Cle Elum is known for natural beauty and recreation in the mountains
Cle Elum, in the forested eastern foothills of the Cascades mountain range. It's downstream from Cle Elum Lake, along the Cle Elum River before it joins the Yakima River. Seattle is about 83 miles northwest, and Tacoma about 96 miles west. Mountain views include the Stuart Range, Cle Elum Ridge and Peoh Point. Cle Elum was founded in 1902 and developed around coal mining and logging. Many of the early residents were of Italian or Croatian descent. These days, the economy is based on tourism. "I love Cle Elum for its small-town charm. There's year-round access to outdoor recreation. Whether you enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming, hunting, skiing or snowshoeing, there's always something to do. And of course, the local elk herd that wanders through every September is a special treat," says Tammy Hatch, Realtor with HomeSmart Realty Group, the Hatch Home Team.
Community parks, a senior center, water recreation and wilderness
Among the nine parks within Cle Elum's city limits is Centennial Park, which has a field and a community garden. City Park has a playground, a basketball court and a skate park, while there's a disc golf course at Hanson Ponds Park. The Upper Kittitas County Senior Center (UKCSC) offers a variety of programs, from line dancing to chair yoga, and hosts groups such as the Kittitas Valley Woodworking Club. Public golf courses in Cle Elum include two at Suncadia, as well as one private course, Suncadia Tumble Creek Golf Course.
For a more immersive nature experience, trails for hiking and mountain biking include the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail and the Iron Horse Trail. Water recreation on the lake and rivers includes fishing, boating, kayaking and swimming. To the north lies the Teanaway Community Forest, a recreational wilderness spanning over 50,000 acres. An adjacent location of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area is more than 200 acres.
A diverse assortment of home types and a wide range of prices
Single-family homes start at $150,000; some of the least expensive and oldest ones are under 1,000 square feet. Though there are some affordable homes, the median sales price in Cle Elum is $1.2 million, and prices can go into the multimillions. "The area offers a wide range of homes, from grand lodge-style residences to cozy cabins," Hatch says. "We're seeing some great opportunities in the market, with more homes coming up for sale." Cle Elum is sought-after for second homes and vacation rentals.
Developers, such as Trailside Group, have been adding new custom homes to the mix. Among a variety of options, the Suncadia resort offers The Uplands 55+, a gated community for seniors. There's a limited supply of condos and townhouses in Cle Elum; the median price is about $350,000.
Homes closest to rivers and the lake may be susceptible to flooding.
Specialty shops, restaurants and markets are mostly locally owned
Most of Cle Elum's businesses are downtown, around East and West First Street, which are portions of state Route 903. A section of First Street known as the Gaslight District has some of the oldest commercial buildings. Among the specialty shops are Black Sheep Home Goods, Basecamp Outfitters and Cle Elum Farm & Home Supply. Restaurants include MaMa Vallone's Steak House & Inn, Ploy Thai Bistro and The Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge. Spots for beverages on tap include Mule & Elk Brewing Co. and Taneum Creek Brewing. The Gemini Fish Market, Glondo's Sausage Co., and Owens Meats are centrally located, while Safeway is toward the west. The west side of town is also home to Cle Elum Hardware.
The Roslyn Theater, a one-screen, family-owned movie theater, is several miles away. Additionally, the Roslyn Farmers Market is held on Sundays from June through September.
Pioneer Days, Halloween celebrations and Christmas-time festivities
Events in Cle Elum include Pioneer Days, a three-day celebration featuring a July 4th fireworks show, a parade, the Kiwanis Youth Fishing Derby and a dock-diving dogs competition. Boo-Elum in downtown Cle Elum has a trunk-or-treat and a jack-o'-lantern carving street display called the Pumpkin Path. A Christmas in Cle Elum includes a holiday lighting, a parade and fireworks.
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District has three regular-enrollment schools
Kids may attend Cle Elum-Roslyn School District's public schools. Cle Elum-Roslyn Elementary School earns a B-minus grade from Niche, and Walter Strom Middle School receives a C-plus. Cle Elum-Roslyn High School has a B and offers dual-credit courses in collaboration with Central Washington University. Transfers to the district's alternative high school, the Swiftwater Learning Center, or to out-of-district schools are by application.
Some walkable streets, but otherwise car dependent, with traffic
The Downtown Revitalization Plan, active from 2018 to 2025, included streetscape and infrastructure enhancements. Downtown and some residential subdivisions have walkable streets with sidewalks, but otherwise, Cle Elum is a spread-out, car-dependent area with mountainous terrain. West of Cle Elum, Interstate 90 is known as the Snoqualmie Pass. It experiences significant traffic during the skiing season and the summer months. In the winter, the pass may be closed due to weather conditions.
Free Kittitas County buses and reservations for the Airporter Shuttle
To the west is Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) Family Medicine. The Kittitas County Connector serves the area with free daily buses between Ronald and Kittitas. Bellair Charters operates the reservation-based Airporter Shuttle for service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is commonly called Sea-Tac, and is about 85 miles away. Another option is the Yakima Air Terminal – McAllister Field, located approximately 64 miles away. It's also an Airporter stop and offers direct flights on Alaska Airlines to Sea-Tac. People might choose the Yakima airport to avoid I-90 traffic to Sea-Tac.
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Written By
Robin Silberman
