These animals do not come through downtown. They travel down the ridge from Tower Mountain, Mica Peak and Turnbull Wildlife Refuge following their corridor to the Dishman Hills Natural Resources Conservation Area commonly known as the Dishman Hills Natural Area. They can’t own and protect their travel way, but with your help we can.

Welcome to our website!  Download a map and travel the forest pathways or take a virtual trip through our photo gallery both here and on Facebook, then help us keep Spokane Near Nature, Near Perfect.

 

Vision

The vision of the Dishman Hills Conservancy is a vibrant and contiguous ecosystem in the Dishman Hills area, permanently protected, well managed and recognized as an asset for the community.

 

Core Values

                             Integrity       Stewardship       Advocacy

 

Mission

Our mission is to conserve the lands within the Dishman Hills, Dishman Ridge and Tower Mountain areas. We work towards this goal by collaboration with private land owners, other organizations and government entities with a similar vision. We steward these lands using high standards of land trust management and we advocate for their value as a natural and educational resource.

 

* Discover Pass Not Required for Dishman Hills Trailheads

 

The Dishman Hills Natural Area Association (DHNAA) Board elected to change the name of the organization to doing business as (DBA) the Dishman Hills Conservancy (DHC) in Spring 2012 to reflect the significant conservation land owned and stewardship activities outside of the Natural Area. DHC still focuses on the Dishman Hills including the Natural Resource Conservation Area to the north and Rocks of Sharon on the south side, but will as well be helping with the new Dishman Hills Conservation Area, Iller Creek Conservation Area and lots of other projects. This proposed name change was then presented to the membership on 15 January, 2013 during the annual membership meeting and made permanent with the historic DHNAA name being transitioned to a DBA.

 

A brief history of the Dishman Hills Natural Area Project
by Thomas H. Rogers (1970?)

The idea of a Dishman Hills Natural Area began to take shape during the summer of 1964. After having hiked the trails, clambered over the cliffs and led groups of children through the area on nature hikes for the summer recreation program of Spokane County Parks and Recreation Department for several years, I realized the possibilities of the hills for recreation of the wild area type. The rugged granite outcroppings, forested slopes, hundreds of kinds of wild flowers and shrubs and many kinds of animals, plus the nearness of the area to residential areas of Spokane, made the Hills ideal for this.

 

Read More - History of the Dishman Hills Natural Area

 

 

Dishman Hills Natural Area is a very special woodland. It is close to the city and yet retains its wild nature. The first consideration is given to wildlife and habitat. Recreational use is secondary and limited to hiking/walking only.
Management is critical and here are guidelines to follow.

Read More - Dishman Hills Etiquette

 

Dogs are welcome at Dishman Hills Natural Area, but they must always be on a leash. Dogs off leash tend to disrupt wildlife and may disturb other park visitors. If your dog is discovered off a leash, you can be subject to a $76 fine by the Park Ranger. 

Dog feces is also unpleasant to see, smell and step in. Please bag it and dispose of it in a trash container or use a stick to dig a hole and bury it off the trail. That will help with both decomposition and smell. Dog bag dispensers are now located at many of the official trail heads for you to help in this matter. 

 

ITS NOT ALL OUR FAULT: 

(From March 2006 issue of Lights and Shadows from the Dishman Hills  monthly newsletter by Michael Hamilton)

Several topographic features in the northern and eastern parts of the Natural Area have a very interesting geologic story to tell. A series of parallel ravines starting with the main trail south of Camp Caro to Caro Cliff and through Enchanted Ravine, and Deep Ravine along with several more ravines further to the east, all represent faults where the Earth's crust has been fractured and moved.

 

Read More - Geology of the Dishman Hills Area