Permanent Rule WSR 23-02-069: It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow goats or sheep to be untethered or unattended on this wildlife area unit, unless otherwise permitted by the director to do so. Goats or sheep that have tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae or that are displaying signs of pneumonia or other illness will not be permitted. Goats or sheep showing signs of pneumonia or other illness while on department lands must be removed within 48 hours. If a goat or sheep becomes lost, the owner must make every effort to locate and recover it. If the goat or sheep cannot be recovered, the owner shall contact the department by telephone as soon as possible.
The Sinlahekin Unit lies within the Sinlahekin Valley, a deep, glaciated canyon with steep rock sidewalls rising from a broad valley floor. The property is within both the Sinlahekin Creek and the Coulee Creek watersheds. Natural lakes, ponds, and manmade impoundments offer a variety of fishing and recreational opportunities. Shrubsteppe, wetlands, and dry forest are the main habitat types, with 40 acres being farmed to increase wildlife forage.
The Sinlahekin Unit is located 2.5 miles south of Loomis.
The Sinlahekin Unit occurs in the Okanogan Watershed in the Columbia River Basin. The unit lies within the Sinlahekin Creek and Coulee Creek watersheds. The property is bordered by Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, and private individuals.
This unit is part of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 233, 215, 204
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:
- Parking
- Restroom
- Developed campgrounds
- Boat launches
- Fishing pier
- Trails, including some ADA trails
- Viewing blinds
Recreation and access advisories
- Some secondary roads are closed during spring thaw.
- Vehicles are restricted to county roads and agency roads not otherwise posted. Seasonal closures may apply to various agency roads protect resources.
Hunting
Mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, cougar, waterfowl, wild turkey, and forest grouse contribute to the popularity of hunting on this unit.
Fishing
Natural lakes, ponds, and manmade impoundments offer a variety of fishing opportunities. Anglers can fish for a great variety of species, including rainbow trout, eastern brook trout, tiger trout, westslope cutthorat, and various warm-water fish.
Fishing advisories
- Be sure to visit the Fish Washington online regulations app before hitting the water.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes shrubsteppe, wetland, and dry forest (Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir) habitats plus forage fields, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including black bear, cougar, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, grouse, wild turkey, and waterfowl.
This unit has over 215 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, about 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, over 25 species of fish, and over 90 species of butterflies.
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, horseback riding, and nature photography. This unit has more than 510 vascular plant species (including nine rare ones).
An ADA trail leading to an ADA viewing blind is located at Conner Lake. An ADA trail is located to the northwest of Blue Lake, leading to a viewing blind on the west side of Blue Lake. About eight miles of trail -- from the wildlife area headquarters and Conner Lake to about one mile north of Fish Lake - Hunter Camp Access Site -- are available to hikers and horseback riders, with portions for ADA use.
Conservation
Habitats include Ponderosa pine woodland, shrubsteppe, and riparian areas.
Special habitats and species
Eighty-eight species of butterflies and eight rare plants have been documented on this unit.
Conservation goals
- Identify potential projects to increase amphibian abundance on lakes and wetlands
- Implement strategies to improve loon nesting success on Blue Lake
- Implement the Forest Management Plan which identifies current forest habitats, conditions, and future management needs
- See WDFW's Forest Health Story Map for more information about work happening on the unit.
- Improve the distribution and abundance of western gray squirrel populations
- Maintain and enhance game and upland bird habitat
- Restore and enhance degraded shrubsteppe habitat
Eighty-eight species of butterflies and eight rare plants have been documented on this unit.
- Identify potential projects to increase amphibian abundance on lakes and wetlands
- Implement strategies to improve loon nesting success on Blue Lake
- Implement the Forest Management Plan which identifies current forest habitats, conditions, and future management needs
- See WDFW's Forest Health Story Map for more information about work happening on the unit.
- Improve the distribution and abundance of western gray squirrel populations
- Maintain and enhance game and upland bird habitat
- Restore and enhance degraded shrubsteppe habitat
Land stewardship
The Sinlahekin Unit was purchased to protect mule deer winter range, and is the oldest WDFW wildlife area land in the state.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1939 and 2013.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| County | Transfer of land |
| Private Grantor | Private Donation |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Endangered Species Act Section 6 Program |
| US Fish and Wildlife Service | Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Boating Facilities Program |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | State Bond Account |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program |
Management planning
2017 Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin Wildlife Areas Management Plan
In 2017, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife updated the management plan for the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, which encompasses 23, 980 acres in Okanogan County, and the nearby Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in north central Washington. The plan, called the Scotch Creek & Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Management Plan, addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts and public recreation opportunities at both Scotch Creek and Sinlahekin wildlife areas. 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
Okanogan Valley Wildlife Area Advisory Committee