The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is pleased to announce the launch of its Winter 2025–2026 Trailhead Ambassador Program, and is now recruiting volunteers to help welcome winter recreation visitors across popular Sno-Parks near Snoqualmie Pass within the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. The initiative is a new partnership between the nonprofit and the Winter Recreation Program at Washington State Parks.
With winter recreation drawing snowshoers, skiers, sled dog teams, sled riders, snowmobilers, and others looking to experience Washington’s beautiful, snowy scenery, Sno-Parks and trailheads along the I-90 corridor can become busy and sometimes confusing for visitors. The Trailhead Ambassador Program aims to provide an easy, friendly, and informative welcome to help ensure a safe, enjoyable, and respectful experience for all.
About the Program
- Volunteers will be stationed at popular Sno-Parks (Gold Creek, Crystal Springs, and Cabin Creek) on Saturday mornings. They will welcome visitors, help them find trails, share snow-specific etiquette and safety information, offer details about the State Parks Winter Recreation Program, collect use data, and even help sell Sno-Park passes.
- Shifts run in three-hour blocks from late December 2025 through early March 2026 (depending on snow conditions). Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of two shifts per season.
- Before their first shift, volunteers complete a short, one-hour online training covering program basics, relevant site details, safety protocols, and visitor engagement approaches.
No prior winter or outdoor experience is required, just enthusiasm for the outdoors, a willingness to help, and reliable transportation to and from the trailhead. Ambassadors must be 18 years or older.
Why This Matters
With increasing recreational use of public lands and shrinking land manager capacity, volunteer Trailhead Ambassadors provide crucial support. Their presence helps visitors choose appropriate trails, follow etiquette, and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. In turn, Ambassadors support sustainable recreation, help protect natural resources, and foster community stewardship of public lands. The program also provides a great opportunity for Ambassadors to learn transferable skills and network with land managers and outdoor recreation organizations.
How to Get Involved
To become a Trailhead Ambassador, interested individuals should complete the short online interest form (takes under five minutes). From there, they will receive information to proceed to the training, sign up for desired shifts, and start volunteering.
Visit the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust website to learn more and sign up: mtsgreenway.org/get-involved/volunteer/trailhead-ambassadors/.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area is a federally designated geographic corridor made up of connected ecosystems and communities spanning 1.5 million acres from Seattle to Ellensburg along Interstate-90 in Washington state.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (shortened as “Greenway Trust”) has been working for 35 years to conserve and enhance this incredible landscape — building and maintaining trails, restoring wildlife habitat, and connecting youth to the outdoors through environmental education. Through our mission, we strive for a long-term balance between people and nature.
