Campfires are restricted year-round on the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
The Rattlesnake Slope Unit was purchased for nesting and wintering habitat for upland birds and to provide hunting recreation access. The unit includes the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility, a developed shooting range managed by Benton County.
The Rattlesnake Slope Unit is located 5 miles north of Benton City in Benton County. It is also about 3 miles east of WDFW's Thornton Unit. The Rattlesnake Slope Unit can be accessed from Highway 225 north of Benton City.
The Rattlesnake Slope Unit is located within the Lower Yakima River watershed in the Columbia Plateau, on the lower east slopes of Rattlesnake Peak.
This unit is part of the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 372
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
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:
- Gravel parking area
- No restroom
- Shooting range managed by Benton County
Recreation and access advisories
- Unit is open to foot traffic only; no vehicle access.
- No overnight camping or open fires.
- The boundary of the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility is fenced, which provides a safety margin for those visiting the remainder of this unit. Target shooting is NOT allowed on this unit outside of the developed shooting range.
Hunting
Chukar, deer, and elk are the most likely species to be hunted.
Wildlife viewing
This unit offers opportunities to view elk, deer and chukar, and other wildlife species.
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
This unit offers opportunities for hiking and horseback riding. Wildflowers and native bunchgrass may be seen in spring in the interior portion of the unit.
Adjacent to Highway 225, the Tri-Cities Shooting Association's Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility is located on this unit and on U.S. Bureau of Lands Management property. The facility is administered by Benton County Park Board and offers extensive recreational shooting opportunities.
Conservation
The interior portion of the site is good quality bunchgrass with many wildflowers in the early spring. Historically, this unit was a good example of native shrubsteppe habitat, but a series of fires over the past few decades, most recently in 2018.
Conservation goals
- Maintain agriculture leases to benefit migrating waterfowl, upland birds, and Sandhill cranes
- Maintain and increase moist soil management
- Maintain and restore shrubsteppe, upland and floodplain habitat
- Protect and enhance habitat for state and federal listed species
- Maintain and restore wetland habitat
Land stewardship
The Rattlensake Slope Unit was designated surplus by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Department of Interior in the 1970s and granted to WDFW.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased in 1974.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| U.S. Congress programs | Transfer of land |
Management planning
2020 Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Management Plan
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (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. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.
Planning Advisory Committee
Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area Advisory Committee