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city in Kittitas County, Washington, USA
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North America > United States of America > Pacific Northwest > Washington (state) > North Cascades > Cle Elum

Cle Elum is a city in the North Cascades region of Washington State. This sawmill and railroad town is a popular base for outdoor recreation.

Understand

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This article also includes the neighboring small town of Roslyn. This coal-mining company town retained its charm through the years, enough to become an occasional filming location. It was most prominently used for the 90's TV sitcom Northern Exposure.

Get in

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By car

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Interstate 90 (I-90) passes through town. Seattle is 85 miles west, over Snoqualmie Pass. Without traffic, the drive can be made in about an hour and a half, though the highway can back up on busy weekends, and the pass can close during winter storms. Ellensburg is 20 miles east.

State Route 970 (WA-970) connects to US-97, over Blewett Pass to Leavenworth and Wenatchee.

In the winter, there is usually snow on the ground. Having snow tires is the best, but chains are always a good thing to have in the mountains, and sometimes you need them to cross Snoqualmie Pass.

By bike

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  • Palouse to Cascades Trail. A popular gravel multi-use trail that starts just outside of North Bend, and follows a former railroad grade along the south side of I-90 east all the way to Idaho. The trail runs through South Cle Elum. (updated Nov 2024)

Get around

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Map
Map of Cle Elum

You really need a car. A small town of less than 1800, there is no public transportation and in the east end of town not even any sidewalks. A bike can work, but getting out of town there are lots of hills and the weather can change really quickly.

  • 1 Cle Elum Telephone Museum, 221 East 1st Street, ☏ +1 509 649-2880, . May–Sep Tu–Su noon–4PM, M closed; closed other months. Located in the site of an old Northwest Bell manual switchboard, this tiny building contains exhibits of telephone technology from 1901 to 1975. A highlight is a section of the actual manual switchboard, with cords, plugs, and operator headset. There is a working automated rotary switch in a glass case with a phone. You can dial a number and watch the switch connect. Plus some relics from early 20th century local industry, such as coal mining, insurance, and banking. free (donations welcomed). (updated Aug 2017)

Hiking

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Cle Elum is well-situated between several popular hiking areas.

Most trailheads in the Cascades are regulated by the U.S. Forest Service. You're free to get out and look around for a few minutes, but if you plan to hike or camp, you need a federal parking pass on each vehicle. You can pick up a pass at any ranger station or National Park Service visitor center.

  • United States Interagency Annual Pass ($80 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments for one year)
  • Northwest Forest Pass ($30 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Forests in the states of Washington and Oregon for one year)
  • National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($5 online and valid on one self-selected day only).
  • 1 Cle Elum Ranger District, 803 W 2nd St, Cle Elum (Exit 84. Turn left on Douglas Munro Blvd, right on FS 4517). Purchase federal parking passes here, or ask a ranger for any advice or recommendations on outdoor recreation along this itinerary. (updated Nov 2024)

Salmon La Sac

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WA-903 up through Roslyn, past Cle Elum Lake, and up the Salmon La Sac River is the furthest into the mountains from I-90 you can drive without a 4x4 vehicle. Trailheads towards the end of the road connect to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail.

The Teanaway

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Teanaway Road leads into the rolling hills behind Cle Elum, dominated by sandstones that are relatively uncommon elsewhere in the volcanic Cascades. The Teanaway Community Forest protects much of the streams and hills, and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness extends over the more rugged terrain to the north.

  • 1 Lake Ingalls Trailhead. 9 miles roundtrip, 2,500 feet elevation gain. A rocky alpine lake beneath Ingalls Peak and Mount Stuart, the tallest peak in the region. Especially popular for fall larch colors. Federal pass (NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass) required for vehicles. (updated Nov 2024)

Blewett Pass

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US-97 cuts through a geologically and ecologically diverse region, where three distinct formations - Teanaway, Alpine Lakes, Enchantments - all come to meet.

  • 2 Swauk Forest Discovery Trail. 2.5 miles roundtrip, 660 feet elevation gain. Interpretive trail interspersed with signs describing the surrounding ecosystem. Federal pass (NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass) required for vehicles. (updated Nov 2024)
  • 1 Glondo's Sausage, 216 E 1st St. Popular meat market, since 1986. Specializes in Italian-style cured meats and cheeses. Grab a pepperoni stick or landjaeger for the road! (updated Nov 2024)
  • 2 Owens Meats, 502 E 1st St. Popular meat market, since 1887. (updated Nov 2024)
  • Mama Vallone's Steak House, 302 West 1st St, ☏ +1 509 674-5174. By far one of the best Italian restaurants in Washington. Also a wonderful steakhouse (prime rib to die for). The bagna cauda is one of the most amazing dishes. But be careful, as there is lots of olive oil and butter in the dish and so much garlic you will still smell it 2 days later. 
  • The Cottage Cafe, 911 East 1st St, ☏ +1 509 674-2922. 24 hour truck stop. Good food, large portions, a little expensive for basic americana, but great at midnight after a night out. Excellent homemade pies. 

Drink

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Sleep

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  • Best Western Snowcap Lodge, 809 W Davis St, ☏ +1 509 674-0200, fax: +1 509 674-2222. 
  • Iron Horse Inn. Bed and Breakfast in converted train coaches. $80-$150. 
  • Suncadia Resort, 3600 Suncadia Trail, toll-free: +1-866-904-6300. Located by the Rocky Mountain in Cle Elum, this luxury resort is surrounded by nature perfect for those that one wants to get away from the city. This luxury mountain resort provides outdoor recreation, spa treatments, shopping, fine dining and hiking. 

Go next

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  • Ellensburg — a home for both college students and cowboys
  • Leavenworth — the "Bavarian" village nestled in the mountains
  • Snoqualmie Pass — a major ski resort and base for outdoor recreation
  • Wenatchee — bills itself as the "Apple Capital of the World"

Cle Elum is on the Mountains to Sound Greenway.

Routes through Cle Elum
Seattle ← Snoqualmie Pass ←  W  E  → Ellensburg → Spokane


This city travel guide to Cle Elum is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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