Managed for years as a family forest, Valley View Forest, has a healthy mix of trees and a lush understory full of western sword ferns and other shrubs.
We’re very pleased to announce the opening of 65-acre Valley View Forest in the heart of Chimacum.
Once you arrive, you’ll find sunlight (hopefully!) shining through the yellow fall foliage of towering bigleaf maples and the green boughs of western red cedar and Douglas fir. There are new trails to explore that weave through the lush understory of sword fern, snowberry and huckleberry, as well as a scenic overlook to the valley below. There’s also an off-trail nature study area for future school group visits. It’s the perfect place to experience the lush beauty of the forest, to learn, and to be rejuvenated by nature.
Listen in as Stewardship Director Erik Kingfisher shares the story of the forest in the video below:
View property details here and visitor information here.
Opening a forest like Valley View takes generous community support and participation and we are very grateful to all those who made this day possible. On behalf of the many visitors who will enjoy the forest for years to come — thank you!
Fall leaves are scattered along the loop trail at Valley View Forest.
The acquisition of 65-acre Valley View Forest is the first step in a much bigger plan to create a 900+ acre community forest in the heart of Chimacum. Valley View Forest is a natural gateway to the adjacent, upland working forest on Chimacum Ridge. The Land Trust is working with the current owner to purchase Chimacum Ridge Forest by 2023 and transform it into the Chimacum Ridge Community Forest — a forest for all that’s managed by the community for the benefit of the community, local wildlife, and the environment.
We’re also working closely with key stakeholders and community members in the decision making and planning for Chimacum Ridge Community Forest, and we invite you to join us.
We look forward to seeing you on the trails of Valley View Forest soon!
Directions to Valley View Forest: From Chimacum Corner, travel 1.7 miles south on Center Road to the gravel driveway on the left (opposite mailbox for 1720 Center Road, and approximately 300 feet south of Short’s Family Farm entrance). This leads to the Valley View Forest public parking area and trailhead. More visitor information can be found here.
Jefferson Land Trust offers special thanks for the support and partnership of the Valley View Family Trust, US Navy, US Forest Service Federal Community Forest Program, Washington State Legislature, Jefferson County Conservation Futures Fund, Hama Hama Company, Cross Charitable Foundation, an anonymous foundation, Horizons Foundation, Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation, James D. Scheinfeld Family Foundation, Trust for Public Land, Chimacum Corner Farmstand, and Finnriver Farm & Cidery.
We’re also deeply grateful to many individual community members for their generous personal gifts, hundreds of volunteer hours, and enthusiastic participation in helping shape the future of this community forest resource.
