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The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is located in the Yakima River basin of south-central Washington in Yakima County. It is comprised of approximately 42,000 acres. The major portion of the Wildlife Area is situated between the Tieton River and the Wenas Valley and is bisected by the Naches River. The southern extent of the area lies about 18 miles north and west of the city of Yakima, while the northern border is six miles north of the city of Naches. The headquarters is located on Highway 12, 20 miles west of Yakima.
The area is located on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains. Elevation varies from a low of 1,650 feet along the Naches River to a high of over 5,200 feet on Bethel Ridge. Topography and vegetation vary considerably over the wildlife area. Many of the open ridges and south slopes support big sagebrush, bitterbrush, and rabbitbrush; whereas the higher elevations and north slopes support Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and white fir. The most prevalent native, perennial grass occurring on most of the area is bluebunch wheatgrass. A large component of Oregon white oak, to which the Wildlife Area owes its name, is found in riparian bottoms and adjacent lower canyons of Oak Creek and the Tieton River.
The area provides critical winter range for populations of big game, primarily Rocky Mountain elk. The area provides needed habitat for a small herd of California bighorn sheep that were reintroduced on Cleman Mountain in 1967 from a herd in British Columbia. The Oak Creek Wildlife Area is also home for golden eagles and many other species of game and nongame wildlife.
A winter feeding program was started on the Oak Creek Unit in 1945. A large parking and viewing area with an interpretive center allows the public to closely approach the elk. This provides more than 100,000 visitors the opportunity to observe the elk each winter. The area, however, attracts visitors year-round partly due to its aesthetic appeal, reminiscent of "wild west" country, which has been featured in a movie made by Audie Murphy and "The Hanging Tree", starring Gary Cooper.
The Cowiche Wildlife Area includes 4,526 acres of land located approximately ten miles west of Yakima. The headquarters is located on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area on Highway 12, 20 miles west of Yakima.
The area is located on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains. Elevation varies from a low of 1,800 feet to a high of over 2800 feet. Cowiche Creek runs through the center of the area. Extensive oak woodland habitat is found along the creek and in upper canyons. The open ridges and south slopes support big sagebrush, bitterbrush, and rabbitbrush. The most prevalent native, perennial grass occurring on most of the area is bluebunch wheatgrass.
The area provides the Cowiche elk subherd with habitat for winter range. Three feeding sites are maintained in the Cowiche area. The area is also home for many other species of game and nongame wildlife. Birdwatchers enjoy frequent sightings of Lewis Woodpeckers in the area.
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