History Pacific Northwest Trail

the boundary trail section of pnt in horseshoe basin, pasayten wilderness

the route first conceived ron strickland in 1970. between 1970 , 1976, extensive fieldwork performed strickland , others, including supporters along pnt corridor lent extensive knowledge of local trail systems effort. in time, pacific northwest trail cobbled using preexisting trails , forest service roads.

in 1977, strickland founded pacific northwest trail association (pnta), organization responsible education , information, maintenance, , advocacy pnt. same year, first 5 successful thru-hikes of pacific northwest trail completed; proving route. 2 of hikers later appear on cover of backpacker magazine, in 1979 issue introduced pacific northwest trail international audience. in 1979, first short guide pnt published signpost magazine, later become washington trails association. guide consisted of 2 pages described route, , came unaccompanied maps.

in 1983, ron strickland hike entire length of pnt alongside pnta’s first cartographer, ted hitzroth. used information collected on journey develop first full-length guidebook pnt, published in 1984.

throughout 80’s , 90’s, trail gained in popularity. regional volunteer groups emerged pnta maintain , improve pnt in areas, including switmo (skagit whatcom island trail maintenance organization) in puget sound area, , yaak trail club, helped select , maintain route through northwest montana’s yaak valley.

in 2000, pacific northwest trail received first federal designation, when clinton administration designated trail millennium trail. more federal recognition come in following years. in 2002, north cascades national park / ross lake national recreation area segment designated national recreation trail. olympic national park segment received designation in 2003, , glacier national park segment received same designation in 2005.

in 2008, congressman norm dicks , senator maria cantwell introduced pacific northwest national scenic trail legislation congress. marked version of legislation designation passed full natural resource committee of senate on september 11, 2008, , inserted public lands omnibus bill. congress passed omnibus public lands management act of 2009 on march 25 of year, , pacific northwest trail became pacific northwest national scenic trail president obama’s signature on march 30.

the public lands omnibus act of 2009 placed trail under management of department of agriculture, united states forest service serving trail administrator. comprehensive management plan pacific northwest trail under development.

in 2017, pacific northwest trail association celebrated 40th anniversary, 40th anniversary of first 5 thru-hikes of trail.