Natural Resources

Colockum NRC Tours

Washington State has an immense diversity of ecosystems, many of which you can see in the space of a few miles as you climb west through the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains, out of the shrub-steppe on the Columbia River into open ponderosa pine and on up into alpine forest on the Clockum Natural Resource Center.

The Colockum NRC is located 20 miles south of Wenatchee and is comprised of more than 11,000 acres of land available for your enjoyment.  Family gatherings, individuals and small groups are welcome. 

Each year, the Colockum Natural Resources Center is pleased to be able to host horseback field trips which focus on forestry, range management, wildlife habitat, and watershed function.  The natural resource education field trips on horesback have been a part of the program here for fifteen years.  They have proven to be an effect way to teach about shrub-steppe and forest systems, function and management.  This type of field trip presents an excellent opportunity to introduce concepts of how humans fit into wildlife function and sustainability.  Students learn about plant identification, habitat types, forest management, sustainable grazing principles and management tools, ecosystem interactions, and fire ecology.  The class stresses responsible resource stewardship on both public and private wildlands.

The Colockum Natural Resource Center is available for:

K-12 School Groups: Natural Resource and Science classes; Senior Culminating project work; FFA groups; Teacher in-service and more.

Universities and Colleges: class groups for study, tour or research; faculty for research and demonstration work related to courses or degree programs.

Community Youth Groups such as: 4-H, Scouts, Campfire - and others who want to learn about shrub-steppe environments.

Professional Educators who need a place to learn through hands-on training.

Adult Community Groups seeking to explore and understand our natural environment

Other Groups: Contact Ray Faini for special arrangements.

(Click Here for Contacts)

Miller-Blue Outfitters is available to supply horses for tours April 15-May 30 (generally), and again from the end of August through early October.  If you are able to supply your own horses, tours can be arranged between April 15 - October 10 (as long as trails are stable, not covered in snow, or occupied by hunters). 

Reservations, fees, and driving directions regarding the Colockum NRC are available here