Thousands of acres of public lands in Washington are open for your enjoyment.
Cover photo courtesy of WDFW
Looking for a great place to get outside and explore? The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) manages more than 1 million acres of public lands and over 450 water access areas statewide. As stewards of Washington’s natural places, WDFW protects these lands and waters for wildlife and human populations while providing hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
In Eastern Washington, there are almost 150,000 acres of WDFW-managed lands. Closest to Spokane is the Rustler’s Gulch Unit of the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area. It features streams, lakes and conifer forests, and offers hiking, biking, horseback riding and wildlife watching. The Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County is almost 21,000 acres of channeled scablands, shrub-steppe habitat, and lakes. Mule deer hunting is the main draw, complemented by mountain biking and stunning scenery.
Photo courtesy of WDFW
In Southeast Washington, there are almost 79,000 acres of WDFW-managed lands that provide spectacular views, great fishing, prolific wildlife and hiking opportunities. Heller Bar Access Area, part of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area along the Snake River, is a popular launch spot for powerboats heading into Hells Canyon, the Grande Ronde or Salmon rivers.
While enjoying these lands, remember that a Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass is required and please respect other wildlife area visitors. Whether hunting, birding, or doing other outdoor activities, each visitor cares deeply about the wildlife and habitat of that area. There are other WDFW-managed lands in Eastern Washington, including the LeClerc, W.T. Wooten, and Revere wildlife areas. More information on those and others is at Wdfw.wa.gov/lands.
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