The Mineral Springs Unit features riparian woodlands, mixed pine-oak woodlands, conifer forests, and grassland habitats. The chimney of an old water-bottling and dry ice plant serves as a roosting site for Vaux's swifts. A campground and boat ramp are located along the Klickitat River. A trailhead for the Klickitat Trail is on property adjacent to WDFW-owned property and the trail, which is an excellent hiking and mountain biking route, passes through the unit. This part of the wildlife area primarily serves as public access to the Klickitat River for fishing. Hunting is also allowed although it is somewhat limited by steep terrain and lack of road access east of the Klickitat River.
The Mineral Springs Unit is located in the Klickitat River Canyon. The unit can be accessed from State Route 142 or by boat. Road access to the boat launch and Mineral Springs Campground is approximately 1.7 miles upstream from the town of Klickitat, along State Route 142.
The Mineral Springs Unit lies within the Klickitat River Canyon, on the east slope of the Cascades Mountains, halfway between the Columbia River Gorge to the south and Mount Adams to the north. The Klickitat River runs through a fairly narrow valley, a characteristic of many rivers along the east side of the Cascade Range. Many small, usually seasonal, tributaries drain directly into the river through side canyons that lend variety to the terrain. The Mineral Springs unit is named after the naturally carbonated springs that are located along the river upstream of the town of Klickitat. Most of the springs still flow and their pools host an orange-colored algae that thrives in the mineral water.
This unit is part of the Klickitat Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 388, 578
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Contact
Cassandra Holman
Wildlife Area Manager
1886 Glenwood Highway
Goldendale, WA 98620
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Parking at Klickitat Trailhead, at campground, and along road outside of campground
- Vault toilet at the Mineral Springs water access site
- Boat launch at the Mineral Springs water access site
- Campground
- Trails
Recreation and access advisories
- Driving to the Klickitat River's edge is ONLY allowed within the Mineral Springs Campground and boat launch area. NOTE: Driving elsewhere is prohibited to protect riparian vegetation.
- Rules for use of the Klickitat Trail are posted at the access points. The trail is non-motorized use only. Horses are prohibited. Dogs are required to be on leash to prevent conflicts with other trail users, landowners, and wildlife. The segment of the trail that follows Swale Creek is closed seasonally due to high fire danger.
Hunting
Species of primary hunting focus on this unit are black-tailed deer and turkey.
Hunting advisories
- No hunting with firearms is allowed within 500 feet of the Mineral Springs Campground (WAC 220-500-140).
Fishing
This unit is within the confines of the Klickitat River Canyon and offers fishing opportunities. Boat access to the Klickitat River is at Mineral Springs Campground. The campground is approximately 1.7 miles upstream from the town of Klickitat, along State Route 142.
Pedestrian access is available to the public for fishing along the river from the Horseshoe Bend Road Bridge upstream approximately 0.5 miles, including the mouth of Swale Creek.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes Oregon white oak, Ponderosa pine and some Douglas-fir forest, grassland, and riparian habitats, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife including deer, western gray squirrels, grouse, wild turkeys, and Vaux's swifts. Bald eagles are present along the river during the winter.
The chimney of an old water-bottling and dry ice plant at Mineral Springs Campground is a roost site for Vaux's swifts during their spring and fall migrations.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Other recreational opportunities
The Mineral Springs Campground offers opportunities for camping. The campground is approximately 1.7 miles upstream from the town of Klickitat, along State Route 142.
Swimming and floating the Klickitat River are popular activities during the summer when the water is warm and river flow is not too high—July is best. As water flows recede, rocks in the river are more difficult to avoid. The Klickitat River is accessible from the Mineral Springs Campground. Hiking is another popular activity. The Klickitat Trail, an old-railroad line, follows the east and south bank of the river, and offers hiking and mountain biking use through this unit. The nearest parking area for the Klickitat Trail is at the Wahkiacus Trailhead adjacent to Schilling Road, near its junction with Horseshoe Bend Road. The Klickitat Trail is also good for biking and cross-country skiing.
Other advisories
- Overnight camping is allowed at the Mineral Springs Campground. NOTE: Camping is NOT allowed outside of the campground.
- The duration of stay for camping is limited to 14 days in a 30-day period.
- Campfires are permitted ONLY within the campground, except during the seasonal burn ban, which usually runs from June 1 through Oct. 12.
- Rules for use of the Klickitat Trail are posted at the access points. The trail is non-motorized use only. Horses are prohibited. Dogs are required to be on leash to prevent conflicts with other trail users, landowners, and wildlife. The segment of the trail that follows Swale Creek is closed seasonally due to high fire danger.
Conservation
This unit includes Oregon white oak, Ponderosa pine and some Douglas-fir forest, grassland, and riparian habitats, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife. The chimney of an old water-bottling and dry ice plant at Mineral Springs Campground is a roost site for Vaux's swifts during their spring and fall migrations.
Special habitats and species
Conifer forests are mostly present on north-facing slopes and open grasslands are common on south- and west-facing slopes. Western gray squirrels, which are a state-listed threatened species, occupy the conifer forests in the Klickitat River Canyon. Oak woodlands occur between and intermixed with these two habitat types. Riparian forest is found along the riverbank. This mosaic of diverse habitats attracts a wide variety of wildlife species, especially birds. WDFW saved a remnant building of an old pop bottling plant for its value as roosting habitat for Vaux's swifts.
Conservation goals
- Maintain and enhance big game and upland bird habitat
- Maintain and restore riparian and instream habitat for steelhead and salmon along the Klickitat River
- Recover western gray squirrel populations in and around the wildlife area to healthy self-sustaining levels
Conifer forests are mostly present on north-facing slopes and open grasslands are common on south- and west-facing slopes. Western gray squirrels, which are a state-listed threatened species, occupy the conifer forests in the Klickitat River Canyon. Oak woodlands occur between and intermixed with these two habitat types. Riparian forest is found along the riverbank. This mosaic of diverse habitats attracts a wide variety of wildlife species, especially birds. WDFW saved a remnant building of an old pop bottling plant for its value as roosting habitat for Vaux's swifts.
- Maintain and enhance big game and upland bird habitat
- Maintain and restore riparian and instream habitat for steelhead and salmon along the Klickitat River
- Recover western gray squirrel populations in and around the wildlife area to healthy self-sustaining levels
Land stewardship
The Mineral Springs Unit was acquired to provide public access to the Klickitat River for fishing and conserve important fish habitat. Historically, the Mineral Springs Campground area, at various times, was the site of a resort, a pop bottling plant, and a dry ice manufacturing plant, which operated until 1957. Remnant buildings had stood idle for a number of years when Washington Department of Game (now Department of Fish and Wildlife) purchased the property for public recreation in 1973.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1967 and 2000.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| US National Park Service | Land and Water Conservation Fund |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Salmon Recovery Fund |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2023 DRAFT Simcoe Mountains Management Plan
The plan will help to guide public access and outdoor recreation, habitat enhancements, and forest and range management, among other elements, for the Simcoe Mountains Unit. The plan will be an addendum to the Klickitat Wildlife Area Plan, which is updated every 10 years.
2016 Klickitat Wildlife Area Management Plan
In 2016, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) updated the management plan for the Klickitat Wildlife Area, which consists of seven units. The management plan addresses the status of wildlife species in the area and their habitat, the progress of restoration efforts, and public recreation opportunities. Every eight to 10 years, WDFW revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments.
Planning Advisory Committee
Klickitat Wildlife Area Advisory Committee