Size: 4 acres
Location: Klickitat County, WA
Acquired: 2020
Sold: 2025

The Catherine Creek area is exceptionally important due to its scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources. Friends’ purchase of this 4-acre parcel in 2020 was part of a long-term plan to increase public access to this beautiful place.  

When Friends purchased the property, it was very degraded from decades of domestic uses, agriculture, and mining. Friends staff prepared the property for public ownership by removing debris and several buildings as well as planting native plants. 

Over the last several years, Friends partnered with design firms Mayer/Reed and DAO Architecture to design a future configuration for the site, with accessible recreation at the forefront. Friends transferred the property to the U.S. Forest Service in 2025, enabling the agency to move ahead with expanding parking capacity at one of the Gorge’s most popular spring wildflower destinations.