This small unit is mainly comprised of Gifford Pinchot National Forest and includes the Saint Helens crater and northern slope. Dogs Head sits at 8,166-ft on the east side of the crater, and The Breach on the north side of the crater sits at 5,794-ft, with old flows down to Pumice Plain and Spirit Lake. Along with National Forest land, there are basically four other land classes: state, Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Areas, Weyerhaeuser, and Department of Highways. The western point mostly holds Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Areas, including parts of both the Mount Saint Helens and Hoffstadt Units. Although there is a good network of roads and trails throughout the main valleys, there are two major roadless regions. Coldwater Peak, The Dome, and Mount Margaret in the north, and Mount Saint Helens, Pumice Butte, Floating Island Lava Flow, Forsyth Glacier, down to Pumice Plain. There are multiple water features within the GMU, including Spirit Lake, Saint Helens Lake, Coldwater Lake, Castle Lake and the North Fork of the Toutle River, which includes the only salmon-spawning sites in the upper river basin. The GMU is managed mainly for elk, however, this diverse unit includes old growth forests, forested floodplains, riparian areas, old lava flows, mineral springs and wetlands providing an excellent habitat for a multitude of species.

There has been talk of wolves in the area.

The heavily timbered National Forest has some big country, taking in the crater and north side of Mount Saint Helens. Multiple lakes and snow pack feed the North Fork Turtle River valley, feeding the only salmon-spawning sites in the Upper North Fork Toutle River Basin. Johnston Ridge, at the end of Road 504, offers unparalleled views of Mount Saint Helens and sits at 4,200-ft before dropping 1,200-ft to river below in one mile. This eastern portion is significantly less timbered and is steep, rocky, arid country with the bulk of vegetation on north slopes and drainages.

There are sizeable tracts of National Forest land with easy access through a decent network of roads and trails. There are also large tracts of roadless country, however, the bulk of this is more open country with game spread wide and thin. Due to other seasonal activities in the GMU, there is sizeable human pressure on the wildlife.

Old growth forests, forested floodplain, riparian river basins, arid rocky bluffs, mineral springs and wetlands are all found in this diverse GMU, along with lots of harsh ancient lava flows void of much vegetation adding a surreal lunar feel and look to this unit.

Primitive camping on National Forest land is allowed for the majority of the year, however, various fire bans and forest road closures may happen, so double check any restrictions or permits necessary prior to your trip. There are not any nearby towns with lodging or accommodations, come into the unit prepared.