The Goldendale Hatchery Unit is located along Spring Creek adjacent to WDFW's Goldendale Trout Hatchery. The unit historically was a farm and its agricultural fields are now being cultivated under a sharecrop agreement. A portion of the grain produced remains in the field as supplementary feed for upland game birds. Pen-reared pheasants are released for fall hunting. Other public uses include waterfowl hunting and trout fishing.
The Goldendale Hatchery Unit is about 5 miles northwest of Goldendale. The unit can be accessed from Hill Road off of State Route 142.
The Goldendale Hatchery Unit lies on the east slope of the Cascades Mountains, halfway between the Columbia River Gorge to the south and Mount Adams to the North. The unit is located along Spring Creek. Surrounding land use is primarily agriculture and residential.
This unit is part of the Klickitat Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 388
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Contact
Cassandra Holman
Wildlife Area Manager
1886 Glenwood Highway
Goldendale, WA 98620
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:
- 2 parking areas
- No restroom
Recreation and access advisories
- Day use only.
- Parking is allowed along roads.
- No camping or fires are permitted.
- This is s nontoxic shot zone.
Hunting
This unit is managed mainly to provide fishing and pheasant hunting, but waterfowl hunting also occurs on the unit during the winter. WDFW releases pheasants on this unit to increase hunting opportunity, and a portion of the grain produced on the unit's agricultural fields remains as supplementary feed for upland game birds.
Hunting advisories
- Hunting of marmots is not allowed.
- 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, band-tailed pigeon (WAC 220-414-040).
- The property west of the Goldendale Trout Hatchery is open to hunting. No hunting is allowed within the Trout Hatchery compound or at worker residences adjacent to the hatchery facilities.
Fishing
Spring Creek is stocked annually with rainbow trout, providing a sport fishery.
Fishing advisories
- The property west of the Goldendale Trout Hatchery is open to fishing. No fishing is allowed within the Trout Hatchery compound.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes creek shoreline, old fields, and cereal cropland, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife including upland birds.
Marmots can be seen on this unit.
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
Conservation goals
- Maintain and enhance upland bird habitat and rainbow trout habitat
Land stewardship
The Goldendale Hatchery Unit historically was a farm. Some agricultural fields are now cultivated under a sharecrop agreement and managed to benefit upland birds.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased in 1967.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
Management planning
2023 DRAFT Simcoe Mountains Management Plan
The plan will help to guide public access and outdoor recreation, habitat enhancements, and forest and range management, among other elements, for the Simcoe Mountains Unit. The plan will be an addendum to the Klickitat Wildlife Area Plan, which is updated every 10 years.
2016 Klickitat Wildlife Area Management Plan
In 2016, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) updated the management plan for the Klickitat Wildlife Area, which consists of seven units. The management plan addresses the status of wildlife species in the area and their habitat, the progress of restoration efforts, and public recreation opportunities. 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
Klickitat Wildlife Area Advisory Committee