You Know You're in Washington When...

Washingtonians are known for our love of hiking and outdoor recreation. And it's no surprise why — our state is home to over 3,900 trails and countless national, state, county and city parks to explore. This love of trails often bleeds into a lot of other aspects of our lives, too, like the clothes we wear and the cars we drive. With that in mind, here are seven ways that you know you're in Washington. 

You see a row of Subarus parked at every trailhead.

Bonus points if at least one has a "WTA Member" decal in the rear window. Photo by Kristen Smith.

High-clearance vehicles and all-wheel-drive are not necessities for getting outdoors in Washington, but they can make those rocky, winding forest roads a bit easier to navigate.

You know that finding trail conditions will be a breeze.

Raise your hand if you've ever looked for a hike while on an out-of-state vacation and wished there was a trails association for every state! Washington hikers have filed nearly 200,000 trip reports on wta.org since 1997. Each one of those reports have helped the local hiking community get outside and do so safely.

You hike 4 miles uphill only to be greeted with this view:

Iconic views. Photo by Rachel Wendling.

And you aren't even mad about it. (But if you really do want to find a clear view, the Hiking Guide can help — just scroll past the map & directions on any hike page to find a link to the latest weather forecast for that area.)

You run into a crew of volunteer trail workers.

Even WTA staff unexpectedly run into trail crews during their day off hikes! Photo by Stasia Honnold.

Volunteering on trail is an incredible way to see how much work goes into every trail you hike. WTA hosts trail work parties all year long and no experience is necessary to sign up. We also provide the tools, hard hat and candy!

Your hiking wardrobe and "regular" wardrobe are eerily similar...

Was this photo taken in a cabin in the woods or a hip coffee shop? We may never know. Photo by Anna Roth.

... if not exactly the same. If you're on the search for some new or used gear — erm, clothes — head to our full collection of gear reviews. You can also find tips for how to deodorize, re-waterproof and rehabilitate your well-loved boots and jackets.

You know that hiking in the rain is actually pretty great.

All this green wouldn't be possible without our rainy season. Photo by Erika Haugen-Goodman.

Solitude? Yes. No bugs? Heck yes. Cooler temperatures and easy-to-find water sources? Sign me up. We love hiking in the rain, and with the right preparation and some extra caution, we think you will too.

Every dating site profile you see lists hiking as a hobby.

Every. Single. One.