Monte Cristo Natural Area Preserve

grand fir - Douglas-fir forest
This 1,151-acre preserve includes a grand fir - Douglas-fir forest with dry grassland balds and shrublands. It contains representatives of most of the grand fir-zone plant communities found in the southern part of the eastern Cascades and includes a wide diversity of wildlife habitat. Most of the forest on the site ranges from 130-160 years in age and is naturally regenerated from past wildfires. Exposed, dry slopes on the preserve support patches of Oregon white oak - Fremont silktassel chaparral habitat and open grassland balds. The preserve also protects the upper half of the Dry Creek watershed.

Features Protected: Grand fir-zone plant communities (grand fir/vine maple, grand fir/mesic forb, grand fir/Oregon grape, grand fir/pinegrass-elk sedge, grand fir/vanilla leaf, and grand fir/huckleberry plant communities), mid-elevation stream and riparian system, and clustered lady-slipper
Ecoregion: East Cascades (Klickitat County)

Science, Research and Monitoring

Public and private universities, other research institutions and individual researchers may contact DNR to propose a research project at the site. If you are interested inpursuing research at Monte Cristo NAP, please contact David Wilderman, natural areas ecologist, at david.wilderman@dnr.wa.gov

Environmental Education and Public Access

Currently no formal educational programs are available at Monte Cristo NAP. The site is not ADA accessible and facilities are not available. For more information, contact the DNR Southeast Region natural areas manager.