The Indian Dan Canyon Unit offers shrubsteppe, riparian, lake, wetland, and Ponderosa pine habitats. Mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyote, bobcat, black bear, dusky grouse, California quail, gray partridge, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds and other wildlife use this diversity of habitats. Geologically, multiple terraces reflect buildup of shore deposits and debris during the Okanogan glaciation. The gap north of Tenas Mountain on this unit is an outstanding example of a marginal lake spillway.
The Indian Dan Canyon Unit is located northeast of Brewster in Okanogan County. The unit can be accessed east of Pateros from Indian Dan Road off of Highway 97, or west of Brewster from Indian Dan Road off of Highway 97.
The Indian Dan Canyon Unit is on the northwest edge of the Columbia Plateau and lies in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains. Adjacent lands include fruit orchards, rangelands, and rural residential.
This unit is part of the Wells Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 239
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:
- Three parking areas
- No restroom
Recreation and access 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.
- Fireworks are prohibited.
- Open fires are not permitted at any time during the year.
- Overnight parking and camping are allowed in established parking areas occurring primarily during the deer-hunting season in mid-October.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited other than in the parking areas.
- Ticks occur here--observe appropriate precautions.
Hunting
This area is in the Chiliwist Game Management Unit # 239. Mule deer is the primary big game species. White-tailed deer occur here though in smaller numbers than mule deer. This unit offers diverse upland bird hunting opportunities with California quail, gray partridge, dusky grouse, ruffed grouse and chukar. Hunter registration is required on this unit. Registration cards and drop-boxes are located at each parking area. This program collects useful and necessary information on hunting and wildlife populations. The information collected is an important tool to evaluate management and improve hunting on the area.
Hunting advisories
- All lands in Washington State are CLOSED to the taking of sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse. Upland bird hunters are advised that sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse are protected species and may be found on the unit. Hunters should be alert to the presence of these birds on this area and be proficient at identifying them.
Wildlife viewing
This unit has shrubsteppe, ponds, Indian Dan Lake, and riparian areas offering pockets of diversity and opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including mule and white-tailed deer, white-tailed jackrabbit, chukar, dusky grouse, ruffed grouse, gray partridge, California quail, waterfowl Neotropical migrants.
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
Interior service roads can be used for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Other 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.
Conservation
The entire area burned in 2014 during the Carlton Complex Fire. The grass, forbs, and riparian plants are recovering more quickly than upland shrubs and Ponderosa pines.
Special habitats and species
Stands of quaking aspen, water birch, riparian areas, two lakes, Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir are contrasting forest habitat types interspersed within the area's shrubsteppe.
Conservation goals
- Protect and enhance habitat for big game wintering areas
- Provide habitat landscape connectivity
- Protect, maintain, and enhance shrubsteppe and riparian habitat
Stands of quaking aspen, water birch, riparian areas, two lakes, Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir are contrasting forest habitat types interspersed within the area's shrubsteppe.
- Protect and enhance habitat for big game wintering areas
- Provide habitat landscape connectivity
- Protect, maintain, and enhance shrubsteppe and riparian habitat
Land stewardship
The Douglas County Public Utilities District No. 1 entered into a wildlife mitigation agreement with WDFW in 1974 as part of the Wells Hydroelectric Project Federal Energy Regulatory License. This agreement addressed the loss of wildlife caused by the construction of Wells Dam and led to the creation of the Wells Wildlife Area, including the Indian Dan Canyon Unit. In addition, WDFW acquired lease rights to approximately 1,500 acres of Department of Natural Resources land and manages 180 acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management land as part of this unit.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1975 and 2021.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| Power, dike & irrigation districts | Mitigation Funds |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
Management planning
2006 Wells 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.