Field Trips

1) Salmon Restoration on the Elwha River

Join a tour of the restoration at 2 important sites on the Elwha River since two dams were removed over a decade ago.

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 8:30am

This is a great field trip if you’d like to learn about restoration work in the Elwha watershed for the salmon, orcas and greater ecosystem. How has the river, riparian habitat, vegetation and wildlife changed since the historic Elwha dams removal?

The tour will leave Fort Worden at 8:30 am, via either carpooling or a shuttle bus (TBD). We will provide sack lunches for everyone who wishes, and people are welcome to bring their own food.

The morning tour is at the Balcomb Big Salmon Ranch (BBSR) on the Elwha River. The BBSR site is a few miles west of Port Angeles, a 1.5 hour trip from Ft. Worden. The BBSR is managed by the Center for Whale Research (CWR), a conservation organization that works to research, monitor and protect Southern Resident Orcas. The tour will be led by Howard Garrett, member of the Board of Directors of CWR and an orca expert..

Howard will show people the BBSR site, explain the restoration activities and answer questions about Elwha restoration, orcas and salmon. Touring the BBSR to the Elwha River entails a round-trip walk of about 1.25 mi, with ~300' elevation loss/gain. The walk is on old ranch roads, moderate, but with some steepness. Howard may be able to provide transport via UTV if people request it (limited space).

We will leave the BBSR by noon, with our lunch break on the way to the estuary of the mighty Elwha River where it meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Our afternoon tour of the Elwha estuary is planned with a Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (LEKT) Natural Resources staff member or other person knowledgeable about the Elwha dam removals and restoration.

There will be a walking tour of the Elwha estuary and beach, with about ½ mile of easy walking on a flat park road out to the beach, to talk about the area's importance to the LEKT, the history of the Elwha dams removal, and the remarkable recovery of the Elwha estuary and ecosystem since their removal.

We will depart from the Elwha estuary tour by 2 pm, allowing ample time to return to Ft. Worden in time for the evening's gala opening at Finn River at 5 pm!"

2) Naiome’s Longhouse for the People

Field trip leaves to newly-built Naiome’s Longhouse for the People; and hands-on planting of Ethnobotany Garden.

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 9:00am

Field trip to the Longhouse, Tyee House, on Dabob Road (between Chimacum and Quilcene). Naiome Kreinke is the motivating force behind the creating the Longhouse.  The main part of the construction was just finished recently. Paul Chiyokten Wagner will talk about the role of Longhouses' in Salish Sea cultures. Naoime will talk about how this one came into being. While we are there, we will plant a native, cultural-plant garden of edible, medicinal, and fiber plants. Bring gloves.  It was illegal for longhouses to be built in Jefferson County until just recently.  There are not that many Longhouses in the region at this time, and fewer that have dirt floors like the Tyee House. 

We will carpool from the Finnriver Cidery’s back parking lot at 10:00 am.Thursday May 7.  124 Center Road, Chimacum, WA, It is about a 20-minute drive to the site. We will return at 4:00 pm in time for the Gala Reception at Finnriver. 

3) Chimacum Ridge Community Forest

Field trip to Chimacum Ridge Community Forest leaves Fort Worden.

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 9:30am

This field trip is a wonderful opportunity to experience and learn about forest restoration within a community forest model.  The trip is approximately a 4 hour, 3.5 mile guided walking tour with Ryen Helzer, the forest manager of Chimacum Ridge Community Forest.  The walking tour is on easy mostly level forest roads including 300 ft of moderate elevation gain.  Attendees will meet at Finn River Farm & Cidery rear parking lot at 9:30 then carpool to the Chimacum ridge parking lot.  Parking is very limited at the Community Forest.  Sack lunches will be provided for those who choose that option.  People are welcome to bring their own food. Please dress appropriately with layers and rain gear if necessary.

Founded in 1989, Jefferson Land Trust is a local, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to preserving the rural character and iconic landscapes of Jefferson County. In partnership with the community, the Land Trust has helped to protect nearly 19,000 acres of our area’s most important places.

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest is a 918-acre forest that was protected by Jefferson Land Trust and is owned by a subsidiary of the Land Trust. Chimacum Ridge is managed for a balance of ecological, economic, recreational, and educational benefits. Through ecological forestry practices, this working forest supports healthy habitat, climate resilience, and a structurally diverse landscape, while contributing to the community’s economic vitality and the preservation of rural landscapes and ways of life.

Olympic Rainforest

Monday, May 11, 2026 - 1:00pm