HOME RESERVATIONS & DONATIONS THE SANCTUARY AND THE LAND WHO WE ARE EVENTS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY
A 42-acre living preserve in the southern foothills of the Mt. Ashland watershed.
Where We Are
Cathedral Trees Sanctuary in Colestin sits in the southern foothills of the Mt. Ashland watershed and is magical, with views of Pilot Rock and Mt. Shasta in the distance. The preserve is surrounded by 2,000 acres of forever-protected land — the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, and the Mariposa Preserve.
Historically, the 19th-century Cole family town (“Coles Town”) was rich with the original native forest of Oregon sugar pines — highly sought after by the Takelma and Shasta peoples for food (sugar pine nuts) and medicine.
Native Tree Choices
After extensive research and environmental consultation, we now have a plan for each individual or family to choose a native tree variety suitable for the local soil, microclimate, elevation, and long-term needs of trees and people.
For each tree planted, several factors are considered: watershed and rainfall, soil type, and compatibility with other trees (“tree families”). Oaks and madrone trees, for example, support each other through an ancient underground mycelium network, sharing sugars, chemical messages, water, and immune support.
Oak Family ($3,000)
- Oregon Black Oak — 80 ft. tall, 30 ft. wide canopy
- Oregon White Oak (Garry oak) — 80 ft. tall, 65 ft. wide canopy
- Madrone (by special request) — 40 ft. tall, 20 ft. wide canopy
Founder’s Walk Trees ($5,000)
- Oregon Sugar Pine — once dominant in the Colestin Valley
- Mountain Sequoia — an experimental migrant species reaching up to 300 feet
- Pacific Dogwood — to grow in the understory along Indian Creek
In accordance with Green Burial Council requirements, all trees used must be native to the local climate and hardy enough to survive recent weather extremes. We have the GBC-required maintenance fund for ongoing tree management, replacement, and care.
The Groves
Cathedral Trees Sanctuary is an inclusive burial ground dedicated to unity, care, and tolerance of all walks of life, faiths, and philosophies. Throughout the large acreage, there are areas suitable for reserved groves — including the Jewish Grove, Unity Grove, and family groves.
Land Restoration
The Friends of Cathedral Trees Sanctuary practice “Restoration Burials” — soil restoration, meadow restoration, and grove restoration that will grow over centuries into a mature heritage oak woodland with madrone and other compatible tree families. The land will be held to conserve viewpoints looking south to Pilot Rock, Mt. Shasta, and the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
Manual and natural management practices are used instead of hazardous herbicides such as RoundUp. Instead of the wasteland of lawn care chemicals and embalming fluids found in conventional cemeteries, our living soil grows native trees — supporting over 140 species, from butterflies to the Oregon acorn woodpecker — and wildflower meadows.
Tribal Acknowledgment
The land is the former homeland of the Northern Shasta and the southern Takelma tribes, and possibly additional tribal relations. The southern Applegate Trail runs through the Nepal Road area, alongside Indian Creek, which emerges from the Mt. Ashland watershed and feeds into Cottonwood Creek.
Visiting the Sanctuary
The office and sanctuary are open for visits by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM. Please call (541) 500-7611 to schedule.
Because the land itself is in a long process of healing from deforestation, soil compaction, and creek restoration, public access is minimized during this initial restoration period. We are open to the public for certain benefits and free events through the seasons — see our Events page.