Blog Posts of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association

Recovering the PNT in the Cascades

Since September 2022, when a lightning storm ignited the Brush Creek Fire in the North Cascades, our trail community has faced a temporary but serious setback. Access to a crucial part of the PNT has remained closed by the National Park Service since the fall of 2022. Although out-and-back trips into the heart of the…

PNT Historical Archive Project

In the late 1970’s, a backpacking trip taken by a young thru-hiker and a notable guidebook author sparked the vision for a new hiking trail between the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ocean and a life-long commitment to earn it a place in the National Trails System. One day soon, visitors to our Sedro-Woolley headquarters will…

Keeping the Trail Open No Matter the Challenge

Just as every mile on the PNT provides a unique hiking experience, it also creates a unique set of challenges for trail maintainers. To create a continuous pathway from Crown to Coast, we’ve made it our mission to ensure that every mile gets its due no matter how challenging it may be to service. For…

Draft Pacific Northwest Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Available for Public Comment

Summary The Forest Service has released a draft of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Management plan for public comment. The plan is currently undergoing an Environmental Assessment, which is an important step in the plan’s development and required before the plan can be approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. Public comments collected in…

26th Annual Hike the Hill Event

Each February, advocates from the Partnership for the National Trails System, American Hiking Society and the member organizations and affiliates who represent our 30 national scenic and historic trails assemble in Washington DC to Hike the Hill. This year, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association was represented by Executive Director, Jeff Kish and Senior Consultant, Mike…

PNT Comprehensive Plan Update

What is the PNT comprehensive plan? In 2009, the US Congress designated the Pacific Northwest Trail as a national scenic trail, making it one of the newest trails to be added to America’s 55,000-mile National Trails System. As a national scenic trail, the PNT is subject to the legislative requirements of The National Trails System…

Six Ways Volunteers Reshaped the PNT in 2021

Shared stewardship of the PNT is a partner and community-driven process. It involves coordinating a large and diverse community of professional and volunteer trail stewards, trail users, and many local stakeholders. With their help, the PNTA is working to maintain and enhance the Pacific Northwest Trail for generations to come. It’s no secret that…

Restoring the Bogachiel Trail

The trail’s founder once said that the journey along the Pacific Northwest Trail is a lot like that of a raindrop that falls on the Continental Divide. They both start high in the Rocky Mountains and flow west until they reach the Pacific Ocean. On the final leg of that 1200-mile journey, it’s easy to…

Help Protect the PNT from Wildfire

The Northwest is experiencing near record drought this summer and the risk of fire is very high in many areas along the Pacific Northwest Trail. Yet, with a few basic precautions, elevated fire danger does not have to lead to a wildfire. During fire season, the Association would like to remind our trail community to…

Updated Signage in Deception Pass State Park

The Pacific Northwest Trail is now a little easier to enjoy in Deception Pass State Park. This May, several PNTA board members from Washington State traveled to Deception Pass State Park to meet with association staff and hike through the park together, installing new thunderbird markers along the trail’s north/south route on Fidalgo and Whidbey…

2021 Season Outlook

With a route that traverses some of the snowiest mountain ranges in the lower ‘48, seasonality is one of the defining characteristics of the Pacific Northwest Trail. Full access to the trail corridor is only possible between July and September, which makes for a short and exciting season for hikers and trail builders alike. When…

Welcome to Olympic National Park by Ken Lund is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Pacific Northwest Trail Backcountry Permits in 2021

Between the Crown of the Continent in the Rocky Mountains and the Wilderness Coast, the Pacific Northwest Trail traverses three amazing national parks. It also crosses seven national forests and many other public lands, including state, county and municipal parks. Camping regulations will vary in each of these places. You can help protect the PNT…

Blog Posts of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association

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