Recreation opportunities on the Swegle Road Unit include hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. Acquired for fishing, the unit provides fishing access to 0.5 mile of the Walla Walla River; but the unit has no boating access. Much of the unit is limited to natural riparian zone along the river, which supports good quality woody cover, and creates opportunity to hunt upland birds, turkey, and deer.
The Swegle Road Unit is located 3 miles west of College Place in Walla Walla County. The unit can be accessed from Swegle Road.
The Swegle Road Unit is located on the Walla Walla River watershed within the Columbia Plateau.
This unit is part of the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 149
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:
- Gravel parking area
- No restroom
- Informational kiosk
Recreation and access advisories
- Day use only.
- Overnight parking or camping is prohibited.
Hunting
Hunting for upland birds, turkeys, and deer is popular on this unit.
Hunting advisories
- Hunting is allowed by archery and shotgun only.
- Hunting is only allowed east of Swegle Road; all lands west of Swegle Road are in a designated SAFETY ZONE.
Fishing
There is a half-mile of shoreline access along the Walla Walla River, providing fishing opportunities, especially when steelhead are migrating.
This unit includes a 50-foot easement along the north shore of the Walla Walla River, a 25-foot easement along both shorelines of Mill Creek, and a WDFW-owned parcel along the south shoreline of the Walla Walla River.
Fishing advisories
- There is NO boating access at the Swegle Unit.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes natural riparian habitat along the Walla Walla River and Mill Creek, offering offers opportunities to view a variety of wildlife, including deer, upland birds, waterfowl, and wild turkey.
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
The unit has approximately 1 mile of river frontage.
Special habitats and species
Deer, wild turkeys and other upland wildlife are common.
Conservation goals
- Develop plan to survey entire wildlife area for rare plants by 2024
Deer, wild turkeys and other upland wildlife are common.
- Develop plan to survey entire wildlife area for rare plants by 2024
Land stewardship
The Swegle Road Unit was acquired to provide public fishing access, as mitigation for habitat losses from dam construction along the Snake River.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1991 and 1994.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| US Army Corps of Engineers | Snake River Mitigation Account |
Management planning
2019 Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas 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.
Planning Advisory Committee
W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area Advisory Committee