Darlin Creek Preserve

CLT’s public-access preserves are open! Consider visiting natural areas close to home to reduce travel. If you notice a full parking lot, come back another day. When visiting, please follow the guidelines below. Please note that there are no garbage cans at any preserve and no bathrooms at Randall and Hilburn preserves. We hope you enjoy your walk at one of our preserves as much as we enjoy protecting them. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please email info@capitollandtrust.org.

Purchased in 2016

Property Overview:

Darlin Creek Preserve is a 312-acre preserve in the Black River watershed near Capitol State Forest and adjacent to Capitol Land Trust’s Edwards Conservation Easement.

This acquisition is 15 years in the making. First identified as a conservation priority by The Nature Conservancy, it took nearly a decade to raise the funds to purchase the property.  The landowners, Aloha Lumber Corporation, had the opportunity to sell the property as a 45-home sub-development, but gave Capitol Land Trust the opportunity to try to protect it first.

Darlin Creek Preserve protects hundreds of acres of recovering forest, 70 acres of diverse wetland habitat, Lake Lucinda, important wildlife habitat for state and federally listed species, and more than 2 miles of fish-bearing streams: Darlin, Dempsey, and Pants Creeks – all Black River tributaries that run through the property.

Check out the Darlin Creek Preserve birding hotspot on eBird.

Thank you to the following partners:

• Aloha Lumber Corporation/Obsidian Finance Group LLC
• Thurston County
• WA Recreation and Conservation Office
• Washington Coast Restoration Initiative
• The Nature Conservancy
• Capitol Land Trust supporters

CLT Strategic Conservation Goals Achieved:

• Conserve wetlands, riparian areas, and associated upland forests

Darlin Creek Preserve Trail

Plan a visit to Darlin Creek Preserve to enjoy the scenery and wildlife!

Guidelines:
Open from dawn till dusk.
Keep pets on leash and dispose of waste properly.
No hunting, fires, fireworks, camping or motorized vehicles.
No removal of vegetation or mushrooms.
Stay on designated trails.

Location: 8910 Lake Lucinda Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98512. Free parking is available at the site.

Trail Map: Darlin Creek Preserve Trail Map
The trail is approximately 3.3 miles in total and is a mixture between dirt, gravel, and old roadbed.

Want to help us care for this preserve? Check out our Trail Steward volunteer opportunity or fill out a short trail report!