Hikers exploring the Beecher Preserve, Lopez Island | Credit: Will Fisher
Centrally located on Lopez Island, the Beecher Preserve protects 35 acres of forest and offers publicly accessible trails for the community to enjoy. Ward and Doris Beecher entrusted the property to the San Juan Preservation Trust to ensure its permanent protection—a generous gift that continues to benefit islanders today.
Building Better Trails, Together
Since acquiring the preserve, the Preservation Trust has partnered with several local organizations, including the Lopez Community Trails Network and the San Juan Islands Conservation District, to thoughtfully improve the trail system. Access was rerouted away from a flood-prone private road and redesigned to protect sensitive ravine habitat. Crews reinforced trail surfaces with sticks, gravel, and wood chips to safeguard tree roots and reduce muddy conditions, and a newly created trail segment now completes a walkable loop entirely within the preserve.
Lopez Island Youth Conservation Corps crew members taking a lunch break while working at the Beecher Preserve | Staff archive
Guiding the Forest’s Recovery
The Preservation Trust has also worked recently with the Washington Conservation Corps, and the Conservation District’s Islands Conservation Corps and Youth Conservation Corps to carefully thin portions of the forest. Since much of the land was previously logged, the forest exhibits various phases of regeneration and tree competition. Our strategic, gradual thinning helps guide the forest toward greater diversity and long-term health, supporting its progression toward the structure and strength of an older forest habitat.
Understory growth at the Beecher Preserve | Credit: Aaron Vliet
The People Who Care for This Place
Season after season, changes big and small have taken place at this Preserve. For those who frequent its trails, years of thoughtful care are noticeable and have transformed this special place into a genuine community treasure.
The most recent improvements have been led by SJPT Land Steward Troy Buckley, alongside dedicated volunteer preserve stewards Eric Beckman, Andrew Munson, and Brianna Snell, who each care for the property on a frequent and self-sufficient basis. Together, they monitor conditions, maintain trails, and manage invasive species. The Beecher Preserve connects neighboring communities and links to a wider trail network frequently accessed by locals.
We are deeply grateful to the Beecher family, our partners, the numerous volunteers who have joined us for work parties, and our volunteer preserve stewards for helping make this special place what it is today!
Volunteers improving the trail system at the Beecher Preserve | Staff archive
Your Partnership Makes This Work Possible
Interested in rolling up your sleeves and becoming a volunteer with the San Juan Preservation Trust? Explore our volunteer opportunities here, or sign up for our volunteer list below to learn about current and upcoming opportunities!