Ink Blot Natural Area Preserve

Ink Blot Natural Area Preserve is a protected nature reserve in Mason County that spreads across 184 acres of wetlands and Sphagnum bogs. The land occupies three parallel basins shaped by glaciers, each containing different moisture levels and plant communities.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources acquired this land from private owners in 2010 to establish it as a protected preserve. This purchase was part of Washington's broader effort to save its remaining bog landscapes from development and change.

The preserve shows Washington state's commitment to protecting wetland ecosystems through conservation programs that support both science and nature. Visitors can observe how these bogs and marshes are managed to maintain their natural processes and the plants and animals that live there.

Access is primarily for research purposes, and visitors interested in field studies should contact the natural areas ecologist before planning work. Understanding the landscape requires some time to walk through the different wetland zones and observe their distinct habitats.

The three basins are completely isolated from each other with no connecting channels or water flow between them, causing each area to develop its own distinct plant and animal communities. This separation makes each zone a separate laboratory for natural processes and adaptation.

Location: Mason County

Operator: Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Website: https://dnr.wa.gov/ink-blot-natural-area-preserve

GPS coordinates: 47.29286,-123.24422

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:44