The Burke-Gilman site is a restoration site next to the Burke-Gilman trail along the South end of the UW campus. Founded in 2023, this site showcases a Western Washington Prairie plant community, an endangered ecosystem that was once found across vast swaths of the Puget Sound area. These prairies have a unique ecology, hosting a variety of animal species found nowhere else in the world, including the endangered Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly. They also hold significant cultural importance, providing food and medicine to Indigenous peoples of the region through plants like yarrow, wild strawberry, biscuitroot, and camas. The Burke-Gilman site is home to hundreds of great camas (Camassia leichtlinii) plants, which erupt into brilliant purple blooms each April-May.
As of early 2025, this site is still in early stages of restoration, and extra precaution must be taken to not trample young plants and overly compress the soil that sustains them. This site is ideal for smaller work parties and volunteers interested in learning more about this unique and beautiful plant community in Western Washington.
Directions
Meeting location (Google Maps)
The Burke-Gilman Site is located along the Burke-Gilman trail southwest of Bloedel Hall. It’s a small site, so it’s hard to miss us!