Six miles of paths
Cougar Trails are six miles of walking, jogging and biking paths. Designated jogging paths and interpretive trails provide all-weather walking surface wide enough for two people. The other unimproved trails are typical of what you would find in many forested areas of the region. If you see native wildlife, use caution and do not interact with the animals.
History
The Mill Creek Riparian Interpretive Trail, part of the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Cougar Trails System, is designed to expand our knowledge and understanding of the ecological functions of plant and soil systems that border a waterway. Maintaining good water quality in Mill Creek is necessary to preserve a healthy environment for the fish, wildlife and people who live in and along the creek.
Trail Management
Our Facilities Services team references United States Forest Service practices for and (PDF). We also partner with Cougs in the Community and as resources for the stewardship of our trails.
Tree Campus
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø recognized as a Tree Campus
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø consistently earns recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education institution, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to campus forestry and sustainability. , a national program launched in 2008 by the , honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.
To earn this distinction, 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø met the five core standards for effective campus forest management, including establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service learning projects.
Over the past year, many have been reminded of the importance of nature to our physical and mental health. Campus trees provide spaces of refuge and reflection to students, staff, faculty and the community.
Tree Inventory and GIS map
The Tree Committee, Facilities Services and the Grounds Team were awarded a grant from the Department of Natural Resources to inventory the trees in the core of campus. In summer 2021, more than 1,000 trees in the core of campus were inventoried. A white dot was placed at the base of each tree to indicate it had been entered into the data base. Once the inventory was complete, the data was uploaded to WSU’s geographic information systems mapping portal.