Guidelines for Educational Activities at Cowiche Canyon and Snow Mountain Ranch

Commercial Use Policy:  Commercial use of Cowiche Canyon properites is by permission only. Certain conditions will apply.  

Cowiche Canyon Conservancy encourages the use of Conservancy property for educational field trips, science projects, community service, and customized curriculum.  Currently there are limited existing programs, so you should plan your educational activity with learning objectives within your own curriculum guidelines.  The Conservancy will make every effort to support your activity with resource information. 

In order to optimize your visit and avoid any conflicting activities, the Conservancy asks that you coordinate your visit through the CCC office, 509-248-5065.

Scheduling your visit is important because at times the property may be unavailable due to trail maintenance.  You will be visiting a natural area and conditions such as flooding, impassable trails or other unsafe conditions may exist.

Please consider the following conditions in planning your visit:

• Limited parking is available.  (Accommodations can be made for parking specialized vehicles, buses and vans.)
• Currently there are no permanent bathroom facilities, but there is a portable toilet available.
• There is no drinking water.  It is very important to bring adequate water for your planned activity.
• There are no tables, chairs or covered shelters on site.
• Visitors need to dress appropriately for the weather and wear shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground. 
• Children should be supervised at all times since the areas include steep rocky trails, cliffs, creeks, unfenced bridges, and irrigation ditches.
• School groups are responsible for providing an adequate number of chaperones in compliance with there school district policy, as well as insurance coverage during the time of their visit to the site.
• You are visiting the natural habitat of a variety of plants, insects, animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, some of which bite and sting!  Rattlesnake sightings are common in Cowiche Canyon in spring, summer and fall.  Poison oak can be encountered in Cowiche Canyon.  Be aware of ticks in spring and yellowjackets in the fall at Snow Mountain Ranch.