James T. Slavin Conservation Area

Description

The property consists of 628 acres located in the Rosa Butte area of the West Plains.  The topography is a combination of low, rolling pastures surrounded by high, forested buttes.  The property contains a variety of habitat types including ponds, upland pine and fir forests, wetlands, and grassy meadows. 

It has been identified by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife as an elk calving area and along the waterfowl migratory routes.  The property contains a five-acre permanent lake, many seasonal ponds, and has a wetland-stream corridor running north-south through its center.

There are close to 200 acres of permanent and seasonal wetlands on the property.  Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf undertook a Wetland Restoration Program through the Natural Resource Conservation Service to restore those wetlands from farmland.  A large variety of wildlife use the wetlands and surrounding area for habitat, including 121 species of birds (see Audubon checklist for Slavin).  

Trail Map

Click here for a trail map of the James T. Slavin Conservation Area (829 KB pdf) Full size print-out is 11 x 17, but can be scaled to 8.5 x 11. 

Permitted Uses

• Wildlife habitat
• Wildlife observation
• Nature trails
• Hiking
• Picnicking
• Bird-watching (please see the Audubon Society's Palouse to Pines Loop for more info)
• Equestrian trails
• Bird-watching
• Cross-country skiing

Rules

• Dogs can be disruptive to wildlife and must be kept on a leash at all times while in the conservation area.
• Motorized vehicles are not permitted in the conservation area.

• Hunting and/or shooting are not permitted at any time in the conservation area.

• No camping or fires are permitted in the conservation area. 

Location 

• Take US 195 South at the Colfax/Pullman exit, #279
• Drive south on 195 for approximately 8.4 miles 
• Turn right (west) on Washington Road, drive to the 'T' intersection with Keeney Road
• Turn right (north) on Keeney Road; parking is immediately on the left 
• The James T. Slavin Conservation Area borders Keeney Road for 1/2 mile 

Features

• Easy to medium hiking trails over 628 acres in the Rosa Butte area  - NOTE! Currently a portion of the loop trail is inundated with water in the northwest corner of the property. County Parks is working on a solution to this problem and appreciates your patience.
• Trailhead Parking Area. 
• Wildlife observation, including large mammals and various species of upland and migratory birds

Wildlife

Wildlife content will be updated as information is made available.