Nestled deep inside one of the unlikeliest places are hidden gems for Western Washington outdoor enthusiasts, a vast wonderland of undeveloped prairies that stretch and wend around hills and streams where you can hunt, fish, hike and ride horses.
Even though it feels like “untouched Washington,” it is indeed not. Prairie systems require human stewardship, like the removal of invasive species and prescribed burns, to continue their existence. Otherwise, Douglas fir forests and random strip malls move in.
Luckily, the hidden gems I’m talking about aren’t in danger of either of those things because they lie behind the locked gates of Joint Base Lewis-McChord…