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The Colockum Wildlife Area is approximately 88,000 acres located in portions of Chelan and Kittitas Counties. The area headquarters lies twenty miles south of Wenatchee and approximately twenty-five miles north-northwest of Ellensburg on the west bank of the Columbia River. The topography, climate, and vegetative zones vary from the West Bar's desert bunchgrass prairie zone found at 580 feet in elevation, through the shrub steppe, yellow pine forest, montane forest, and finally to the beautiful, sub-alpine zone of Mission Peak at 6,875 feet in elevation.
Fifteen miles of the Columbia River define the eastern boundary to the Colockum Wildlife Area. Two lakes, Clara and Marion, are found on the northwest boundary at 5,500 feet in elevation. Three year-round streams include Colockum, Coleman, and Brushy Creeks. Intermittent streams are found in the Whitson, North and South Forks of Tarpiscan, Stray, and Tekison drainages. These streams furnish adequate water to fill the numerous beaver ponds which are an important source of water for wildlife.
The Colockum Management Unit was purchased primarily as an area of substantial size to provide winter and summer range for Rocky Mountain elk and other wildlife species such as mule deer; California bighorn sheep; chukar; California quail; spruce, ruffed, and blue grouse; and mourning dove. Many other species use the area including owls, eagles, woodpeckers, goshawk, ducks, coyote, bear, etc.
Road access is primitive, however the area is open to camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, birdwatching, and more.
