GMU 346 Little Naches
High Cascade headwaters and the Little Naches OHV country — public-land Yakima-herd elk on burn browse
WDFW Region 3 — South Central (District 8, Yakima/Kittitas) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
239
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
2,400–6,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
GMU 346 covers the upper Naches and Little Naches river drainages on the east slope of the Cascade crest, almost entirely public Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Naches Ranger District). It is classic mid- to high-elevation elk and mule deer country — rolling conifer ridges laced with creeks, big roadless pockets, and the sprawling scar of the 2017 Norse Peak Fire, which reset thousands of acres into prime browse. Elk here belong to the Yakima herd, one of the largest in the state, and hunting is best in the late seasons once mountain snow pushes animals down from the high country.
Terrain
Mid- to high-altitude rolling Cascade mountains cut by the Little Naches, Crow Creek, and upper Naches drainages, with steep roadless heads and rocky peaks along the divide.
Cover: Dense mixed conifer (Douglas-fir, grand fir, lodgepole, subalpine fir) with old-growth stringers, meadows, and huge post-fire browse fields from the 2017 Norse Peak Fire; alpine and rocky ground near Fifes Peak and the wilderness boundaries.
Landmarks: Little Naches River · Crow Creek / Crow Creek Lake · Fifes Peak · Norse Peak Wilderness (edge) · William O. Douglas Wilderness (edge) · 2017 Norse Peak Fire burn
Access
Overwhelmingly public national forest with an extensive Forest Service road and Jeep-trail network — one of the state's best-known OHV areas (Little Naches). Motorized access is excellent on the lower drainages via FS roads, but the interior between Crow Creek, Fifes Peak, and the wilderness lines is roadless foot-and-horse country. Wilderness portions are non-motorized by law. Check the USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for open roads and seasonal gate closures.
Managers: USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee NF (Naches Ranger District), Norse Peak Wilderness, William O. Douglas Wilderness, WA DNR
Access points: Hwy 410 corridor to Little Naches Rd (FR 1900) · Little Naches Campground and dispersed sites · Crow Creek / Raven Roost roads · Numerous FS spur roads and OHV trailheads off FR 1900/1902 · Wilderness trailheads into Norse Peak / William O. Douglas
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the Yakima elk herd (>10,000 animals). Elk are scattered across the drainage and can be anywhere; late-season snow concentrates them and drives the best hunting. Post-fire browse from the 2017 Norse Peak Fire is a magnet for feeding animals.
- →Hunt the 2017 Norse Peak burn edges where new browse meets standing timber
- →Wait for the late season — significant high-country snowfall pushes elk down and bunches them up
- →Hike into the roadless country between Crow Creek, Little Crow Basin, and Fifes Peak to escape pressure
- →Glass burn openings and meadow edges at dawn/dusk, then still-hunt travel routes between feed and timber
Mule Deer
common opportunityGeneral-season migratory mule deer scattered through the high drainages; like the elk they respond to the post-fire browse and to late-season snow that concentrates deer on their way to lower winter range.
- →Work burn regrowth and huckleberry/ceanothus browse fields
- →Glass high open basins early season, then follow deer downhill as snow builds
- →Push into roadless heads where bucks hold away from OHV traffic
- →Late seasons after snow are the payoff window
Black Bear
common opportunityGood black bear numbers in the wet Cascade timber; the burn and berry fields make productive early-fall feeding grounds.
- →Glass burns, avalanche chutes, and berry patches in late summer and early fall
- →Hunt creek bottoms and old-growth edges
- →Spot-and-stalk feeding bears on open slopes
Cougar
common opportunityCougars are well distributed through the timbered drainages, tracking the deer and elk herds.
- →Cut and follow tracks after fresh snow on FS roads and ridges
- →Focus near wintering deer and elk concentrations
Pro tips
- →Plan around the late season — this is a snow-driven unit, not an early-season one
- →Hunt the Norse Peak burn transition edges where browse meets security cover
- →Leave the OHV crowds behind: the roadless block between Crow Creek and Fifes Peak holds the least-pressured animals
- →Pull the USFS MVUM to know which roads are legally open and where the gates close
- →Be self-sufficient and snow-ready — access can vanish overnight with a storm
Watch out for
- !Heavy OHV/ORV and dispersed-camping traffic on the Little Naches corridor, especially early
- !Wilderness boundaries (Norse Peak, William O. Douglas) — no motorized travel and often no legal vehicle retrieval
- !Early snow closing high FS roads and passes; carry chains and a plan B
- !Standing dead timber and blowdown in the Norse Peak burn — hazardous and hard to move through
- !Remote, no-service terrain — file a plan and pack for self-rescue
Logistics
Access is off State Route 410 up the Little Naches Rd (FR 1900); Naches and Yakima are the last real supply/fuel stops. Abundant dispersed and developed FS camping along the Little Naches. Weather turns fast at elevation — the best hunting coincides with the first heavy snows, so carry chains and be ready for closed passes and washed-out spurs. Cell service is essentially nil in the drainages.
Nearest towns: Naches, Cliffdell, Yakima, Chinook Pass/Hwy 410 corridor
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: 2024 District 8 Hunting Prospects (Yakima & Kittitas Counties), WDFW · WDFW Game Management Units · USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
FAQ
- How big is GMU 346 in Washington?
- GMU 346 (Little Naches) covers about 239 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,400 to 6,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 346?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee NF (Naches Ranger District), Norse Peak Wilderness, William O. Douglas Wilderness, WA DNR. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 346?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 346 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.