Size: 80 acres
Location: Skamania County, Washington
Acquired: 2010
Transferred: Sold to the U.S. Forest Service in 2014
Cedar Creek Cottonwoods is surrounded by U.S. Forest Service property on three sides and Beacon Rock State Park on the northwest corner. The property boasts a wonderful view to the west above Hamilton Creek before heading around Aldrich Butte on its western flank. The lack of road access has kept the land relative free of invasive plants and has allowed the native vegetation to flourish. Cedar Creek bisects the property and joins Hamilton Creek just west of the property.
Latest News
Keep updated on Friends' work, news stories, and the work happening in the Columbia Gorge.
American bullfrog in pond weed. Photo by Peter Ziminski.
Invasive Predator: Inside the Race to Control the Deadliest Threat to Gorge Turtles
January 5, 2026
Friends of the Columbia Gorge is working with the U.S. Forest Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to control invasive bullfrogs across shared landscapes. Through coordinated, cross-boundary stewardship, partners have removed thousands of bullfrogs to protect the endangered Northwestern pond turtle.
Northwestern pond turtle basking on a log. Photo by Griffin Gillespie.
Native Prey: Inside a 30-Year Conservation Partnership to Save a Species
January 5, 2026
At Friends’ Turtle Haven and Alashík preserves, biologists and conservation partners are working behind the scenes to recover the endangered Northwestern pond turtle. From habitat restoration to bullfrog control and decades-long collaboration, this story traces how persistence, science, and partnership are helping a resilient species make a comeback in the Gorge.
Hikers on Dog Mountain. Photo by Laura Kneedler.
Defending the Gorge in a Time of Unprecedented Threats
January 5, 2026
Protecting the Gorge means defending the laws, funding, and public lands that make climate resilience possible. This article outlines Friends’ recent advocacy victories—from restoring Gorge Commission funding to stopping a massive federal lands selloff and defending the Land and Water Conservation Fund—and explains why sustained policy engagement is essential for the Gorge’s future.