Wenatchee National Forest and Teanaway Community Forest dominate the northern portion with three main drainages to the Yakima River. The two western drainages feed the Kachess and Cle Elum Lakes, and the eastern drainage, the Teanaway, feeds the Yakima River. Hawkins Mountain peaks at 7,106-ft while its neighbor, Gallaher Head, tops out at 6,339-ft; they are both well above the timberline at around 5,600-ft. This is a steep, heavily forested unit that drops about 5,500-ft in only twenty miles. Malcolm Mountain to Elbow Peak is roadless backcountry. In 2017 the Jolly Mountain fire burned a huge horseshoe around this region from Cle Elum River to the South Fork Teanaway River and south to the Middle Fork Teanaway River. Along the Yakima River, outside the town of Cle Elum, there has been a fair amount of development, largely in single family housing on small acreages. This GMU holds a good number of resident mule deer, however, the unit always gets better after the surrounding high country gets significant snowfall. The same applies to elk hunting, the northern remote higher elevations offer better hunting later in the year after heavy snowfall in bordering high country.

WDFW monitors a pack of wolves in the region known as the Teanaway Pack.

Conifer forests are located in the southern foothills of the Wenatchee Mountains. The area is comprised of three main drainages to the south that ultimately feed the Yakima River. The 2017 fire season left a huge burn right in the middle of the unit on the west, south and east side of the roadless backcountry. There are two large lakes in the western half of the hunt. Seasonal recreational properties start along the eastern shore of Cle Elum Lake and continue along the Cle Elum and Yakima River to the small town of Cle Elum.

Conifer forests holding ponderosa pine, douglas fir, grand fir, and larch follow the drainages. A large wildfire in 2017 left a huge burn in the middle of the GMU resulting in a major vegetation change, from old growth timber to native grasses, tender buckbrush, and saplings. The very southern tip is arid shrub steppe and represents a very small portion of the unit.

There is a lot of public land here, offering excellent access. There is a sizeable roadless area in the north central backcountry between Cle Elum Lake and the Teanaway River.

Primitive camping is allowed is allowed during most of the year, but various fire bans and forest road closures may happen, so double check any restrictions or permits necessary prior to your trip. If you are more interested in a bed and a shower, and being closer to gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store, your best option will be the small town of Cle Elum.