JBLM has secret, undeveloped prairies. Here’s how to access them
Nestled deep inside one of the unlikeliest places are hidden gems for Western Washington outdoor enthusiasts, a vast wonderland of undeveloped prairies that stretch and wend around hills and streams where you can hunt, fish, hike and ride horses.
Even though it feels like “untouched Washington,” it is indeed not. Prairie systems require human stewardship, like the removal of invasive species and prescribed burns, to continue their existence. Otherwise, Douglas fir forests and random strip malls move in.
Luckily, the hidden gems I’m talking about aren’t in danger of either of those things because they lie behind the locked gates of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
And the public can use them.
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JBLM Prairies
The Puget Sound region is famous for the beauty of its lakes, rivers and mountains, but prairies are not something that immediately comes to mind when someone thinks about Western Washington.
They should. Before European settlement in the 19th century, prairies made up over 10% of the region, over 130,000 acres.
For thousands of years, local indigenous populations like the Nisqually Tribe lived and cared for the prairies of the South Sound, regularly setting controlled burns and removing invasive plants like Scotch broom.
In 1917, much of the Native American population was forcibly removed from the prairies, and the land was condemned by Pierce County in preparation to be handed over to the military to build a base in preparation for WWI.
Many of the prairies, which were once Nisqually land, turned into artillery ranges. The Nisqually people organize an annual Honor Walk event to revisit their ancestral land. Otherwise, those prairies are inaccessible to the public.
But there are other prairies behind JBLM’s locked gates that are available for recreation. And they’re truly quite wonderful.
How do I access JBLM’s secret prairies?
Hopeful visitors can sign up for an account and purchase a permit to access JBLM land at jblm.isportsman.net. From there, they can pick the recreation of their choice, including everything from horseback riding and bird watching to hunting and fishing.
The largest and most intact Salish Lowland Prairies remaining in the South Sound await you, including extensive oak savanna, artesian wetlands and upland conifer forests. JBLM lands have many rare species of birds, bats and butterflies, as well as elk, bears, several salmon and steelhead runs, and trout and bass fishing.
Dennis Buckingham, wildlife biologist and iSportsman program manager for JBLM, emailed the News Tribune the following statement:
“JBLM spans about 99k acres, and roughly 90k of that is available for public recreation when not scheduled for military activities. Of course, it’s important that we state that users must remain in compliance with all posted regulations and acknowledgements keep track of their location at all times (using provided maps), remain within their authorized and checked-in area(s), carry valid identification and iSportman permit at all times, and display the provided dashboard pass on all parked vehicles.”
From a recent JBLM visitor who recently hiked seven miles through its prairies, I wholly recommend a visit as soon as possible. A wonderland awaits you.
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