Program areas at Cowiche Canyon Conservancy
Science education and outreach is a key program for CCC. Our natural landscapes, wildlife diversity and accessible trail system provide the perfect platform for our Education and Community Outreach (E.C.O.) Program. The E.C.O. Program serves school aged children through nature programs in the field, and adult life-long learners through guided field trips, online information sharing and lectures. The E.C.O. Program also engages in citizen science with lead investigators on a variety of research projects for publication.
CCCs natural trail system through this stunning landscape has become a destination for outdoor hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding over the years. Designed to offer a wilderness feeling within minutes of an urban center, it is widely considered one of the best spring hiking areas in Washington state, with trails meandering through stream canyons, aspen and oak groves, meadows and cliffs. CCCs recreation program manages over 50 miles of natural trails, and serves over 100,000 visitors annually. CCC invests in trail maintenance, signage, maps, online resources and trail head facilities to improve user experiences on our trail system.
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (CCC) was founded in 1985 to preserve a scenic rails-to-trails use of Cowiche Canyon for conservation and non-motorized recreation. In 2005, CCC acquired a former grazing lands ranch near the Canyon on Cowiche Mountain, knitting together a premier natural landscape for conserving the area's diversity of wildlife and natural habitat. CCCs conservation program has since led to the protection of over 6,300 acres of beautiful lands with rare plants, animals, fish and butterflies. Ongoing conservation efforts have restored former agriculture lands to native habitats.