WHERE WE WORK
It's in Our Nature
Glen Tana
A sweeping stretch of ponderosa pine forest and meadow along the Little Spokane River has a new chapter, thanks to a partnership between Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Washington State Parks, and a community of supporters who wanted to see it conserved.
Once proposed as a housing development and platted for 126 home sites, this ambitious project was instead secured for ecological restoration, wildlife habitat, and future public access.
In 2025, a community of supporters helped your Conservancy complete a $4 million capital campaign to protect this ecologically rich, 1,060 acre piece of land that connects Waikiki Nature Preserve and Riverside State Park.
Now, in the spring of 2026, ownership of 900 acres has transferred to Washington State Parks, where it has been designated a Natural Area.
Conservation Milestones
2023
Slated for development, your Conservancy purchases Glen Tana to conserve the property for ecological restoration, wildlife habitat, and future public access. INLC serves as interim owner of the property.
2024
Partners made this conservation project possible: the Spokane Tribe, Washington State Parks, and the Washington State Legislature. INLC works to preserve and steward the land to keep it healthy for future public access.
2025
Thanks to community support, your Conservancy completes $4.1 million capital campaign. INLC continues to steward the land and the Spokane Tribe acquires their portion of land with plans for salmon recovery and reintroduction efforts.
2026
In May of 2026, 900 acres of Glen Tana is acquired by Washington State Parks, to be designated as a Natural Area within Riverside State Park. INLC continues to own and steward 64 acres as a place for restoration and community connection.
Spring 2026 Update
We’re excited to share that ownership of approximately 900 acres has transferred to Washington State Parks and is now designated as a Natural Area within Riverside State Park, ensuring lasting care for wildlife habitat, the Little Spokane River corridor, and low-impact recreation like hiking, trail running, and snowshoeing. It’s because of the support of this community, partners, and members like you, this land will be protected in perpetuity.
Q. Who owns the Glen Tana property?
Spring of 2026, Washington State Parks officially acquired 900 acres of the 1,064 acre Glen Tana property, purchased by INLC to conserve, in 2023. The Spokane Tribe has acquired approximately 100 acres for cultural community connection and salmon reintroduction efforts. INLC will continue to steward 64 acres as a place for restoration and community connection, including expanding the native plant nursery, now capable of holding more than 12,000 plants.
Q. Why did Inland Northwest Land Conservancy choose to conserve this property?
Glen Tana’s 1,060 acres along two miles of the Little Spokane River sit at the heart of INLC’s mission to protect and care for the lands and waters essential to life and the well-being of communities in the Inland Northwest. The property was once slated for residential development, but its extraordinary value — as critical wildlife habitat, a key link between Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve and Riverside State Park, and a cornerstone of the Spokane Tribe’s salmon reintroduction efforts — made it one of the most compelling conservation opportunities in the region.
Q. Washington State Parks has acquired 900 acres of Glen Tana, now designated as a Natural Area. What does that mean?
Washington State Parks has classified the 900 acres as a “Natural Area,” which limits recreational activity to hiking, trail running, and snowshoeing. Bicycles, horses and pets are prohibited, consistent with the rest of the Little Spokane River Natural Area.
Q. How do I access Glen Tana and what’s next?
The Glen Tana property is only accessible via the Waikiki Springs trailhead, located off Fairwood Drive. This is the only legal access point to the property, and parking is limited to four cars at the trailhead. Parking along Rutter Parkway, Dorsett Road, or Stearns Road is strictly prohibited. Washington State Parks is actively pursuing grant funding to develop a formal trailhead and trail network, with construction anticipated in late 2027.
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1,060 ACRES
for forest health management, wetland protection of mixed riparian, meadow forest, and rocky outcroppings
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COLD CLEAR AQUIFER
waters provide vital habitat in a warming climate
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SALMON INTRODUCTION
in two miles of the Little Spokane River strengthens the resilience of the ecosystem
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VITAL HABITAT
for eagles, moose, heron, cougar, beaver, and many more animals
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RECREATION EXPANSION
including hiking, trail running, birding, and connection to nature
glen tana
In the News
- Inland Northwest Land Conservancy's successful Glen Tana campaign offers hope for the Little Spokane River (August, 2025)
- Plans to add Little Spokane Property to Riverside State Park advancing (June, 2025)
- Little Spokane River homestead could join Riverside State Park next year (September, 2024)
- Historic property may be added to Riverside State Park, connecting it to Waikiki Springs and providing river access vital to salmon reintroduction in the region (November, 2023)
- 'What the ancestors would have seen': Chinook salmon release a celebration of connection, conservation for Spokane Tribe (August, 2023)
- A river reborn, the resurgence of salmon into the Little Spokane River (September 2023)
Glen Tana
A Salmon's Journey
For millennia, every summer the Little Spokane River teemed with salmon and steelhead returning to the waters of their birth to spawn and die. Along with returning fish came the Spokane Tribe to celebrate, honor, and harvest these fish for their sustenance.
For the past century dams on the Columbia River have blocked this summer salmon migration, fundamentally altering the regional ecosystem and way of life of our regional tribes. In the summer of 2021, the Spokane Tribe released 51 summer Chinook into the Little Spokane from the Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve – the first time in 111 years that these beautiful fish had swum in this waterway.
With enthusiastic support from the Tribe, we intend to conserve more land in and along the Little Spokane River to support their fish reintroduction efforts, protect essential riparian and upland habitat, and provide expanded community access to near-urban wildlands. The Conservancy is delighted by this never-again opportunity to protect the Glen Tana property, nearly 1100 acres of diverse topography and habitat, connecting our Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve to Riverside State Park.
Glen Tana Partners
Spokane Tribe of Indians
This land was once a gathering place for the Tribe. Now, they have acquired a portion of this land for tribal connection and salmon reintroduction.
Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW)
WDFW manages land to the south of the Glen Tana project area.
Washington State Parks
Washington State Parks manages land to the south and west of Glen Tana and has now acquired 900 acres of Glen Tana.
Light Hawk Conservation Flying
Capturing an aerial view of Glen Tana and the surrounding protected lands to highlight the scale and connectivity of this conservation project.
Rogue Heart Media
Aiding in digital storytelling about the importance of many special places we protect, and worked to secure grant funding for the project.