GMU 466 - Stampede, Washington

Steep, heavily timbered Cascade crest terrain with elevation ranging from approximately 1,700 to 5,600 feet. Common elevation gains of 2,500 feet within a single drainage. Old-growth and second-growth conifer forest (Douglas fir, grand fir, western hemlock) dominates. The unit includes the Stampede Pass rail corridor, large power-line clear-cuts in the north that concentrate browsing game, a 2017 wildfire scar on Weyerhaeuser private land that is now producing early-successional browse, and the Green River headwaters. The western Snoqualmie NF portion is roadless and rewards backpack hunters willing to gain elevation.

Primary vehicle access via I-90 to the Cabin Creek / Stampede Pass area (Cabin Creek Sno-Park area, exits 62-63), and from the south via WA-410 (Mather Memorial Parkway) connecting to NF Road 70, with spurs NF-7030 and NF-7036 providing deeper penetration. A network of unimproved NF roads is available but subject to seasonal snow closure, typically November onward. A Northwest Forest Pass is required at developed trailheads. GPS is strongly recommended due to the public-private checkerboard with Weyerhaeuser Company. Primitive dispersed camping is permitted on NF land; verify fire restrictions prior to any trip.

Second-growth and old-growth conifer forest (Douglas fir, grand fir, hemlock, some ponderosa pine on drier eastside fringes). Understory brush includes vine maple, Oregon grape, and salal. The 2017 wildfire scar on private Weyerhaeuser land is generating buckbrush, fireweed, and native forbs that will attract game for the next decade. Power-line right-of-way corridors provide persistent grass and forb openings. The roadless western NF block has mature old-growth canopy with limited understory browse but offers security for pressured animals.

Radio-collar studies indicate elk summering in the Tacoma Pass and Stampede Pass area migrate east across the Cascade crest to winter on the Kittitas side. Elk rut runs from approximately the first week of September through mid-October. Deer rut runs from late October through late December. Early-season snowfall at elevation triggers rapid downslope movement that can concentrate animals at mid-elevations overnight. Power-line and clear-cut corridors in the northern unit are consistent feeding areas for both deer and elk throughout the season.

Unit sees high hunting pressure given its road accessibility and proximity to the Puget Sound population base. Only approximately 6-10% of hunters who enter the unit annually report successful harvests. Elk numbers have trended lower in recent years, attributed partly to tribal treaty harvest and road access enabling heavy pressure. The unit is general-season only — no limited-entry or special-permit hunts exist for elk or deer in GMU 466 as of 2026 regulations. No antlerless elk tags are issued. All elk seasons require a 3-point minimum bull. Deer archery seasons allow any deer; firearm and muzzleloader seasons are any-buck. Hunter orange or fluorescent pink required during modern firearm seasons. Check Weyerhaeuser gate schedules and private land notices before accessing roads that cross ownership boundaries.