Hudson Biological Reserve at Smoot Hill
Smoot Hill is an 800-acre biological reserve 12 miles from the Pullman campus on the homelands of the Palouis (Palouse) tribe. It was purchased by WSU from a local land owner in 1968 for research, educational, and outreach use and designated as the “Hudson Biological Reserve at Smoot Hill” in recognition of Professor George Hudson’s unique and outstanding contributions to the preservation of this land. Smoot Hill is one of the most significant remnants of the native Palouse plant community. Its natural diversity and beauty make it popular for field trips for the WSU and surrounding communities. Smoot Hill supports a wide range of research and restoration projects for the Palouse ecosystem.
For more information about visiting Smoot Hill or using the resources at the Hudson Preserve, please contact the director, Erica Crespi at erica.crespi@wsu.edu.
About
The Hudson Biological Reserve at Smoot Hill is a remnant of the endangered Palouse Prairie habitat native to Eastern Washington owned and managed by Washington State University. The 800-acre preserve is used for education, outreach, and research that benefits stakeholders in our community.
Events and Outreach
We engage community members and local stakeholders through Native Plant Walks and Educational Events where participants learn about local flora, fauna, geography, and ecology from Washington State University graduate students and land managers working in the reserve.
Research
Current WSU faculty and graduate students study the diversity and ecology of our Palouse Prairie remnant at Smoot Hill and Rose Creek Nature Preserve. For more details about past and current research at the reserve, explore the links below: