Join the Spokane Audubon Society and Dishman Hills Conservancy (DHC) for an exclusive opportunity to visit the Wilson Conservation area portion of the DHC. The Wilson Conservation area is not currently open to the public and participation is limited to 12 guests. The trailhead is located off of the Palouse Hwy at the end of Willow Springs road.
An environmental studies professor at Gonzaga, Jon has been birding the Inland Northwest for over 20 years. He is currently a reviewer for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird project and currently serves as vice president of the Washington Ornithological Society.
Hike description: This hike has four sections for a total distance of just over 2 miles, 400 feet of elevation gain/loss.
Section 1: The Wilson overlook trail is a steady, gradual incline for 1.1 miles with a 400 feet elevation gain.
Section 2: Descends 150 feet into a valley along a difficult, steep, sometimes slick section for about 100 yards. This straight in and straight-out game trail connects with the next section of jeep trail.
Section 3: Is a gradual slope of about 3/4 mile decent along the riparian habitat.
Section 4: The final section taking us back to the parking area is about 1/4 mile of moderately steep up and down, ending at the Wilson Office.
The route takes us through Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir habitat dominated by Nine-bark and Ocean Spray shrub habitat. In this section, participants will hear and see many of our common year-round resident birds. When we arrive at the overlook, the area opens into a small clearing of shrubs and P.Pine. When we descend into the valley, the habitat changes to Aspen, Grand Fir, and other shrub species. Bird species here prefer habitats with more water and over 20 different birds were seen and heard in past hikes.
The trailhead has a porta-potty and after the hike we can look at the wide variety of wildlife pictures taken on the property by our volunteer, Ray Owens.
