653 White River - Clearwater Wilderness

[geauxtigers]

I’ve never asked for specific info on here before, but have been around a long time and participated in some discussions that have hopefully helped the forum.

I drew the 653 Archery Elk quality tag, and am super excited.  A buddy drew this tag in 2016 and I went along to call/pack with him and he was successful, that’s actually the hunt that caused me to buy a bow and fall in love with archery elk. This tag is already hard to draw so I’m not super worried about blowing up the unit with this thread, but feel free to PM if you want.   

I know the east side of the unit very well and spend time in it throughout the calendar year.  I’ve been planning to focus my hunt on that side, but recently started thinking about the Clearwater wilderness on the west side.  Has anyone here spent much time in that part of the unit or hunted it for archery before?   How were elk numbers, and how was the non-hunting/hiker activity in September?  I know there will be plenty of other recreational users along the PCT side in September so I’m thinking Clearwater may be a good option IF there are fewer other folks trouncing through the woods. 

I’ve already searched on here for threads about the Clearwater, but most seem to be related to fire closures in past years.

[ganghis]

The section of trail between Summit Lake and Bearhead Mountain is crawling with dayhikers and their dogs- haven't really ventured much beyond that. 

[birdshooter1189]

I've driven up on the ridge on the east side of Cedar lake a few times. (about 8+ years ago).  One time Me and a few friends camped up there and then hiked down to cedar lake for some fishing.  We caught some small brook trout, it wasn't as good as we were hoping for.  I expected to have the place to ourselves. I was surprised at how many people drove that far up that road. We saw about 10 vehicles come through on a saturday. About half of them were a group of SAR that was doing some training up there. There were signs of people having been around the lake, but not much.  My FIL said he saw elk sign on the scramble down to the lake. I didn't notice. I wasn't looking for it either though.

The road up there was pretty rough last I was up there, especially in a pickup.  A motorbike is much easier for traveling those roads.  I think it's about 10 miles of FS roads to get up there from Wilkeson.

[bkaech]

As said, the trail to summit lake is very popular, but the trail beyond that or past bearhead mountain gets very little use at all, It may even be hard to follow anymore. The road on the East side of the wilderness area is washed out at the bridge and there is no way to get into that side of the wilderness, or out if you hike through, so I don't think many people ever go into the wilderness very far. Also, most of the wilderness is thick timber, I don't think there are very many openings that hold elk. I don't know this, but suspect that most of the elk are on the edges of the wilderness, which much of that is timber land held by the tribe and an access permit is required.  With that said, I know if I had that tag I would be hiking into that area to scout, but I think there are more elk in other areas of that unit. If you can hike a few miles you can definitely get away from people in there. 

[dagon]

If I was you I'd stick to the east side. end of forest road 70. hike in to the PCT and hunt along it. That is the boundary for the unit so can only hunt to west but their in there. And actually up around the Crystal Mountain ski resort holds good elk also. Feels kinda weird hiking out past the tourists at the lodge thou. If that don't bother you give it a shot. By the way they won't let you take a bow up on the gondola. I tried. LOL 
Good Luck

[geauxtigers]

If I was you I'd stick to the east side. end of forest road 70. hike in to the PCT and hunt along it. That is the boundary for the unit so can only hunt to west but their in there. And actually up around the Crystal Mountain ski resort holds good elk also. Feels kinda weird hiking out past the tourists at the lodge thou. If that don't bother you give it a shot. By the way they won't let you take a bow up on the gondola. I tried. LOL 
Good Luck

I was wondering about the gondola…I already have my Crystal season pass so it’s “free” but I figured they wouldn’t let me up with a bow.  I may try talking to them about it on a scouting trip though, I imagine it depends on who’s working that day. 

[trophyhunt]

I’d just hide it in my back pack, and wear hiking gear! Look like a tree hugger !

[IRONMIKE88]

I've driven up on the ridge on the east side of Cedar lake a few times. (about 8+ years ago).  One time Me and a few friends camped up there and then hiked down to cedar lake for some fishing.  We caught some small brook trout, it wasn't as good as we were hoping for.  I expected to have the place to ourselves. I was surprised at how many people drove that far up that road. We saw about 10 vehicles come through on a saturday. About half of them were a group of SAR that was doing some training up there. There were signs of people having been around the lake, but not much.  My FIL said he saw elk sign on the scramble down to the lake. I didn't notice. I wasn't looking for it either though.

The road up there was pretty rough last I was up there, especially in a pickup.  A motorbike is much easier for traveling those roads.  I think it's about 10 miles of FS roads to get up there from Wilkeson.

                            I went fishing last year at Cedar Lake in July. The Elk down by the lake and the bear was about a 1/2 mile from the lake. Hard to see the Elk in the pic, but there were 4 of them.

[geauxtigers]

I've driven up on the ridge on the east side of Cedar lake a few times. (about 8+ years ago).  One time Me and a few friends camped up there and then hiked down to cedar lake for some fishing.  We caught some small brook trout, it wasn't as good as we were hoping for.  I expected to have the place to ourselves. I was surprised at how many people drove that far up that road. We saw about 10 vehicles come through on a saturday. About half of them were a group of SAR that was doing some training up there. There were signs of people having been around the lake, but not much.  My FIL said he saw elk sign on the scramble down to the lake. I didn't notice. I wasn't looking for it either though.

The road up there was pretty rough last I was up there, especially in a pickup.  A motorbike is much easier for traveling those roads.  I think it's about 10 miles of FS roads to get up there from Wilkeson.

                            I went fishing last year at Cedar Lake in July. The Elk down by the lake and the bear was about a 1/2 mile from the lake. Hard to see the Elk in the pic, but there were 4 of them.

That looks like a very well fed, mature bear!   I’ll be up in 653 this weekend scouting for elk and hoping to find a bear like that!

[H.Golphenee]

Me and my wife are gonna bomb up there this weekend to scout for my dads archery tag

[Mudman]

AT crystal ski area the right and left side summits-tops were holding bulls.  Getting up there is hard part.  PCT from east side?  Burns...  Also top south of naches pass had some bulls and an archery hunter made a kill right next to rd at top there.   Last year.  Down low indian land had elk and large 6pt bull with some cows spotted. 

[geauxtigers]

Thanks to those of you who weighed in on the Clearwater wilderness.   I did a scouting trip this weekend and focused on two other areas in the unit.  Put a couple trail cams up, found a lot of fresh sign and saw a 6x6 together in a herd with cows, calves, and quite a few smaller bulls.  I know the area I’ll be when the season opens now. 

Hopefully I have a good story to tell in about a month