The popular Wenatchee geologic landmark, Saddle Rock will soon become city property and remain open to public use. The state Board of Natural Resources yesterday (Tuesday) approved transferring ownership of the 328-acre site from DNR to the City of Wenatchee.
It’s a move that many in the area have sought for years. The site on the outskirts of the Chelan County town is a wildly popular walking, hiking, biking and viewing spot. A prime mover and shaker behind the transfer was the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, which has been instrumental in maintaining public access to Saddle Rock across the patchwork of private and other public lands surrounding the site. DNR-managed trust lands are open to public access but that doesn’t guarantee other owners surrounding will allow the public to cross their lands — thus the value of efforts by the Land Trust and others.
Map and more information
This map shows Saddle Rock and other sites in the Wenatchee Foothills (look in the lower left corner for Saddle Rock and the soon-to-be former DNR/ future city land.
Find more information about Saddle Rock at WenatcheeOutdoors.org and read an article from the Wenatchee World describing the city’s role.
The $500,000 appraised cost of the property was paid by a private donor who chose to remain anonymous. DNR was obtaining little to no revenue from the property for public school construction. In approving the transfer, the Board stipulated that the area must be used for a public use, such as recreation, open space, or habitat. The funds DNR recieves will be used to buy more productive resource lands for long-term income to public school construction.
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