Colockum Wildlife Area users must use alternative to closed Tarpiscan Road

SPOKANE - Those heading to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) Colockum Wildlife Area in south-central Washington-including hunters out for the opening of elk season this weekend-will need to use alternative access due to the closure of Tarpiscan Road.

Access to the Colockum Wildlife Area, located in Kittitas and Chelan counties, is available via the Colockum Pass Road, although upcoming winter weather could create difficult driving conditions on the alternate route.

Colockum Wildlife Area Manager Pete Lopushinsky said Tarpiscan Road, south of Wenatchee along the Columbia River, is closed to motor vehicles one-and-a-half miles south of the Chelan-Kittitas county line where the road crosses private property. There is only limited vehicle turn-around space at the gate.

Lopushinsky said WDFW officials are negotiating to re-open access across the private property.

Modern firearm general season elk hunting opens in the area Saturday (Oct. 25), and is the most popular activity in the Colockum Wildlife Area, Lopushinsky said.