: “The Season Is Off and Running!”

PNTA Saw Training 2026: “The Season Is Off and Running!” Clearing blowdowns on the PNT takes skilled hands and sharp blades. This month near Baker Lake, a new cohort started learning both.   Eleven rising outdoor leaders, pictured at left, joined PNTA’s Western Washington Regional Manager, Sterling Collins-Hill and Technical Advisor, Connor Clifford along with Bridget…
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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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