- The Snake River is a major river in the interior Pacific Northwest region of the United States. About 1,080 miles (1,740 km) long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, which is the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean. Beginning in Yellowstone National Park, western Wyoming, it flows across the arid Snake River Plain of southern Idaho, the rugged Hells Canyon on the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and finally the rolling Palouse Hills of southeast Washington. It joins the Columbia River just downstream from the Tri-Cities, Washington, in the southern Columbia Basin.
- Barker Mountain Natural Area Preserve (dnr.wa.gov)
The mid to upper slopes of Barker Mountain, from about 3,200 to 4,000 feet in elevation, are included within this preserve. A broad, east-west ridgetop with ledges and steep slopes defines the south side, while small depressions with seeps form the north side. This 120 acre preserve protects examples of shrub-grassland ecosystems (also known as shrub-steppe), including a large area of antelope bitterbrush/Idaho fescue habitat on the gently sloping summit ridge. Wooded areas with ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and antelope bitterbrush form a mosaic with the grassland patches and represent an important forest type within the foothills of the Okanogan Highlands of north- central Washington.