- Open: sites with designated, unmaintained trails that are open to the public during daylight hours for low-impact activities.
- Undeveloped: sites without designated trails that are open to the public during daylight hours for low-impact activities.
- Restricted: sites closed to the public, access allowed by permission or guided event only.
Definitions – Recreational Activities:
- Low-Impact Recreational Activities: Activities that do not adversely affect the integrity of the protected habitats and the ecological system. Activities include: nature study and enjoyment; photography; walking/hiking; picking Himalayan blackberries; and fishing.
- Prohibited Recreational Activities: To avoid significant conflicts with core management goals, the following are not allowed as recreational activities on Land Trust properties: harvesting or collecting timber; collecting minerals or historic artifacts; trapping; vehicles (motorized and non-motorized); camping; fires; dumping; competitive sports events/activities; rock climbing and rappelling; mining; gold panning; metal detecting; grazing and access by livestock; and flying drones.
- Recreational Activities that may be allowed By-Permission: Activities that have the potential to adversely affect the integrity of protected habitats or conflict with management activities. Activities include: collecting or harvesting of plants or fungi; horseback riding; earth cache and geocache sites; organized property and project tours; environmental education activities; and research activities. Requests for permission for these activities will be reviewed on a case-by case basis. Requests should be submitted to the Land Trust at least one month prior to the anticipated start date for the activity.
- Are Nisqually Land Trust properties open for hunting? Hunting is prohibited on most Land Trust properties; however, the Land Trust is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Private Lands Hunting Access Program to identify opportunities for hunting on Land Trust properties where conflicts with other public uses and management activities can be minimized. At this time, one Nisqually Land Trust property is enrolled in the program for the deer and elk seasons. See the Mount Rainier Gateway Protected Area page for more information.
- Are pets allowed on Land Trust properties? Dogs are allowed to accompany their humans on some, but not all, Land Trust properties. Wherever they are allowed, dogs must be on a leash at all times. All other pets are prohibited on Land Trust properties.
- Are service animals allowed on Land Trust properties? Yes, service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability are allowed to accompany their person on Land Trust properties.
- Why are some of the lands protected by the Land Trust closed to public access? The site may be closed to public use for one or more of the following reasons:
- Site is a privately owned conservation easement property
- Site is the residential area for a caretaker, life-estate resident, or renter
- Site access requires crossing neighboring, private property
- Site access is particularly hazardous or difficult
- Site contains fragile habitat
- Site is subject to closure designed to protect rare, threatened, or endangered species
- How do I make arrangements to visit properties with restricted access or request permission for activities? Contact the Land Trust’s Land Steward <> with a brief description of your request. Please be sure to make your request at least a month in advance.