Explore Sinlahekin State Wildlife Area
About Sinlahekin State Wildlife Area
Sinlahekin State Wildlife Area is a coniferous forest habitat just south of Loomis, managed by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, with 5 photo points monitored year round for forest health.
About the Land Manager
Dale Swedberg, Manager for Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Dale may be reached at 509-223-3358 or by email.
At the Trailhead
Description of trailhead coming soon.
Located 2.5 miles south of Loomis, the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (SWA) is approximately 14,314 acres including 480 acres leased from Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and 2,834 acres owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and 11,000 acres owned by WDFW.
The SWA lies primarily within the Sinlahekin Valley, a north–south-running, deep, glaciated valley with sheer rock sidewalls rising from the valley floor at about 1,100’ elevation to over 4,000’ elevation. The valley ranges from about one-half to one mile wide.
The property is within both the Sinlahekin Creek and the Coulee Creek watersheds. Sinlahekin Creek is the major flowing water body, while Coulee Creek goes underground most of the year. There are five impoundments and several natural ponds. Dominant habitat types are shrub steppe (bluebunch wheatgrass, big sage, bitterbrush, serviceberry), wetland (hawthorn, water birch, mountain alder, grass/sedges), and dry forest (Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir).
The Sinlahekin has more than 510 vascular plant species (including nine rare ones), over 215 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, about 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, over 25 species of fish, and over 90 species of butterflies. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, cougar, waterfowl, wild turkey, forest grouse and rainbow trout and many neo-tropical birds contribute to the popularity of hunting, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Nearly 100 years of fire exclusion have brought change to the landscape and it is not necessarily beneficial to wildlife. Plans for the drysite forests of the Sinlahekin include fuels reduction including thinning and logging followed by prescribed burning to try to restore fire and its very important effects that create and maintain wildlife habitat. Photo points have been set up to monitor the changes in the drysite forest structure and response of plants and plant communities to the prescribed burning.
Explore the photos taken over time at Sinlahekin State Wildlife Area to see how citizens are helping to generate scientific data.
"Here at Sinlahekin we're working to restore a healthy, fire-dependent ecosystem dominated by a combination of ponderosa pines and shrub steppe vegetation."
Preparing for Your Trip
- Road-side access
- Year-round
Driving Directions
From Tonasket west on 4th Ave across Okanogan River to the Hwy 7 Junction. Turn right (north) on Hwy 7 and proceed north to the Loomis Hwy Junction continuing on (west) to Loomis. Drive through Loomis and proceed straight (west) into a sweeping left turn onto Broadway Street which turns into Sinlahekin Road. Proceed south on Sinlahekin Road about 3 miles where the road enters SWA.
From Riverside north on SR 97 to about Mile Post 304.6. Turn left (west) on the South Pine Creek Road. Proceed west about 7 miles where road enters SWA.
From Oroville south on SR 97 to Ellisforde, turn right (west) on Ellisforde Bridge Road. Proceed west about .75 miles then turn left (south) on Hwy 7. Proceed south to the Loomis Hwy Junction and Hwy 7. Turn right (west) onto Loomis Hwy and proceed west to Loomis. Drive through Loomis and proceed straight (west) into a sweeping left turn onto Broadway Street which turns into Sinlahekin Road. Proceed south on Sinlahekin Road about 3 miles where the road enters SWA.
From Conconully proceed east out of Conconully on the Conconully-Fish Lake Road and follow road past Sugar Loaf Lake and over Sugar Loaf Pass to where the road enters SWA.
The Sinlahekin State Wildlife Area Witnessing Change location is currently under development. Please feel free to learn more about the place, then check back in a while. We're working hard to get the photo points established, and appreciate your interest.