Preserving and Enhancing Recreational Access

Barclay Lake Trail, Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Deehr

Protecting wild places is often seen as at odds with recreational access, but it doesn’t have to be. Washington Wild focuses both on permanently protecting wild lands and waters while also preserving and enhancing recreational access to those same wild places. Access is a major reason we work so hard to protect places like the Wild Sky Wilderness, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions, and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Wild & Scenic Rivers is so that current and future generation can continue to enjoy these incredible places.

Washington Wild has led efforts with like-minded conservation and recreation organizations to proactively preserve and enhance recreational access on federal lands statewide. As part of our coalition-building efforts we work to bring all sorts of Conservation Voices to our work including mountain bikers, paddlers, backcountry horsemen, and many others.

Dosewallips River, Photo Courtesy of Tom O’Keefe

Washington Wild coordinates sign-on letters supporting recreational access in the following categories:

• Prioritizing maintenance of roads important for recreational access
• Maintaining trails and existing recreational infrastructure
• Creating new trail opportunities
• Opposing threats to recreational opportunities
• Supporting balanced recreational management