This natural area is notable for dramatically sculpted terrain left by  the enormous floods which issued from Glacial Lake Missoula. The resulting landscape of scoured out potholes, ponds, ridges and gullies support grassland ledges speckled with ponderosa pine, and habitat for one of the last remaining populations of water howellia, an endangered plant. 

Wildlife using the site include coyotes, weasels, squirrels and chipmunks, marmots, porcupines, cottontail rabbits and white-tailed deer. Raptors, ruffed tailed grouse and pheasants and more than 50 species of butterflies are also present. Camp Caro, a county park at the north end of the Dishman Hills, serves as a start off point for outdoor education classes. In the spring, an annual buttercup hike is sponsored by the Dishman Hills Natural Areas Association. 

The natural area totals 518-acres just east of Spokane, and is held and jointly managed by three landowners; Spokane County (228 acres), Dishman Hills Natural Areas Association (220 acres), and DNR-NRCA (70 acres) (Spokane County).