Who Are The Friends of the Bluff?

Friends of the Bluff is the non-profit organization responsible for maintaining and protecting Spokane's High Drive Bluff. We are a group of hikers, runners, mountain bikers, dog walkers, bird watchers, and nature lovers who work together to maintain the bluff, purely on a volunteer basis.

We are a sustainable, community-supported organization that - through education, outreach, and direct conservation efforts - ensures that the Bluff will always be a protected, healthy, and natural ecosystem, accessible to all who wish to respectfully enjoy it.

Through volunteer efforts and community partnerships, we organize trail maintenance, fire suppression, invasive plant management, tree planting, park cleanup, and naturalist events.

Our Mission

As Friends of the Bluff, we are stewards of Spokane’s High Drive Bluff Park. Through volunteer efforts, community partnerships, and education, we conserve the area in a natural, sustainable state for multiple users who respect the resource, each other, and wildlife.

Everything we do is made possible by the passion and care of the people in our community.

Join us and be a Friend of Bluff!

Where is the Bluff?

Hundreds of people drive along High Drive on Spokane's South Hill every day, yet many are completely unaware of the 600 acres of Ponderosa Pine forests and bunchgrass meadows that thrive along a steep hillside below. This large natural space is known as the High Drive Bluff, and there is a lot more to explore than most people realize.

With over 20 miles of trails, the bluff is the perfect spot for anything from a morning stroll to a grueling mountain bike ride. It is also an ideal location for trail-running, hiking, dog-walking, birding, and watching the sunset.

DOWNLOAD TRAIL MAP

Board of Directors

Jeff Lambert

President

I have been an outdoor enthusiast since I was a kid. I taught nature at a Boy Scout camp for four years and have degrees in environmental science and engineering. My conservation advocacy started with a leadership role in the successful 1997 Conservation Futures campaign. Since then I have served on nonprofit Boards, WA NOVA Committee, Wild Washington Campaign and most recently as Exec. Director of the Dishman Hills Conservancy. I encouraged Diana Roberts start the Friends of the Bluff and live nearby. The Bluff is a conservation and recreation asset and I hope we can continue to acquire, protect and steward this area.

Greg MacDonald

Vice President

The Bluff has been my friend since I moved to Spokane in 1999, and has provided me with countless meditative walks, amazing encounters with animals and plants, lessons in geology, delightful hikes with friends and exciting mountain bike adventures. As a Pediatric Neurologist, I am especially cognizant of the benefits of the outdoors for our children (and ourselves). The Bluff lets us celebrate nature’s inclusivity, diversity and healing qualities. Wanting to repay some of the benefits I’ve received from this amazing resource, I joined the Board of Directors of Friends of the Bluff in 2022 and currently serve as its vice-president. I look forward to meeting you on the trails, at our volunteer activities and community events. I’d love to hear your Bluff stories!

Danielle Xu

Treasurer

Danielle was born and raised in Jilin City, China. She earned a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Arizona and moved to Spokane in 2005 to work as a Finance Professor at Gonzaga (Go Zags!). She used to live in Highland Park, so hiking the bluff became a part of her routine. She also enjoys biking, walking her dog, Charlie, along High Drive, and meeting new friends. She serves on the board of Spokane Sister Cities Association and is the President of Jilin Society. She is also the Treasurer of Spokane Public Schools Foundation, as well as an avid volunteer of Opportunity Northeast Community Project at Gonzaga.

Chuck Carter

Secretary

I am an avid mountain biker and hiker with a passion for open spaces. When I moved to Spokane over 20 years ago, I couldn’t believe my good luck in discovering the Bluff just a few blocks from my house. Now its time to serve on the board as the many dedicated leaders and volunteers that came before me keeping our Bluff the viable conservation resource that it is today. I hope to see you at an event soon.

Laura Ackerman

FireWise Coordinator

I have worked professionally and in a volunteer capacity as an environmental and neighborhood activist and organizer for 30 years. Living west of Highway 195, I see the Bluff from a bottom-up point of view, literally, and in a conservation-minded way. I think the two sides of the highway need to be connected, literally and in a conservation and community-oriented style. I plan to work on that during my time on the board, while promoting the Bluff and Latah Creek as natural areas in the same habitat.

Kathryn Phillips

Membership Coordinat

I am new to Spokane and was looking for a volunteer opportunity that would give back to my new community and work with my schedule. I love being outdoors and was pleased to discover the Bluff so close to my home. I attended some of the Friends of the Bluff activities with my brother and was impressed with the passion of this group. I lived many years in a Texas State Park where I often engaged with volunteers and park visitors. As a Friends of the Bluff board member and membership coordinator, I look forward to working with new and existing Friend’s of the Bluff.

Staff

Dee and Trevor Finchamp met in graphic design classes while attending Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. They married a few years later, moved to Spokane in 2015, and formed a business together that provides creative services to non-profit organizations. Since then, their work has played a significant role in the growth of dozens of local nonprofits.

They spent their first 3 years with Friends of the Bluff serving on the board as volunteers, but moved into staff positions after their terms ended in 2023.

Our Sponsors