Visitors’ Experiences

Restoring Paradise: Why Skyline Trail Needs Us Now

For first-time visitors and lifelong hikers alike, the Skyline Trail is often their first step into the alpine — a front-row introduction to wildflower meadows, glaciers, and sweeping views that define this iconic place. But that popularity comes at a cost. Today, the trail we love is under visible strain.

Ashes to Action: Rebuilding Hurricane Ridge at Olympic National Park

When fire destroyed Hurricane Ridge’s iconic lodge, the Olympic National Park community answered. See how donors turned loss into action — restoring access, funding recovery, and shaping what comes next for one of the park’s most beloved places, together.

The Power of Community: Supporting North Cascades National Park’s Mules and Trails

When North Cascades National Park’s stock program faced an uncertain future, the community answered the call. Discover how donors rallied to support mules, trail crews, and 400 miles of rugged backcountry — and why these partners matter more than ever.

A Trail for Everyone: Access for All at Mount Rainier National Park

The simple belief that all people should be able to experience Mount Rainier has inspired an extraordinary, multi-year collaboration at Mount Rainier National Park. Since 2023, the Access for All project has been working to make the mountain’s trails, facilities, and digital resources more accessible to people of all abilities.

Behind the Binoculars: What It’s Like to Train as a Marmoteer in Olympic

Ever wonder what it's like to volunteer as a marmoteer at Olympic National Park? Read about the training day here! From the gear, community building, to the wildlife research, WNPF donors make this citizen science project possible.

Swiftwater Rescue Training: Keeping North Cascades Visitors Safe

Famous for the rugged and unpredictable terrain, search and rescue teams at North Cascades must be equipt for the complex missions that come with the park. Thanks to our donors, rangers received swiftwater training to prepare them for water rescues.

Returning a Meadow: Research in Action at Mount Rainier National Park

Your support is driving new science to restore Mount Rainier’s fragile subalpine meadows, long strained by human impact and shifting weather, as researchers pursue lasting solutions for healthier, resilient landscapes.

Pika Power: Volunteers Power Alpine Wildlife Research at Mount Rainier

Thanks to donor support, Mount Rainier has launched its first-ever pika community science program, connecting trained volunteers with cutting-edge research opportunities and empowering them to collect data that will help determine how these animals are faring in our changing world.

Teen and Kid-Friendly Adventures in Washington’s National Parks

Here are 9 activities that are teen and kid-friendly in Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks! A few board members list recommendations of their past activities that are tried and true.