FAQs

Absolutely, all our welcome. Friends Wilderness Center is a private, secular organization. Our operations reflect the Quaker values (simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship) that served as our guiding principles for conserving this wilderness to heal humanity's connection to one another and the natural world. Nature is a gift that all should be entitled to experience and enjoy. We want you to feel the comfort of being home without the expectation of adhering to any particular dogma or belief system.

Yes, you are always welcome at Friends Wilderness. We are more likely to be available to greet and extend hospitality if you let us know to expect you, but you can simply stop by for a visit. Nature is always open. You don't have to wait for a program or reserve an overnight. 

Email our resident general manager, Kimberly Benson.

Friends Wilderness operates on a pay as led basis. We invite visitors to consider the value of the experiences they have enjoyed and contribution what they can to help us ensure that similar opportunities will continue to be available to others in the future. As guidance, we are happy to provide suggested donation for various services. 

2WD vehicles can access Friends Wilderness in all weather conditions in which a visit would be appealing. Very occasionally, winter storms make our roads temporarily impassable. Regardless of the season, visitors are advised to enjoy the last 3 miles of gravel, mountain roads at a 'jogging' pace, roll down your windows, let the forest engage your senses, lean in to every twist and bend... On the final turn into the center, your vehicle will earn 'off-roading' cred, fording a shallow mountain stream.  Relax, roll in, and roll out. We drive through the ford every day in our 2WD. During the week, your car can lord the experience over the commuting cybertrucks.  

Friends Wilderness has a Level 2 charger available at the Niles Cabin. Two vehicles can charge simultaneously. 

Your furry friends are welcome at Friends Wilderness for day visits or overnights. We have animal companions (3 very friendly large dogs, 4 cats) and livestock (goats, geese, ducks, chickens). Our birds and pups generally free range, but we are happy to contain our menagerie and manage introductions, so your pets feel safe and comfortable. 

Good question. Friends Wilderness is entirely dependent on generous individual donations to sustain services, hospitality, conservation activities, and facilities care. Pay as led and share what you can for your circumstances today. Like the widely known song, Friends Wilderness wants you to feel openly embraced and welcomed home at the end of these country roads. When you are able, we hope that sense of comfort and belonging will inspire you to support our efforts to share and extend that experience with others. Meanwhile, we will keep things simple and trust these gifts of nature and all those who have found comfort here to ensure the welcome stays open for others.