Sinlahekin Wildlife Area
Photo Gallery

Sinlahekin Unit

• Wildlife
• Landscape
• Historical Photographs

Sinlahekin Historical Photographs

These historic and contemporary photos provide a "snapshot" of visual information about what has happened on the landscape in the Sinlahekin Valley over the last 90 plus years. As one reviewer stated,

"The first thing one notices is how much more colorful it is in the SWA now than in 1910. The second thing is the increase in trees; and the third is how dry it was in that long-ago 1910 spring." - D. Visalli

The noted increase in trees or increased tree density and increase in brush is primarily due to the policy of fire suppression over the last 90 plus years. Present conditions very likely never existed historically because the frequent fires that occurred did not allow these ponderosa pine forests to become crowded. If a wildfire were to occur today most of the trees, including the 200-300 year old trees would be lost since the fire would be extremely severe. This type of fire is called a stand replacing fire, which historically is characteristic of higher elevation lodgepole pine forests. To try to avoid loosing the old large trees, fuels treatment, e.g, logging and thinning will be done to remove smaller trees in addition to prescribed burning. Hopefully this "intervention" management will create conditions where prescribed fire can be used to perform its historic role in maintaining a healthy ponderosa pine forest ecosystem.

For more information and historical photos:

• Okanogan County Historical Society
• WSU Holland Library-MASC - Frank Matsura Image Collection

Large Rock on Eastside of Sinlahekin Road (approximately .5 mile North of Sinlahekin Wildlife Area boundary) South of Loomis, WA - Looking North
Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Sinlahekin Valley - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Approximately 1 mile South of North boundary on East side of Sinlahekin Valley Road looking Southeast
Early 1900’s before 1920. Unknown Photographer - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	28 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Sinlahekin Valley - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area North of Headquarters looking South
Early 1900's before 1920 Unknown photographer - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	28 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Sinlahekin Valley - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Photo Point SW of, present day, Conners Lake looking North by Northeast
Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Sinlahekin Creek Canyon – Sinlahekin Wildlife Area East side of valley looking west toward the mouth of the Sinlahekin Creek Canyon. The riparian area of Blue Lake shore visible in the old photo is indistinguishable in the recent photo due to the growth of cottonwoods.
Circa ~1903 - Property of Okanogan Irrigation District	7 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo
Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area NE side of Lake looking south by southwest
Circa 1910 – Frank Matsura photo	1 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo
Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area NW side of Lake looking east by southeast
Unknown Date – Unknown Photographer	1 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo
Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on east side looking northwest
Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on east side looking west
Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Blue Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on eastside looking southwest
Circa ~1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	19 April 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Mid-lake on the north side of lake looking east
Circa ~1903	7 June 2006 – D. Swedberg photo
Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Northwest side of lake looking east
Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	16 April 2005 D. Swedberg photo
Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area West end looking North by Northeast
Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	17 June 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area West end looking East by Northeast
Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	17 June 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Fish Lake - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Southwest side looking North
Circa 1910 Frank Matsura photo - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	17 June 2006 D. Swedberg photo
Spikeman Ranger Station - Sinlahekin Wildlife Area On Conconully to Loomis Road between Sugarloaf Pass and Fish Lake looking Northwest
Early 1900’s Unknown Photographer - Original at Okanogan Co. Hist. Soc.	19 April 2006 Dale Swedberg photo