Hiker Headlines: Land Protected Forever, Roadless Area at Risk, Hiking with Lawmakers

It's Nov. 14. Forty-six acres of forest near Issaquah were recently protected and will provide access to a popular hiking area. You have a chance to use your voice to protect roadless areas. And we've been hiking with state lawmakers to talk about trails and public lands. 

Here's some news you may have missed while out on trail this week. 

A new area of protected land will soon add another gateway to the popular hiking trails of Cougar Mountain. Photo by Justin Engelman. 

Protected! An area of forest near Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park will soon serve as a gateway to the park. The 46 acres, which are near Issaquah, were protected thanks to a partnership between the city of Issaquah and the Trust for Public Lands, with assistance from King County. The area has been planned for development. Washington Trails Association supported the effort, and will help plan the future of trails in the popular hiking area.    

Use your voice: Join WTA and many of our partners to learn about the U.S. Forest Service's current proposal to eliminate all roadless areas in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest (the largest old-growth temperate rainforest remaining on Earth). The proposal undermines the Roadless Rule, a law that has 2 million acres here in Washington. The meetings is from 1 to 3 p.m., Nov. 23, at the REI flagship store in Seattle. If you can’t attend, you can submit comments online. 

Walking and talking: This fall, we hiked with five Washington state representatives on trails in their home districts. We talked about outdoor recreation, physical health and the economic benefits of trails with Reps. Entenman, Jinkins, Leavitt, Robinson and Ryu.

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