Castle Rock Natural Area

WENATCHEE - The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) recently announced the acquisition of a 398-acre property in the Wenatchee Foothills, which encompasses Castle Rock.

The property transfer came from Frank Peryea and Betsy Beers, who have been associated with the parcel for over two decades.

WENATCHEE — The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) has acquired a new conservation property in the Wenatchee Foothills which includes the iconic Castle Rock. Frank Peryea and Betsy Beers have transferred 398 acres to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust increasing the footprint of the Castle Rock Natural Area and the Wenatchee Foothills Trail system.

Protection of this property is the culmination of years of effort to protect a key piece of Wenatchee's gorgeous natural backdrop. As with some other Foothills properties, Lower Castle Rock is owned by the City of Wenatchee with a permanent conservation agreement with the Land Trust. Open during daylight hours.

Plants and wildflowers add to the beauty of our foothills and improve the air and water quality, enrich and maintain the soil, sustain wildlife and provide humans with food and medicine.

The Wenatchee Foothills are a local treasure that symbolize why many people live in north central Washington—natural beauty, open space, and unparalleled recreational access just outside city limits. The beautiful, rolling shrub steppe is home to mule deer and Western Meadowlark.

The 35.7 acre Castle Rock Natural Area is adjacent to Castle Rock, off Castlerock Ave. This property provides safe, legal access to Castle Rock and eventually, to public lands west of Castle Rock.

The trail systems, and access to them, throughout the Wenatchee valley continue to expand, in large part from the efforts of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. After a major capital fundraising campaign, the Land Trust purchased 36 acres at the foot of Castle Rock in west Wenatchee.

You can be a hero. There are many ways. Sometimes it involves using your gifts for the good of your community and its environment, often with no return possible other than personal satisfaction.

In that context, we pause briefly to observe that Betsy Beers and husband Frank Peryea are certainly heroes.

It’s one of the most iconic landmarks of the Wenatchee foothills. For the long history of hiking in our area, Castle Rock has seen little attention from professional trail builders and conservationists. That’s all changed however thanks to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and one local couple.

WENATCHEE — In 2000, Frank Peryea and his wife Betsy Beers made an investment that they knew would not earn them any money.

They bought Castle Rock, the geographical landmark on the city’s western edge.

What they gained was a future for part of the Wenatchee foothills that doesn’t include houses.