This unit has limited access due to no available parking.
The Mudflow Unit is located along the North Fork Toutle River adjacent to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. This unit is closed to public access from Dec. 1 through Apr. 30. Extensive efforts have been made to improve elk winter forage, including constructing erosion control structures, weed control, and vegetation plantings. This unit is part of the Mudflow elk area, which allows elk hunting by special permit only; all other hunting is restricted on the area. The unit was established in 1990 to protect elk winter range on the North Fork Toutle River mudflow that resulted from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
The Mudflow Unit is located 30 miles east of Castle Rock in Cowlitz County. It lies approximately 1.5 miles south of Highway 504 along the valley floor.
The Mudflow Unit is located within the Toutle River watershed in the west Cascades. The unit stretches along the North Fork Toutle River lying just west of and adjacent to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
This unit is part of the Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 556, 522, 524
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 is located along the pull outs off Highway 504, but there are no public driving routes down onto this unit from the highway
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- This unit is closed to public access from Dec. 1 through April 30
- Dogs are not allowed on this unit at any time
- There is no off-road vehicle use allowed on the unit
- Camping and overnight parking are prohibited
- Fires and fireworks are prohibited
Hunting
This unit is part of the Mudflow elk area, which allows elk hunting by special permit only. All other hunting is restricted on the area.
Hunting advisories
- This unit is in Game Management Unit 522 (Loo-wit), which is designated as a CLOSED AREA to the hunting of all wild animals and wild birds except by special permit.
Fishing
The North Fork Toutle River and its tributaries are closed to fishing within the Mudflow Unit.
Wildlife viewing
The Mudflow Unit offers opportunities to view a variety of wildlife including elk, black-tailed deer, eagles, and songbirds.
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.
Conservation
This unit exists in the floodplain of the Toutle River and was covered by debris flows from the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
Special habitats and species
The unit provides a wintering area for elk along the North Fork of the Toutle River.
Conservation goals
- Develop strategy for riparian/wetland restoration projects to benefit fish and wildlife species
- Maintain and restore riparian and instream habitat for steelhead, and chinook and coho salmon
- Monitor and protect fisher denning areas, if and when they occur on the wildlife area
The unit provides a wintering area for elk along the North Fork of the Toutle River.
- Develop strategy for riparian/wetland restoration projects to benefit fish and wildlife species
- Maintain and restore riparian and instream habitat for steelhead, and chinook and coho salmon
- Monitor and protect fisher denning areas, if and when they occur on the wildlife area
Land stewardship
The Mudflow Unit was established in 1990 to protect elk winter range on the North Fork Toutle River mudflow that resulted from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Most of the property was acquired through a land exchange with the Weyerhaeuser Company, with assistance from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1989 and 1995.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| State of Washington | Legislative Appropriation |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2019 Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completed the new management plan for the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area, which is comprised of 18 units in Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties, and totals 10,002 acres. The Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area is largely managed for elk in the North Fork Toutle River Valley, but the area units are diverse, and provide habitat for multitudes of species, over a broad range of habitats including old growth forest, forested floodplains, riparian areas, ancient lava flows, mineral springs, tidal mudflats, and wetlands. The new management addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts and public recreation opportunities at the wildlife area.
Planning Advisory Committee
Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Advisory Committee