10-minute walk
The Cle Elum River
A trail behind the homes drops down to the river: clear emerald pools for wading and swimming, smooth rocks for a picnic, and fly fishing (a Washington license is required).
Plan your stay
Suncadia Area Guide
Our favorite ways to spend a stay in Suncadia, from the river trail behind the homes to Roslyn’s old saloon and the ski runs at Snoqualmie Pass. These are the places we send our own family and friends.
01 · Out the door
The river, the farm and the trails
You can spend a whole stay without moving the car. Both homes sit on the quiet back edge of Suncadia, between Nelson Farm and the Cle Elum River.
Mid to late summer
Float day
Once the snowmelt settles, the river slows into an easy summer float. The water stays cold and runs fast in spring, so check the flow, wear life jackets and keep an eye on the kids.
Walk or bike
Nelson Farm
Suncadia’s farm hub has the 455-foot pump track, the Adventure Park playground, walk-up BMX rentals and seasonal events. In winter it becomes the starting point for groomed Nordic trails.
Walk, run or bike
Trails from the driveway
For a great loop, take the Raven or Bald Eagle trail down to the river valley and come back on the Otter trail, with plenty of picnic and water-play spots along the way. Watch for deer and elk at dawn and dusk, and for spawning salmon every September.
02 · Summer
Summer in the mountains
From late-spring wildflowers to midsummer alpine lakes, some of the best of the Cascades starts just up the road.
Wildflowers and alpine hikes
Follow the Cle Elum River north and the trails climb into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness: granite ridges, turquoise lakes and, weeks before the high country melts out, sunny ridges covered in balsamroot, paintbrush and bitterroot.
Trailheads are 30 to 60 minutes from the homes, so you can be on the trail early and back in time for the hot tub. Choose an easy lakeside walk with the kids or a full-day climb to a ridgetop view.
Wildflower ridges are the early-season outing, snow-free from late May while the alpine lakes still thaw. The high country opens from mid-July into October: midsummer brings meadow flowers (and mosquitoes), September brings cool, clear days and fewer people. Start early, bring plenty of water and stay on the trail.
- Wildflowers
- Late May to early July
- Alpine lakes
- Mid-July to October
- Drive to trailheads
- 30–60 minutes
- Parking
- Northwest Forest Pass at most trailheads
Beaches and alpine lakes
Within half an hour you can be on a sandy beach or a calm, glacier-fed lake.
3 miles
Speelyi Beach, Cle Elum Lake
A sandy beach on the south end of Cle Elum Lake for paddleboards, kayaks and long summer afternoons. Bring shade; it gets busy on hot weekends, so go early.
20–30 minutes
Salmon La Sac & Cooper Lake
Take the back road out of Suncadia (turn left at the River Ridge gate) and follow the river north to the Cooper swimming hole, Cooper Lake’s calm water and trailheads into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Many trailheads need a Northwest Forest Pass.
03 · Winter
Snow season
From December to March, Suncadia turns into a quiet snow globe, and you don’t need a lift ticket to enjoy it.
Cross-country, sledding and snow days
After a good snowfall you can click into your skis in the driveway. The trail along the Cle Elum River and the groomed Nordic trails at Nelson Farm are both a short glide from the homes.
Follow the river trail through snow-laden pines, with the water running dark and quiet below, or head over to Nelson Farm, where groomed tracks loop across the open fields. Trail maps at the junctions make it easy to plan a short loop or a half-day tour.
Not a skier? The river trail makes a beautiful winter walk or snowshoe, and the hill behind the homes is the first stop after every fresh snowfall. Winter sunsets come early: light the fire pit, then watch the stars come out from the hot tub.
- From the homes
- Ski out the door
- Groomed tracks
- Nelson Farm Nordic trails
- Scenic route
- The trail along the Cle Elum River
- Best snow
- Usually late December to February
Ski days at Snoqualmie Pass
The Summit at Snoqualmie is about 45 minutes west on I-90: close enough for first chair, and back in time for the hot tub.
Four ski areas share one lift ticket: Summit West and Summit Central for families and lessons, Summit East for quieter tree-lined runs, and Alpental for the steep stuff. There’s night skiing on many evenings, and on clear mornings the chairs rise above a sea of clouds.
Check WSDOT pass conditions before you drive and carry chains or have traction tires; I-90 can close during big storms.
- Drive
- About 45 minutes
- Ski areas
- Alpental, Summit West, Central & East
- Season
- Usually December to early April
- Also at the pass
- Snow tubing and Nordic trails
04 · Around town
Suncadia, Roslyn and Cle Elum
Golf, wine, two historic small towns and our favorite places to eat, all within about 15 minutes.
Around Suncadia
Suncadia is a 6,400-acre resort community, and some of its best spots are open to everyone.
5 minutes
Dawson Park
Suncadia’s 17-acre park has playgrounds, pickleball and tennis courts, disc golf, soccer fields, a dog park and more.
10 minutes
Golf
Two of Suncadia’s three courses are open to the public: Prospector, designed by Arnold Palmer, and Rope Rider, which has family tees and short 3- and 6-hole loops. Tumble Creek is private.
10 minutes
Swiftwater Cellars & Hoist House
Wine tasting and dinner overlooking the Rope Rider course, at a historic coal mine site. A favorite for a grown-ups’ night out; book ahead on weekends.
10 minutes
The Suncadia Lodge
The resort lodge has restaurants, a spa and a calendar of seasonal activities. Note that the Swim & Fitness Center and Nelson Farm pool are for Suncadia owners only.
Roslyn and Cle Elum
Two old mining and railroad towns sit just down the hill, with good coffee, smoked meats and plenty of history.
10 minutes
Roslyn
The coal town where Northern Exposure was filmed. Snap a photo of the Roslyn Cafe mural, and wander the historic cemeteries on the hill.
15 minutes
Cle Elum
Pick up pastries at the Cle Elum Bakery and jerky and smoked sausage at Owens Meats, both local institutions. Cle Elum is also where you’ll find the grocery store and gas.
Easy, about 5 miles
Coal Mines Trail
A flat gravel rail-trail linking Cle Elum and Roslyn past old mine sites. Great for bikes, strollers and leashed dogs, with Roslyn halfway for a lunch stop.
Where we eat
Some nights you won’t want to cook. These are the places we keep going back to.
- Señor BonesCle Elum · Mexican
A family-owned, hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot that’s always fresh and tasty, with a handy pick-up window.
- Ploy Thai BistroCle Elum · Thai
All the Thai classics. Takeout is easy, but dine in and you might score a seat next to the fish and turtle tanks.
- Miner’s PizzaCle Elum · Take and bake
Take-and-bake pizza that’s always a hit, and an easy dinner for a big group.
- Basecamp Books & BitesRoslyn · Café
Coffee, snacks and a full menu, plus books and gifts. In summer, catch live music or a movie on the lawn.
- Dru BruCle Elum · Brewery
Award-winning beer plus house-made sodas and ciders. Family-friendly, with free mini golf, indoor and outdoor seating, sports on TV and food trucks.
- The Brick SaloonRoslyn · Since 1889
Washington’s oldest continuously operating bar, and a must for a burger and a bit of history.
Gear & rentals
No need to haul everything from home. Bikes, boats, skis and guides are all close by.
- Village PavilionSuncadia, near the Lodge
Bikes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and scooters in summer; ice skates and hockey in winter.
- The Inn at SuncadiaSuncadia
Golf club rentals in summer, cross-country skis and snowshoes in winter, plus guided tours.
- Ride Roslyn BikesRoslyn
The go-to bike shop in town, with rentals, sales and service for every style and age.
- Last Resort RentalsSalmon La Sac Rd, Roslyn
Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, pontoon boats, jet skis and snowmobiles, with delivery available.
- TroutwaterCle Elum
Everything fly fishing, including guided trips to spots on the river within walking distance of the homes.
- Rill AdventuresThorp
Guided rafting trips and rentals, including trips on the Cle Elum River right behind the homes.
- Basecamp OutfittersCle Elum
Cle Elum’s outdoor gear shop for anything you forgot to pack.
- MotorToysCle Elum
ATV, snowmobile and scooter rentals.
05 · Day trips
Worth the drive
When you’re ready to venture further, these are our favorite days out.
A day in Leavenworth
About 75 minutes away over Blewett Pass, the Bavarian-style village sits where the Wenatchee River comes out of the mountains.
Wander the alpine-style storefronts on Front Street, grab a pretzel and a bratwurst, and walk the riverfront park along the Wenatchee. In spring the hills above town turn yellow with balsamroot, in fall it’s Oktoberfest, and from late November the whole village glows with holiday lights.
The drive over Blewett Pass on US 97 is beautiful in every season; in winter, check pass conditions before you go.
- Drive
- About 75 minutes
- Route
- US 97 over Blewett Pass
- Spring
- Wildflowers on the hillsides
- Winter
- Village of Lights
Closer to home
About 30 minutes
Ellensburg
A college town with a historic downtown, Central Washington wineries nearby and the Ellensburg Rodeo every Labor Day weekend.
About 1 hour
Snoqualmie Falls
Break up the drive from Seattle with a stop at the 268-foot falls, just off I-90.
Good to know
Tips from your hosts
Stock up on the way
Cle Elum has a full grocery store, but on a busy weekend it’s easier to do a big shop before you head over the pass.
Check the pass
In winter, check WSDOT’s Snoqualmie Pass page before you drive and carry chains or have traction tires.
Quiet hours
Suncadia enforces quiet hours from 10 PM to 8 AM. After 10, keep the fun going inside in the game room.
Respect the wildlife
Elk and deer wander through the yards. Give them space, and keep pets leashed on the trails.
Make River Ridge your base camp
Two homes for groups of up to 18, minutes from everything in this guide.