Situated on the spectacular Columbia Plateau, these large preserves are protecting open skies, dramatic geology and fascinating desert species in this region. Totaling more than 30,000 acres, these are some of the Nature Conservancy’s largest preserves in Washington, offering incredible geological scenery such as Ice Age floods-carved coulees, pothole lakes, haystack boulders, waterfalls and dunes. These preserves provide habitat for resident species in need of protection, including the sage grouse, Columbia sharp-tailed grouse, pygmy rabbit, Washington ground squirrel and 14 of the 15 bat species found in Washington.

The Moses Coulee and Beezley Hills Preserves are located in the heart of the unceded ancestral homelands of the škwáxčənəxʷ (Sinkaiuse) people, known today as the Moses Columbia Tribe. This landscape was also used and cared for by the neighboring šnp̓əšqʷáw̓šəxʷ (P’squosa) people, known today as the Wenatchi Tribe. The Moses Columbia and Wenatchi tribes are two of the twelve constituent tribes of the present-day federally recognized Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The entire Beezley Hills Preserve is within an area ceded by the Yakama people to the federal government under the Treaty of 1855, in which Yakama tribal members retained their rights to continue to conduct practices in their Usual and Accustomed places across public lands. The Wenatshapam and Pisquouse are two of the 14 bands that comprise the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and consider this area part of their traditional homelands. They stewarded the entire land base of what is now central Washington, from the lowlands around the Columbia River to the snow-peaked Cascade Mountains.

This region is an important example of Washington’s shrub-steppe, which historically comprised almost a third of the state’s entire land mass. Currently, more than two-thirds of this habitat has been lost to development. Through management of these preserves, The Nature Conservancy is working to ensure the long-term conservation of shrub-steppe habitat and its native species. Our efforts include partnering with public and private landowners to advance the long-term conservation of functional shrub-steppe habitat; collaborating with agencies, farmers and ranchers to support viable populations of resident grouse and pygmy rabbit; and working with partners, researchers and volunteers to monitor plants and wildlife.

These preserves are open year-round and offer a variety of beautiful sites to explore! View wildflowers on the Monument Hill Trail during spring, listen for bats at Dutch Henry Falls during summer evenings and visit McCartney Creek Meadow to observe its birds. Help keep this region safe for wildlife by leaving your canine companions at home, not removing plants or animals from the preserves and staying established trails.

For more information on the Moses Coulee/Beezley Hills Preserves, please click here.

Directions

Directions to Moses Coulee From Wenatchee: Take Highway 2, north to Orondo and then east to Waterville. Continue east from Waterville on the highway for approximately 20 miles until the road drops down into Moses Coulee.
Directions to Beezley Hills from Wenatchee: Take WA-285S/Stevens St east to Highway 28, then stay on the highway approximately 32 miles to Quincy. Go north on Columbia Way/Rd P NW/Monument Hill Rd for approximately 8 miles to access the preserve.