GMU 51 North Cascades National Park
The North Cascades high country around Ross Lake — mostly locked-up national park, a hunt for the few who know where the closure lines are.
WDFW Region 4 — North Cascades (District 14, Whatcom & Skagit counties) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
789
sq mi
Public land
98%
approx.
Elevation
500–9,200
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
This unit covers roughly 790 square miles of the high North Cascades astride the crest, centered on the North Cascades National Park complex and Ross Lake in northern Whatcom and Skagit counties. It is some of the wildest, most vertical terrain in the Lower 48 — glaciated peaks, deep timbered valleys, and the SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) corridor threading through Newhalem, Diablo, and Ross Lake. The critical fact for hunters is jurisdiction: North Cascades National Park proper is closed to all hunting, while the surrounding Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lands (in the adjacent WDFW hunting GMUs 426 Diablo, 418 Nooksack, and 437 Sauk) are open under state rules. Where hunting is allowed, expect low-density blacktail deer, black bear, permit-only mountain goat, and the edge of the North Cascades elk herd — all on brutal, remote ground.
Terrain
Extreme glaciated alpine relief — valley bottoms near 500–1,600 ft along the Skagit and Ross Lake climb to summits over 9,000 ft (Goode Mountain ~9,200 ft, Mount Shuksan ~9,131 ft, Buckner, Eldorado). SR 20 crosses the range via Rainy and Washington passes. Snowfields, glaciers, and cliff bands dominate the high country; dense wet forest fills the valleys.
Cover: Classic west-slope North Cascades: temperate conifer rainforest of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and redcedar in the wet lower valleys, grading through silver fir and subalpine fir to heather parks, huckleberry basins, and rock-and-ice above treeline. Avalanche chutes and berry fields lace the mid-elevations.
Landmarks: Ross Lake / Ross Lake National Recreation Area · SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) — Newhalem, Diablo, Ross Dam · Skagit River (Gorge, Diablo, Ross reservoirs) · Mount Shuksan (~9,131 ft) · Goode Mountain (~9,200 ft) · Rainy Pass / Washington Pass (SR 20) · Stephen Mather Wilderness · Colonial Peak / Pyramid Peak
Access
Jurisdiction is everything here. North Cascades National Park proper is closed to all hunting — do not hunt inside the park boundary. The Ross Lake National Recreation Area and surrounding Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest are open to hunting under WDFW seasons (these fall in hunting GMUs 426 Diablo, 418 Nooksack, and 437 Sauk), but access is limited by terrain rather than ownership. SR 20 is the only paved artery and closes seasonally over the passes with early snow; nearly everything off it requires long, steep hikes into wilderness where mechanized travel is prohibited. Much of the huntable ground is grizzly-bear recovery area (adjacent GMUs 418/426), so bear hunters must pass WDFW's annual online bear identification exam (80%+) and carry proof. Verify the exact park-vs-NRA-vs-forest boundary on the WDFW Hunt Planner and NPS maps before you hunt.
Managers: National Park Service — North Cascades National Park (CLOSED to hunting), National Park Service — Ross Lake National Recreation Area (open to hunting under state rules), USFS Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, USFS-designated wilderness (Stephen Mather, Mt. Baker, Noisy-Diobsud), Washington DNR / small private (SR 20 / Skagit corridor)
Access points: SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) corridor — Marblemount, Newhalem, Diablo · Ross Lake / Diablo Lake water access · Cascade River Road toward Cascade Pass (park boundary) · Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF trailheads off SR 20 (Thornton Lakes, Easy Pass, etc.) · Baker Lake / Baker River approaches on the west (adjacent GMU 418)
Species notes
Blacktail Deer
limited opportunityColumbian blacktails occur in the timbered valleys and subalpine parks of the huntable national-forest and NRA portions, but WDFW notes deer densities across the surrounding North Cascades GMUs (418, 426, 437) are down, and this high, glaciated country holds them at low density. The draw is the remote, rugged High Buck Hunt experience in the adjacent Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak wilderness — a physically demanding early-season alpine hunt for lightly pressured bucks, not a numbers hunt.
- →Target the alpine and subalpine parks and lightly forested ridges away from main trails during the early High Buck window
- →Be prepared to hike five to ten miles into wilderness and to share fair-weather basins with hikers
- →Glass small alpine basins, heather benches, and avalanche-chute edges at first and last light
- →Stay strictly outside the North Cascades National Park closure — hunt only NRA and national-forest ground
- →Physical fitness, good optics, and pre-season scouting are prerequisites, not luxuries
Roosevelt Elk
limited lowThis is the eastern, high-country fringe of the North Cascades (Nooksack) elk herd, whose core lies in the lower forested uplands and valleys to the west and south (GMUs 407, 418, 437, 448). Elk hunting in the herd is special-permit-only and very limited, and few animals range into this glaciated terrain. Treat elk as a rare incidental here, not a hunt objective.
- →Pursue elk in the herd's core valleys via the limited draw permits, not the park high country
- →If chasing the fringe, work the lower forested benches on the national-forest edges
- →Secure landowner/agency access before counting on any specific drainage
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common in the huckleberry basins and avalanche chutes of the huntable high country and the wet lower valleys. Early-season alpine spot-and-stalk on ripening berries is the classic approach, but note this is designated grizzly-bear recovery habitat — correct identification is mandatory.
- →Hunt the early high-elevation season, glassing huckleberry basins and avalanche chutes where bears forage
- →Spot-and-stalk open subalpine slopes at dawn and dusk
- →Pass WDFW's annual online bear ID exam (80%+) and carry proof — this is grizzly recovery area
- →Submit the required black bear premolar tooth to WDFW after a fall harvest
- →Hunt only outside the national park closure line
Mountain Goat
common qualityThe North Cascades hold mountain goats on the crags and high basins, and this is prime goat country — but every goat opportunity in Washington is special-permit-only, and North Cascades goat populations (including nearby Mt. Baker) have been declining, with several recent seasons issuing few or no permits. A drawn tag here is a rare, physically extreme once-in-a-lifetime hunt on cliff-and-glacier terrain.
- →Apply through the WDFW special-permit draw — there is no general season for goats
- →Expect glassing and stalking on cliff bands, high basins, and rock outcrops well above treeline
- →Prepare for technical, exposed terrain, glacier travel hazards, and long approaches
- →Confirm which goat hunt area applies and its permit status before planning — populations and permits fluctuate year to year
Pro tips
- →Know the closure line cold: North Cascades National Park proper is closed to hunting — only the Ross Lake NRA and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (GMUs 426/418/437) are open. Map it before you leave.
- →This is a fitness-and-wilderness hunt, not an odds hunt — the payoff is solitude and quality on alpine deer, bear, and (if drawn) goat.
- →For goats, understand there is no general season — it's special-permit only, and North Cascades permit numbers have been cut as populations decline.
- →Bear hunters: pass the WDFW online grizzly/black-bear ID exam beforehand and carry proof; misidentification in this recovery area is a serious matter.
- →Time high-country trips to the early season and watch SR 20 pass closures — snow can end access abruptly.
- →Use Ross and Diablo lake boat access to reach otherwise brutal trailless drainages on the huntable NRA fringe.
Watch out for
- !North Cascades National Park is closed to all hunting — hunting inside the park boundary is illegal; verify NRA/forest boundaries precisely.
- !Extreme glaciated terrain: cliffs, glaciers, avalanche paths, swift rivers, and long committing approaches — real mountaineering hazards.
- !SR 20 over Rainy/Washington passes closes seasonally with snow, eliminating eastern and high-country access for the year.
- !Designated wilderness (Stephen Mather, Mt. Baker, Noisy-Diobsud) prohibits mechanized/motorized travel; the Noisy-Diobsud is not open to the High Buck Hunt.
- !This is grizzly-bear recovery habitat — mandatory bear ID exam for bear hunters, and food-storage/encounter precautions apply.
- !Mountain goat is permit-only with declining populations and limited/no tags some years; do not plan a goat hunt without a drawn tag.
- !No cell coverage off the SR 20 corridor — carry navigation, emergency comms, and a trip plan.
Logistics
Marblemount and Newhalem on SR 20 are the last services before the park complex; Sedro-Woolley and Concrete offer fuel, groceries, and lodging to the west, and Winthrop lies over the passes to the east (when SR 20 is open). This is deep wilderness — plan for long hikes or boat access on Ross/Diablo lakes, self-sufficiency, and no cell coverage away from the highway. Carry offline maps that clearly show the park-vs-NRA-vs-national-forest boundaries, technical alpine gear where relevant, and grizzly-aware bear precautions. SR 20 over the North Cascades passes closes with early snow, cutting off eastern access for the season.
Nearest towns: Marblemount, Newhalem, Concrete, Sedro-Woolley, Rockport, Winthrop
Nearby units
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Washington sources:
Research sources: WDFW — 2025 District 14 Hunting Prospects (Region 4, Skagit & Whatcom) · WDFW — Game Management Units (GMUs) · National Park Service — North Cascades National Park (hunting & recreation area rules) · WDFW — Mountain Goat Permit Hunt Area Boundary Maps
FAQ
- How big is GMU 51 in Washington?
- GMU 51 (North Cascades National Park) covers about 789 square miles, ranging from roughly 500 to 9,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 51?
- Approximately 98% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: National Park Service — North Cascades National Park (CLOSED to hunting), National Park Service — Ross Lake National Recreation Area (open to hunting under state rules), USFS Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, USFS-designated wilderness (Stephen Mather, Mt. Baker, Noisy-Diobsud), Washington DNR / small private (SR 20 / Skagit corridor). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 51?
- Blacktail Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Black Bear, Mountain Goat. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Washington agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 51 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.