ICYMI: Congresswoman Schrier Hikes Portion of Enchantments with Local Leaders, Urges Trump Administration Again to Address Worsening Conditions

LEAVENWORTH, WA - On Friday, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) joined Chelan County leaders, environmental advocates, and a former U.S. Forest Service employee on a hike in the Enchantments Wilderness Area. During their visit, Congresswoman Schrier and local leaders collected litter on the trail, seeing firsthand the deteriorating conditions in the area that have threatened the environment, visitor safety, conservation efforts, and local economies.

View photos and b-roll from the hike HERE.

Following her visit, Congresswoman Schrier sent a letter further urging the Trump Administration to restore adequate Forest Service staffing levels, improve trail conditions, and implement a day-use reservation system to address overcrowding and preserve this incredible wilderness area.

"Given that permanent staffing at the Wenatchee River Ranger District is still at critically low levels, it remains impossible to properly carry out basic duties of parking and trail enforcement, waste management, public safety, and forest health management, let alone the planning and implementation of a brand-new day-use management system," Congresswoman Schrier writes. "Restoring permanent staffing positions to carry out this vital work remains a necessary first step to properly addressing issues at The Enchantments."

The letter continues, "I strongly urge the Forest Service to identify and take short-term measures with strong community consultation to increase public safety and help relieve the local ecosystem of the wilderness before the start of the 2027 field season."

Read the full letter HERE.

BACKGROUND: The Trump Administration's Forest Service cuts forced the Wenatchee River Ranger District, which staffs the Enchantments, down to just one employee from 11 in 2025. Insufficient staffing has led to diminished capacity to serve visitors, inadequate land management, and overflowing toilets that threaten Icicle Creek: Leavenworth's drinking water source.

Congresswoman Schrier hasurged the Trump Administration to remedy these deteriorating conditions and pressed the administration toaddress poor Forest Service trail conditions andinsufficient staffing in the Enchantments.

Congresswoman Schrier held a roundtable discussion in July with local leaders, emergency responders, outdoor enthusiasts, and volunteers to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration's cuts to the USFS on the Enchantments Wilderness Area.

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