Plan on doing a backcountry style hunt in this unit. In order to get to some of the better goat habitats, you will need to hike miles and thousands of feet in elevation, which is something you will not want to do every morning and night. If you come prepared both mentally and physically, this could be a great hunt.

There have been reports of mountain goats living on Johnson Peak and the area surrounding it. This is a great place to gain your initial elevation into goat habitat, and on this ridgeback, you will have access to the rest of the good goat habitat further to the south.

This unit consists of several large drainages coming off of the top of the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area. These drainages are several miles wide and have large ridgebacks on either side that work their way up in elevation as you get closer to the summit. Most of the ridgebacks have rocky outcroppings intermingled with dense timber and old avalanche slides on either side. As you gain elevation the timber begins to break and you are left with large snowfields, sheer rock faces, and shale slides in all directions. With a number of established trails, hiking into the higher elevations is not as difficult as other units, but be prepared for some very physical hiking once you get near the top and have to leave the trails to get into position near different herds of goats. The higher you get in this unit, the less running water you will find. However, on the Lily Basin Trail, there are a number of camping sites with water that won’t cost you too much in elevation each day back and forth to your spike camp.

There is a large variety of vegetation found in the Wenatchee National Forest; you can expect to see many species including but not limited to vine maple, sword fern, douglas fir, western red cedar, alder, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, and the yellow cedar. Multiple species of grasses, ferns, shrubbery, and wildflowers make up the forest floor here. Most of the vegetation, except the wildflowers, some grass, and the occasional twisted whitebark pine, begin to fade as you gain elevation.

There are a number of trailheads in this unit, but Lily Basin Trailhead, found at the north end of the unit on Hager Creek Road, will get you into some of the better goat habitats. This trailhead is quite long but will get you to the base of the Johnson Peak Summit and eventually wrap around to the south above Heart Lake, all classic goat country. If you are looking to come in from the south side of the unit, you will need to take the Berry Patch Road to the Berry Patch trailhead. This trail will take you up Goat Ridge, through Jordan Basin, and eventually up to Hawkeye Point, all excellent goat habitat starting as early as 2 miles into the hike.

You will need to prepare for a backcountry hunt on this trip and will need to double check with the National Forest for any closures, restrictions, or permits you may need for your stay. The only established campgrounds anywhere near either of the access points are Walupt Lake Campground, at the far south end of the unit next to Walupt Lake. If you need a bed and shower, fuel, and groceries, you can find these things on the north end of the unit in the town of Packwood. Any substantial shopping should be done prior to heading towards the unit as supplies and gear will be very limited once you reach Packwood and the surrounding areas.