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What is the Northwest Motorcycle Association?
The Northwest Motorcycle Association (NMA) is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Washington State that serves as a resource for off-road motorcycle riding and works to protect public land access for off-road riders. According to its site, it was formed in 1937 to bring Washington's motorcycle clubs together, and since 1973 has focused on public land access rights.
What the NMA does
Based on the organization's own description, its work includes:
- Supporting a Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew and a Heavy Maintenance Crew
- Land use and legislative projects
- Participation in the National Off-Highway Conservation Council and the Outdoor Recreation Caucus of Washington
- Holding a board seat in the Big Tent Coalition
- TreadLightly signage projects
- Publishing competition and poker run schedules
Who it is for
The NMA presents itself as relevant to individual riders, motorcycle clubs and businesses, and frames membership as a numbers-based way to support dirt biking on Washington public lands. A rider who uses Washington trails and wants trail maintenance and land-access advocacy to continue is the clearest fit; someone riding only on private tracks or outside the state has less direct reason to join.
How to decide
If trail access and volunteer trail work in Washington matter to you, the practical next step is to check the NMA's event schedules and volunteer opportunities, then compare membership with a local club. For national context on off-road riding and conservation, see the American Trails; for land-access advocacy beyond Washington, the American Recreation Coalition is not the right fit, so look instead to national rider organizations such as the American Motorcyclist Association.
How do I join the NMA and what are the membership benefits?
Joining the NMA is framed on its homepage as a call to membership for individuals, clubs and businesses, with the stated purpose of supporting off-road riding on Washington public lands. The page presents Join NMA alongside Volunteer and Donate as the main ways to get involved, and it describes the organization as volunteer-run and non-profit, formed in 1937 and focused on public land access rights since 1973.
What membership is presented as supporting
The homepage lists recent work that member dollars go toward, which is the clearest statement of benefits on the page:
- A Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew that supports volunteers
- Participation in the Outdoor Recreation Caucus of Washington
- A board seat in the Big Tent Coalition
- Competition and Poker Run schedules
- Participation in the National Off-Highway Conservation Council
- Land use and legislative projects
- TreadLightly signage projects
- Heavy Maintenance Crew support and administration
These are collective benefits — access advocacy, event schedules and trail work — rather than individual perks like discounts or gear. The page also states that "each member is an ambassador" and asks members to encourage riding buddies to join, so the value proposition is strength in numbers for land access.
Practical next step
Use the Join NMA link on Northwest Motorcycle Association as the entry point, and decide between an individual, club or business membership based on whether you ride solo or belong to an organized group. If your main interest is trail stewardship rather than advocacy, the Volunteer path may suit you better than a paid membership.
How to judge whether it fits you
A rider who mainly wants trail conditions and event dates will find the competition and poker run schedules useful. A rider concerned about closures on Washington public lands is the core audience described on the page. If you are outside Washington State, the land-use work described is state-specific, so the fit is weaker. The page does not list dues, membership tiers or a benefits table, so confirm those details at the point of joining rather than assuming them.
What does the NMA do to protect off-road motorcycle access on Washington public lands?
The Northwest Motorcycle Association (NMA) protects off-road motorcycle access in Washington mainly through advocacy, volunteer work and coalition participation rather than through land ownership or law enforcement. Its own account traces this role to 1973, when it made public land access rights for off-road riders a core focus, and says it has worked to preserve and protect those rights since.
Concrete activities it describes
- Land-use and legislative projects: tracking and engaging on policy decisions that affect where and how off-road motorcycles can ride on public lands.
- Coalition and committee seats: participating in the Outdoor Recreation Caucus of Washington, holding a board seat in the Big Tent Coalition, and taking part in the National Offhighway Conservation Council.
- Volunteer trail work: supporting a Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew and helping administer a Heavy Maintenance Crew, which keeps riding areas usable and demonstrates rider stewardship.
- Signage and responsible-use messaging: TreadLightly signage projects aimed at reducing conflict and environmental damage.
- Organized riding: competition and poker run schedules that sustain club activity and rider numbers.
How the pieces fit together
The strategy is essentially "strength in numbers": members and clubs supply the volunteer labor and political voice, while the organization channels that into land-use advocacy and coalitions. For a rider, the practical value is representation in decisions about trail closures and access, plus volunteer opportunities that help maintain the trails they use.
A useful next step
If you ride in Washington, check which of these activities matter most to you—advocacy, trail maintenance, or organized events—and look at the membership and volunteer options on Northwest Motorcycle Association to match your time and interests.
Where can I find the NMA's competition and poker run schedules?
The NMA's competition and poker run schedules are on the association's own site: Northwest Motorcycle Association. The home page lists "Competition and Poker Run Schedules" among the things the NMA is currently working on, which points to these schedules as a regular, maintained part of the organization's offerings.
How to use that in practice
If you're planning a season, treat the NMA site as the starting point rather than the finish line. A rider in Spokane deciding between a weekend enduro and a poker run would check the schedule page first for dates, then confirm event-specific details—start times, entry requirements, staging areas—with the hosting club or promoter, since those logistics usually live with the event organizer rather than the association.
As general advice, not a description of this site: schedules posted by volunteer organizations can shift with weather, land-access decisions, or permitting, so re-check close to the event date. If you ride regularly in Washington, an NMA membership is framed on the page as the way to support public-land access work—relevant if race dates and trail availability matter to you.
Related official sources
- Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Association for regional racing context
- American Motorcyclist Association for sanctioned event information
How can I volunteer with the NMA Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew or Heavy Maintenance Crew?
The NMA's page confirms that both the Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew and the Heavy Maintenance Crew are active parts of its work on Washington public lands, but it does not publish a sign-up form or crew contact on this page. The practical route is to join the NMA first, then ask directly about crew openings and schedules.
A sensible first step
Use the Join NMA link on Northwest Motorcycle Association to become a member, since the organization describes itself as volunteer-run and strength-in-numbers based. When you join, state in your message that you want to volunteer with the Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew or the Heavy Maintenance Crew, and mention your riding experience, any trail-building or equipment skills, and the areas of Washington you can reach.
What to expect and how to prepare
- Trail crew work tends to suit riders who can combine riding with brushing, clearing and light trail repair; expect to carry hand tools and follow crew leaders' instructions.
- Heavy maintenance is better suited to people comfortable with machinery, heavier tools or sustained physical work; be honest about your experience level so you are matched to appropriate tasks.
- Practical readiness: bring water, gloves, sturdy boots, eye and ear protection where required, and a bike in reliable condition. Confirm meeting points, start times and whether camping or a discovery pass is needed before the day.
If you are not yet a member
Clubs affiliated with the NMA are another route in: club members often hear about work parties first. Ask your local club whether it fields crews for NMA projects, and check the NMA Facebook feed mentioned on the site for work-party announcements. If you ride in a specific area, such as Capitol Forest or Tahuya, say so when you make contact, because crew scheduling usually follows the riding areas that need work.
A useful decision criterion: if you want regular, scheduled trail work, ask to be added to the crew's notice list; if you can offer occasional heavy lifting or equipment, say that explicitly, since those skills are harder to find and often determine what projects get done.
How can I donate to support dirt biking on Washington public lands?
The Northwest Motorcycle Association's own site lists Donate as one of its main actions, alongside Volunteer and Join NMA, and it states that donations go toward its work supporting dirt biking on Washington public lands. On Northwest Motorcycle Association, look for the Donate link in the top action area to find the current giving options.
What your donation supports
The organization describes its work as including:
- The Moto-Volunteer Trail Crew
- A seat in the Big Tent Coalition and participation in the Outdoor Recreation Caucus of Washington
- Land use and legislative projects
- TreadLightly signage projects
- Heavy Maintenance Crew support and administration
- Participation in the National Off-Highway Conservation Council
Membership versus a donation
A donation is a direct contribution; an NMA membership is the organization's stated way to add your voice and numbers to its advocacy. If your main goal is trail access and legislative work, membership may fit better; if you simply want to fund the work, donate.
Practical next step
Check whether your employer matches charitable gifts, and keep the receipt for your records. If you also ride or belong to a club, consider combining a donation with a membership so your support covers both funding and representation.
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