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 Swakane Unit varies greatly in elevation and topography. As a result, this unit has a great diversity of wildlife and plant species, including several threatened and endangered plants.
The Swakane Unit is located north of Wentachee in Chelan County. The unit can be accessed from Swakane Canyon Road off of Alternate Highway 97, and Burch Mountain Road from East Peters Road near the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 97 and Easy Street.
The Swakane Canyon Unit is located in the east Cascades and includes Burch Mountain, Swakane Canyon, and Tenas George Canyon within its boundaries. The surrounding landownership is primarily U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Natural Resources. Closer to the Columbia River, rural home sites and agriculture occur.
This unit is part of the Chelan Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 250
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 area at Swakane Canyon Road entrance
- Additional parking at pulloffs on Forest Service Road 7415 and Burch Mountain Road
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- Burch Mountain Road is closed by Chelan County from mid Feb. through March 31.
- A SAFETY ZONE is established around a residence and storage building within pheasant release area. No weapons may be discharged within this zone.
- All bicycles are restricted to established roads.
- All walk-in access (e.g., hiking, snowshoeing, shed antler hunting) is discouraged from Feb. 1 through March 31 to protect wintering mule deer.
- Snowmobiling is prohibited.
- Motorized vehicle access is prohibited on Forest Service Road 5215 (Rattlesnake Grade).
- Motorized vehicle access is restricted to Swakane Canyon Road, Forest Service Road 7415, and Burch Mountain Road.
- Open fires are prohibited.
Hunting
Bighorn sheep on this unit provide a world class hunting opportunity. Upland game birds using the area include chukar, gray partridge, blue grouse, ruffed grouse and California quail
WDFW releases pheasants on this unit each fall to provide additional hunting opportunity. Be sure to check boundary descriptions of pheasant release sites.
Hunting advisories
- A SAFETY ZONE is established around a residence and storage building within pheasant release area. No weapons may be discharged within this zone.
- On all WDFW designated pheasant release sites it is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading), other than nontoxic shot, when hunting for upland game birds (pheasant, quail, chukar, and gray partridge), mourning dove, and band-tailed pigeon (WAC 220-414-040).
- Motorized vehicle access is prohibited on Forest Service Road 5215 (Rattlesnake Grade).
- Motorized vehicle access is restricted to Swakane Canyon Road, Forest Service Road 7415, and Burch Mountain Road.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes shrubsteppe and, in Swakane Canyon, small wetlands and springs, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, golden and bald eagles, chukar, gray partridge, and California quail.
The Swakane bighorn sheep herd uses Swakane Canyon year-round. This canyon is a popular destination for viewing butterflies in the spring.
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.
Wildlife viewing advisories
- All walk-in access (e.g., hiking, snowshoeing, shed antler hunting) is discouraged from Feb. 1 through March 31 to protect wintering mule deer.
Other recreational opportunities
On the unit, roads closed to motorized vehicles offer miles of opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Several geocaches can also be found on the area. Locations for safe target shooting can be found on the area. In Swakane Canyon a popular undeveloped target shooting site is located 0.2 mile from the kiosk/parking area at Swakane Canyon Road entrance.
Shed antler hunting is a popular spring activity on areas where mule congregated during winter.
Other advisories
- Target Shoot Responsibly: For the safety of others in Swakane Canyon, target shooting across the canyon bottom and at the Forest Service Road 5215 (Rattlesnake Grade) parking area is highly discouraged. Per WAC 220-500-140, do not use glass, signs, appliances, mattresses, televisions, furniture and exploding items as targets. Remove debris from targets, except clay pigeons. Do not use tracer or incendiary ammunition.
- All walk-in access (e.g., hiking, snowshoeing, shed antler hunting) is discouraged from Feb. 1 through March 31 to protect wintering mule deer.
Conservation
The variation in elevation and topography on the Swakane provides high quality winter range for Chelan County mule deer and year-round range for bighorn sheep. Cliffs on and adjacent to the unit provide nesting sites for golden eagles and peregrine falcons.
Special habitats and species
Small wetlands can be found in the Swakane Canyon. The state-threatened Thompson's clover occurs on the unit.
Conservation goals
- Maintain and enhance big game habitat
- Protect tiger salamander habitat by preventing the drying of wetlands, ponds, lakes, and streams
- Develop a plan for shrubsteppe and grassland restoration on the wildlife area
- Improve ecological integrity of forests while maintaining and/or improving habitat for wildlife
- Include butterflies and other pollinator species in habitat management activities
- Maintain and enhance upland bird habitat
Small wetlands can be found in the Swakane Canyon. The state-threatened Thompson's clover occurs on the unit.
- Maintain and enhance big game habitat
- Protect tiger salamander habitat by preventing the drying of wetlands, ponds, lakes, and streams
- Develop a plan for shrubsteppe and grassland restoration on the wildlife area
- Improve ecological integrity of forests while maintaining and/or improving habitat for wildlife
- Include butterflies and other pollinator species in habitat management activities
- Maintain and enhance upland bird habitat
Land stewardship
The Swakane Unit originated from funding that WDFW received for acquisition and development of public fishing and hunting areas, and fishing and hunting improvement projects in Chelan County adjacent to the Rocky Reach reservoir as part of the original settlement agreement with the Chelan Public Utilities District. The agreement provides mitigation for loss of wildlife habitat by the construction and operation of the Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project on the Columbia River. Acres have been added to the unit over time.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1966 and 2021.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Power, dike & irrigation districts | Mitigation Funds |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
| WA Recreation and Conservation Office | Firearms and Archery Range Recreation |
Management planning
2018 Chelan Wildlife Area Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is developing a new management plan for the Chelan Wildlife Area. The wildlife area includes about 30,874 acres of land in Chelan and Okanogan counties. WDFW acquired most of the wildlife area property as a result of a 1963 agreement with the Chelan County PUD to lessen the impact of the Rocky Reach Dam project on wildlife. The department manages the area primarily for big game and upland game birds. Chelan Wildlife Area provides a great variety of recreational opportunities including hunting, photography, wildlife viewing, and camping. The wildlife area's numerous dirt roads, which are closed to motorized vehicles, offer good hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. The new plan will address the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts, management challenges such as invasive species and public recreation opportunities at the wildlife area.
Planning Advisory Committee
Chelan Wildlife Area Advisory Committee