Camping

The camping here is heavenly, with many options to choose from. Closest to Cle Elum [1] is 34-site Wish Poosh Campground (eight miles northwest of town on the eastern shore of Cle Elum Lake, $14–28). Continue up Cle Elum Valley Road to find three more campgrounds.

The 23-site Cle Elum River (Cle Elum Valley Road #903, 15 miles north of Cle Elum, $11–22) has potable water, but pit-toilet facilities raise the level of adventure here.

Red Mountain (Cle Elum Valley Road #903, 16 miles north of Cle Elum, $8) is even a little rougher—its 10 sites have vault toilets and you must pack your own drinking water. Your compensation is the cheap nightly rate.

At the end of the line is Salmon la Sac (518/885-3639 or 877/444-6777, www.recreation.gov [2], $14–28, $7 reservation fee), a 99-site mega-campground, complete with flush toilets, shared kitchens, public horse corrals, and a guard station. More campgrounds are northeast of town on Highway 97 over Blewett Pass [3] en route to Leavenworth [4].

About 15 miles west of Cle Elum and just off I-90, Lake Easton State Park [5] (509/656-2586 or 888/226-7688, www.parks.wa.gov [6], $19 for tents, $26 RV hookups, $7 reservation fee, late April to mid-October) has additional camping.

Sun Country Golf Resort (841 St. Andrews Dr., 509/674-2226, www.golfsuncountry.com [7], full hookups $23 weekdays, $27 weekends, $150 per week), six miles west of Cle Elum, has an RV park and a nine-hole golf course.