Elk Area 5099 Mudflow
Walk-in permit elk hunt on the 1980 eruption's mudflow plain below Mount St. Helens — iconic herd, unsigned boundaries, honest odds.
Region 5 — District 10, Mount St. Helens / North Fork Toutle River (Cowlitz County) · Last reviewed 2026-07-17
Area
35
sq mi
Public land
—
approx.
Elevation
1,000–3,400
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Elk Area 5099 "Mudflow" is a roughly 35-square-mile special-permit elk area inside GMU 522 (Loo-wit), covering the North Fork Toutle River debris-avalanche and mudflow plain left by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. It takes in the eastern portion of WDFW's Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area plus the forested slopes north and south of the valley, running east to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument boundary; SR 504 forms the north edge and timber-company roads the south. This is the home ground of the famous Toutle mudflow elk herd — the wildlife area was established in 1990 (via a land exchange with Weyerhaeuser, assisted by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) specifically to protect this winter range, and elk hunting here is by special permit only since GMU 522 has no general elk season. WDFW is blunt about expectations: a resident herd of roughly 75 elk uses the wildlife area, numbers build later in fall as animals drift down toward winter range, and disturbed elk often leave — a permit is a rare experience, not a guarantee. The broader Mount St. Helens herd remains below its mid-2000s highs (about 1,250 adult females on the 2024 survey index) and treponeme-associated hoof disease is common in District 10 elk.
Terrain
The valley floor is mostly flat mudflow and avalanche-debris plain — hummocks, small drainages, and the braided, fast-moving North Fork Toutle cutting through it — sitting roughly 1,000–2,000 feet. The hills flanking the valley to the north and south are steep and challenging, climbing toward SR 504 viewpoints and the ridges around Castle Lake at 3,000+ feet. It hunts like open country in the middle and brushy young timber on the edges: glassable, walkable, but deceptively big and soft underfoot.
Cover: Grass and forb seedings on the mudflow (planted for erosion control and elk forage), willow/alder riparian brush along the braided river channels, and regenerating Douglas-fir/noble fir plantations with maturing timber on the flanking slopes. Forage quality on the plain has declined over the decades as erosion and forest maturation reduced the winter range's carrying capacity, despite WDFW forage-enhancement work.
Landmarks: North Fork Toutle River · SR 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway) — north boundary · Hoffstadt Creek and Hoffstadt Creek Bridge (west end) · Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument boundary (east) · Forest Learning Center, SR 504 milepost 34 (valley overlook) · Castle Lake Viewpoint on SR 504 · Deer Creek, Castle Creek, Coldwater Creek · Army Corps Sediment Retention Structure (downstream/west of the area)
Access
This is a walk-in hunt for nearly everyone. There are no public driving routes down onto the wildlife area — hunters park at pullouts along SR 504 and drop in on foot. Vehicle travel on private forest roads that are ordinarily closed stays prohibited during the hunt; some DNR and private roads in the southernmost part of the elk area may be open depending on fire danger and conditions at the time. Only hunters drawn for a Hunters with Disabilities Special Elk Permit get motorized access — WDFW provides a gate-lock combination (Weyerhaeuser gate at the 3100 Road/SR 504 junction) one week before the hunt, valid only for the hunt period; disabled hunters drawn in other categories do not get vehicle access. One designated hunter companion and two non-hunting helpers may assist a disabled permit holder. Note the wildlife area itself is closed to all public access December 1 through April 30, with no dogs, no ORVs, and no camping or overnight parking at any time.
Managers: WDFW (Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area — Mudflow unit, 2,861 acres), Weyerhaeuser (St. Helens Tree Farm), Washington DNR, U.S. Forest Service (Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, east boundary)
Access points: SR 504 pullouts along the north boundary (walk-in) · Weyerhaeuser 3100 Road gate at SR 504 (disability-permit combination access only) · DNR 3000 Road system on the south side (conditionally open, fire-danger dependent)
Species notes
Roosevelt Elk
common qualityThe Mount St. Helens herd's mudflow elk — a discrete, visible, storied herd on post-eruption winter range, huntable only by special permit. About 75 resident elk use the wildlife area with numbers climbing later in fall, but the herd is below historic highs, hoof disease is common, and WDFW itself warns that a permit does not guarantee a successful hunt.
- →Scout before you apply: the Forest Learning Center overlook at SR 504 milepost 34 gives an excellent view of the valley floor — WDFW recommends looking the area over first.
- →Glass the open mudflow plain from SR 504 viewpoints at first light, then plan a walk-in stalk using the willow brush and debris hummocks along the river channels for cover.
- →Hunt later-season windows when you can — elk numbers on the wildlife area are variable and highest later in the fall as animals move toward winter range.
- →Treat the elk gently in your approach: this resident herd readily leaves the area when disturbed, and pressured elk slide into the steep timbered slopes north and south of the plain.
- →Plan the pack-out before the shot — it is a long, soft-ground haul on foot back to SR 504, and the river cannot be safely crossed.
Pro tips
- →Drive up and glass from the Forest Learning Center (SR 504 milepost 34) and the Castle Lake Viewpoint before you ever apply — you can see most of the country you would hunt.
- →Load the boundary into your GPS before the hunt: Elk Area 5099 is not signed, and the National Volcanic Monument line on the east — where hunting is prohibited — is poorly marked on the ground.
- →Be ready for WDFW to ask you to collect parts of your harvested elk for a body-condition study — read the instructions carefully, as all parts are needed for a complete sample.
- →Check hooves and be aware of treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD); it is common in this district, is limited to the hooves, and does not affect the meat.
- →If you draw a disability permit, coordinate early — the Weyerhaeuser 3100 Road gate combination is issued only one week before your hunt and works only during your hunt window.
- →Condition for foot miles on flat but soft, hummocky debris ground — an elk down two miles out on the mudflow is a serious pack-out.
Watch out for
- !The North Fork Toutle River runs at very high velocities — crossing the river is not safe. Plan hunts on one side.
- !The elk-area boundary is unsigned, and shooting across the National Volcanic Monument line is a real risk on the poorly marked east side.
- !Non-hunters share the wildlife area during hunt dates and may not be wearing hunter orange.
- !No motorized access for standard permit holders — do not count on gated timber roads being open, especially early in fire season.
- !The wildlife area is closed December 1 – April 30, and dogs, ORVs, camping, overnight parking, and fires are prohibited year-round on the unit.
- !Manage expectations: roughly 75 resident elk that leave when disturbed, a herd below historic levels, and WDFW's own caution that a special permit does not guarantee a successful hunt.
Logistics
Stage out of Castle Rock at I-5 exit 49 (fuel, groceries, motels) and drive SR 504 — the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway — about 30 miles east; Toutle and Kid Valley offer last fuel and small stores on the way up. There is no camping or overnight parking on the wildlife area itself, so plan on commuting from town, Seaquest State Park near Silver Lake, or dispersed sites on open DNR ground outside the unit. Cell coverage along upper SR 504 is spotty. Expect tourist traffic on the highway — this is one of the most visited corridors in southwest Washington, and non-hunters use the wildlife area during hunt periods.
Nearest towns: Toutle, Kid Valley, Castle Rock, Toledo, Longview/Kelso
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW — Mudflow elk area special permit hunts (boundary, access, herd numbers, safety) · WDFW — Mudflow Wildlife Area Unit (2,861 acres, 1990 establishment, Weyerhaeuser exchange, seasonal closure, restrictions) · WDFW 2025 District 10 Hunting Prospects — GMU 522 (Loo-wit) land summary, MSH elk herd status, TAHD · Washington hunting regulations (eRegulations) — Elk Area 5099 Mudflow legal boundary description · WDFW — Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area Management Plan (winter range, forage seeding, sediment retention structure context)
FAQ
- How big is Elk Area 5099 in Washington?
- Elk Area 5099 (Mudflow) covers about 35 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 3,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- What species does the catalog list for Elk Area 5099?
- Roosevelt Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Elk Area 5099 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.