Washington’s East Cascades are home to some of Columbia Land Trust’s greatest conservation successes, and some of our largest current opportunities. Thanks to your past support, we’ve secured key conservation victories here, and it remains a focus area as we work to conserve priority sites outlined by our Conservation Agenda. We are gearing up for an ambitious conservation campaign in coming years and we are excited to invite you to visit landscapes that are both beautiful and critically important to wildlife, forestry, and the cultural heritage of the Yakama Nation.
Fall color will be on display in the area’s beautiful oak woodlands, which are home to a vast amount of wildlife including threatened species such as the wolverine and Northern spotted owl. We’ll be joined by Columbia Land Trust staff along our route who will interpret the landscape and provide insight into the challenges and opportunities for conservation in this region. Lunch will be provided and enjoyed at a scenic overlook of Klickitat Canyon.
Guests carpooling with us from Vancouver should plan on meeting at 8:30am at our Vancouver office and returning there by 5pm. Guests joining our caravan in White Salmon should plan to join us at 10am and be back in White Salmon by 3:30pm. This driving tour has three interpretive stops that will feature a light amount of walking, some of which does involve rugged, steeper terrain. Our loop will start and end in White Salmon, you can see a preview in the map on this page.
Registration:
Please click on one of the links below to register for that date.
Safety and Planning:
October in the East Cascades can bring sun, wind, rain, and sometimes all three! Please dress in layers to be comfortable in wind or light rain, and wear hiking shoes with strong ankle support. We will not be doing any intensive hiking but will walk around at each stop, some of which include uneven rocky terrain and steeper inclines. If we’re treated to a sunny day, prepare by packing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
We will be walking through certain sites that are home to poison oaks, ticks, and rattlesnakes, some of which may be going dormant in October as fall temperatures drop. You can prevent exposure by wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts. Wearing lighter colored pants which can be tucked into tall socks or boots is one way to limit exposure to ticks.
We will be traveling with a first aid kit including a defibrillator. Safety and comfort are our highest priority on our trip!
To that end, please review and sign our Tour Participant Release Form in advance of the tour date.
Below is a sample list of packing items which you can use as a checklist:
- Hiking boots that protect your ankles.
- Walking sticks or poles if you find them helpful for stability on uneven terrain.
- We will be visiting exposed areas, so it is advisable to dress in layers for brisk winds and direct sun.
- Please pack your own drinking water. Snacks and lunch will be provided.
- Though not required, you can bring binoculars for birdwatching.
Contact:
We will contact you a few weeks in advance of the date to coordinate carpooling and to provide further information. You are welcome to reach out at any time with questions at events@columbialandtrust.org, or by calling Events Manager Peter Condra at (503) 847-3342.