Our Work
The Issaquah Alps Trails Club has been working for over forty years to advocate for the conservation of our public lands, access to trails, and strategic management of our healthy habitats.
Today we continue to pursue this mission by leading free educational guided hikes, through our Adopt-a-Trail program, by partnering with other organizations like Green Issaquah and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, and by engaging our members to take action when needed.
In 2019, the we came together as an organization to outline a new strategic plan for the next five years. We are excited to continue working to serve our mission and community and hope you will join us too.
Strategic Priorities
Our priority areas reflect how we turn our mission into action every day.
Preserve
We advocate for the continued acquisition of public lands and their stewardship. We do this through…
Critical Acquisitions
Help secure funding
Engage with public officials
Build coalitions
Increase public lands
Healthy Habitats
Highway 18 - Project
Public outreach and awareness
Influence
Wildlife and recreation access
Protect
We make sure our public lands remain accessible to all, now and into the future. We do this through…
Trail Connections
Connect regional trails
Support ongoing maintenance and improved access
Connect people to the trails
Help secure funding
Climate Change Action
Partner organization collaboration
Increase carbon sequestration
Support forest fire resiliency
Support land managers
Promote
We bring together our community and partners to build a coalition of passionate advocates for our public lands. We do this through…
Community Engagement
Storytelling
Guided hikes with purpose
Social media
Philanthropy
Special events
Volunteer programs
Partnerships
Land manager relationships
Nonprofit relationships
Building an inclusive outdoors with a diverse community
Current Projects
Read about the projects we are currently working on.
Save Coal Creek
The city of Bellevue is considering housing development at Coal Creek in Bellevue. The existing horse pasture, barns and homes would be replaced by 35 new houses and 3 roads. The project will block a critical wildlife corridor.
SR-18 Redevelopment
The redevelopment of State Route 18 is an opportunity to improve wildlife connectivity, enhance recreation infrastructure for all, and provide safe and efficient highway transportation for our region. Unfortunately, the current design plan is lacking in these areas.
Climate action
IATC continues to educate and engage the public about the impacts of climate change and the importance of advocating for actions to reduce carbon emissions and support healthy forests in and surrounding Issaquah.
Opportunity Fund
In a time of rising real estate prices, key parcels - like the one near Coal Creek - are in high demand and frequently sell well above value, outpricing public agencies who are limited in what they can pay to acquire them.
Opportunities to save parcels like the one next to Coal Creek are unpredictable, and available resources - like funding - are critical to securing these properties as public lands.
This is why we have created the Issaquah Alps Opportunity Fund. This fund empowers generous donors to advocate for the Issaquah Alps landscape and its habitat by providing resources specifically to fund public land acquisitions, support land management, and engage the community in order to fulfill our mission to preserve, protect, and promote the Issaquah Alps for present and future generations.
If you’d like to make a donation dedicated to the Opportunity Fund today - reach out at contact@issaquahalps.org.
Become an Advocate of the Alps
Our work wouldn’t be possible without the help of our community of passionate donors and volunteers. The IATC collaborates with partner organizations, public land management agencies, and citizen volunteers to advocate for the preservation and protection of our parks, trails, and wildlands. Our Issaquah Alps require strong partnerships, active volunteers, and adequate funding in order to preserve and maintain these unique public lands. Help us give back to the parks, trails, and open spaces today.
Advocacy News
