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 Chelan Butte Unit is between the Columbia River and Lake Chelan. With an elevation gain of more than 3,000 feet, the unit offers stunning views, and the unit is popular for diverse recreational activities, including hunting, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing. One of the most popular hang gliding and parasailing sites in the world is located on Chelan Butte.
The Chelan Butte Unit is located between Lake Chelan and the Columbia River in Chelan County. Immediately southwest of Chelan, the unit can be accessed by Chelan Butte Road from the north, Downie Canyon Road from the west, and Stayman Flats Road from the south.
The Chelan Butte Unit lies between Lake Chelan and the Columbia River in the east Cascades. The area adjacent to Chelan Butte is primarily privately owned and is dominated by rural properties and agriculture.
This unit is part of the Chelan Wildlife Area.
Game Management Units: 247, 243
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 at pulloffs along Chelan Butte Road and Downie Canyon Road
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- 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.
- Motorized vehicle access is prohibited on some roads.
- Snowmobiling is prohibited.
- Open fires are prohibited.
Hunting
Bighorn sheep released in 2004 are now well established in the area and provide a world class hunting opportunity. Upland game birds using the area include chukar, gray partridge, blue grouse and California quail.
Pheasant releases are made each fall to provide additional hunting opportunity.
Hunting advisories
- 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 doves, and band-tailed pigeons (WAC 220-414-040). Be sure to check boundary descriptions of pheasant release sites.
Wildlife viewing
This unit offers opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mule deer, western gray squirrel, coyote, golden eagles, and California quail.
The Chelan Butte bighorn sheep herd can be found on Chelan Butte year-round. Bighorn sheep are often found east of Chelan Butte Road above Stayman Flats.
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
Roads closed to motorized vehicles offer miles of opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. Several geocaches can also be found on the area. Locations for safe target shooting can be found on the area.
Chelan Butte is the location of a popular, world-renown site for hang gliding and parasailing. Brick House Canyon is where you can see the Lucas Homestead, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other advisories
- Target shooting – no use of glass, signs, appliances, mattresses, televisions, furniture and exploding items as targets; debris from targets, except clay pigeons, must be removed; no discharge of tracer or incendiary ammunition (WAC 220-500-140).
Conservation
The quality and productivity of habitat, including old fields restored to native grasses, forbs, and shrubs, have helped Chelan Butte's California bighorn sheep to expand their range in Washington and provides important mule deer winter range, too. Bald and golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and other raptors also find their prey using this habitat.
Special habitats and species
A rare inhabitant of this unit is the giant Palouse earthworm.
Conservation goals
- Improve ecological integrity of forests while maintaining and/or improving habitat for wildlife
- Consider exploring future translocations of sharp-tailed grouse
- Develop a strategy/plan for shrubsteppe and grassland restoration on the wildlife area
- Include butterflies and other pollinator species in habitat management activities
- Maintain and enhance big game habitat
- Maintain and enhance upland bird habitat
A rare inhabitant of this unit is the giant Palouse earthworm.
- Improve ecological integrity of forests while maintaining and/or improving habitat for wildlife
- Consider exploring future translocations of sharp-tailed grouse
- Develop a strategy/plan for shrubsteppe and grassland restoration on the wildlife area
- Include butterflies and other pollinator species in habitat management activities
- Maintain and enhance big game habitat
- Maintain and enhance upland bird habitat
Land stewardship
The Chelan Butte 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 1970 and 2021.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Power, dike & irrigation districts | Mitigation Funds |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
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