PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL ASSOCIATION

Our goals are: 1) Secure permanent access for trail users on non-motorized tread from end to end of the Pacific Northwest Trail. 2) Build and maintain the Pacific Northwest Trail to standards set by the National Trails System Act. 3) Preserve the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, and cultural features of the Pacific Northwest. 4) Encourage people to experience the Pacific Northwest Trail, while promoting safe and responsible use. 5) Foster interest in and stewardship of public lands among youth and young adults, while increasing diversity among trail users.

1) Access - We will continue to strengthen existing relationships and foster new ones with public land managers, private land owners, regional land trusts, and federal and state governments to identify and secure opportunities for permanent access for trail users. 2) Construction and Maintenance - We will continue to operate and grow SKY youth crews in Washington State, serve as project coordinators for regional trail maintenance partners, advocate for the prioritization PNT projects to agency partners, and look to expand Association trail operations into Idaho and Montana within the next two years. 3) Preservation - Work with local land managers, tribes, conservation groups, and communities; in order to identify and manage for the preservation of key resources. 4) Promote Responsible Use - Continue to develop and improve trail resources in order to increase access to, and promote safe and responsible use of the Pacific Northwest Trail. 5) Youth and Diversity - Build on SKY youth and Quilcene Ranger Corps programs in order to engage an increasing number of youth from communities along the PNT corridor and beyond.

The PNTA continues to expand its reach and capacity to promote, manage, and advocate for the Pacific Northwest Trail. In the last year, we've met with more than 4,000 people through community outreach events, presentations, and our annual anniversary celebration. We've increased our audience on social media to more than 12,000 followers, and continue to see growth of viewership on pnt.org. We signed a new five-year administrative agreement with the United States Forest Service, continuing our partnership as the lead nonprofit organization in the management of the PNT. Our relationships with regional trail maintainers continue to grow and strengthen, and we look forward to another year partnering with organizations such as Washington Trails Association, Back Country Horsemen, SCA, Job Corps, and SWITMO, in the maintenance of our trail corridor.

In the 40 years since our organization was founded, the PNTA has taken the dream of our founder and gifted it to the public across 1200 miles of Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Through our efforts, the PNT has obtained the highest level designation available for a long distance trail in the United States, and has joined the pantheon of the National Scenic Trails.
Designation opened a lot of doors for the Pacific Northwest Trail, but it will be decades before we can reach our goal of a permanently protected non-motorized trail that reaches its full potential as a world-class hiking and equestrian destination. In the coming year, we will grow our capacity to manage trail operations by bringing on an additional youth crew modeled on our successful Quilcene Ranger Corps program, and we will coordinate with other regional and national trail maintainers to leverage the power of volunteers to meet additional objectives.