In December 2025, Trust for Public Land (TPL) protected 11,520 acres in the Upper Wenatchee watershed in Chelan County, Washington. The acquisition completes Phases 1 and 2 of a long-term effort to conserve up to 35,000 acres within and around Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest by 2030. On the same day the property was purchased, TPL conveyed the land to the U.S. Forest Service in a back-to-back transaction, ensuring permanent public ownership and opening the door for coordinated restoration, wildfire resilience work, and improved watershed health.
Although there are other areas for recreation in the County, demand has far exceeded availability. Millions of visitors access these areas each year, supporting the local economy. The protection of Phases 1 and 2 supports outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and backcountry skiing, along with motorcycling, and OHV riding. Access to forestland allows for dispersed recreational activities such as hunting and wildlife viewing. The newly protected lands expand access to a 50-mile trail system west of Wenatchee, secure key connections between Horse Lake Mountain, No. 2 Canyon, and Sage Hills, and strengthen a critical wildlife corridor linking the Cascades to the Columbia River Valley.
The Upper Wenatchee watershed provides habitat for threatened and endangered species including gray wolf, northern spotted owl, Upper Columbia steelhead, bull trout, and whitebark pine. Protecting this landscape also helps address long-standing challenges caused by checkerboard land ownership, allowing for more holistic forest management that will expand public input and enhance wildlife resilience on a tract that is in the 88th percentile for Projected Wildfire Risk.
This milestone advances the community-driven vision outlined in the Upper Wenatchee Community Lands Plan and was made possible in part by support from The Conservation Alliance, alongside strong local and national partnerships.
