Cle Elum Hiking Trails

The Cle Elum area has 90+ hiking trailheads across upper Kittitas County, from the Teanaway Community Forest and Salmon La Sac corridor to the Kachess Lake basin and Blewett Pass. Difficulty ranges from flat, family-friendly walks like the Coal Mines Trail and Cooper River Trail to strenuous alpine routes like Rachel Lake and Longs Pass in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This directory covers hiking trailheads near Cle Elum, Roslyn, and Easton — organized by area to help you find the right trail.

Cle Elum, Roslyn & Coal Mines Trails

This section covers trails accessible directly from Cle Elum, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum, including the flat Coal Mines Trail connecting all three towns, the Roslyn Urban Forest trail network, the Palouse to Cascades rail-trail corridor, and Peoh Point for panoramic views of the Kittitas Valley.

Teanaway Area Trails

The Teanaway area holds 24 trailheads spread along the North, Middle, and West Fork Teanaway River valleys, ranging from easy valley walks and the Teanaway Community Forest to challenging ridge routes including Hex Mountain, Iron Bear, Beverly Turnpike, and Teanaway Peak.

  • Middle Fork Teanaway River Trail
    Hiking Area
    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/recarea/?recid=57659&actid=50
  • Stafford Creek Trailhead
    Hiking Area
    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recarea/?recid=57825
  • Iron Creek Trailhead
    Hiking Area
    Trail is in great shape
    Plus Code – 973J+JH Cle Elum, Washington
  • Teanaway Ridge Trail #1364
    Hiking Area
    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=57875&actid=50
  • Teanaway Community Forest
    National Forest
    Many trails and service roads to explore
    https://www.dnr.wa.gov/Teanaway
  • Bean Creek Trailhead
    Hiking Area
    The trail starts off pretty easy and gradually gets more difficult
    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=57397&actid=50
  • DeRoux Trailhead
    Hiking Area
    Plus Code – C396+M9 Cle Elum, Washington
  • Iron Bear Trail #1351
    Hiking Area
    Plus Code – 9698+84 Cle Elum, Washington
  • Blazed Ridge Trail #1333
    Hiking Area
    Plus Code – 4RV2+W5 Cle Elum, Washington
  • Hex Mountain Trailhead
    Hiking Area
    https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/hex-mountain-1
  • Miller-Bear Trailhead
    Hiking Area
    Plus Code – 9698+C5 Cle Elum, Washington
  • Cheese Rock Trail
    State Forest
    Easy 3.2-mile trail in Teanaway Community Forest with views of Mount Stuart, Bible Rock, and the Enchantments
    https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/cheese-rock-trail
  • Beverly Turnpike
    Hiking Area
    Historic route through the Teanaway providing access to alpine terrain and sweeping ridge views
    (No Website)
  • West Fork Teanaway River Trail
    National Forest
    Scenic valley trail along the West Fork of the Teanaway River through open meadows and forest
    (No Website)
  • North Fork Teanaway River Trail
    National Forest
    Trail through the North Fork Teanaway valley with access to several high country routes and destinations
    (No Website)
  • Mary’s Peak
    Hiking Area
    Teanaway ridgeline summit with broad views of the Stuart Range and surrounding high country
    (No Website)
  • Baldy Mountain
    Hiking Area
    Open ridge walking in the Teanaway with mountain views and less foot traffic than neighboring trails
    (No Website)
  • Lake Michael
    Hiking Area
    Quiet backcountry lake in the Teanaway area, less traveled than neighboring destinations
    (No Website)
  • Teanaway Peak / Gene’s Peak
    Hiking Area
    Accessible ridgeline in the Teanaway with views of the Stuart Range and surrounding peaks
    (No Website)
  • Fourth Creek Trail
    National Forest
    Less-traveled trail accessing upper Teanaway country above the main valley floor
    (No Website)
  • Trail Creek Trail
    National Forest
    Moderate Teanaway connector trail linking valley floor routes to higher alpine terrain
    (No Website)
  • Johnson Mountain
    Hiking Area
    Off-trail peak in the Teanaway with views across the upper Yakima Basin and surrounding ridges
    (No Website)
  • Jack Creek Snowshoe
    Hiking Area
    Popular winter snowshoe route through the Teanaway valley; also accessible as a summer hike
    (No Website)
  • Navaho Peak
    Hiking Area
    Less-traveled summit above the Navaho Pass area with open views across the Teanaway
    (No Website)

Salmon La Sac & Upper Cle Elum River

The Salmon La Sac corridor, reached via Highway 903 north of Roslyn, holds the highest concentration of alpine trailheads in Kittitas County, including Rachel Lake, Cathedral Rock, Pete Lake, Jolly Mountain, and Hyas Lake, with multiple entry points into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Red Top, Swauk & Blewett Pass

The Red Top and Blewett Pass area, along Highway 97 north of Cle Elum, offers volcanic rock formations, panoramic views from Red Top Lookout, and the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail — one of the most accessible snowshoe and winter hiking routes in upper Kittitas County.

Kachess Lake, Easton & Gold Creek

The Kachess Lake and Easton area, accessible via I-90, ranges from the flat Lake Easton State Park loop and the Gold Creek Snowshoe Trail in winter to the challenging Kachess Ridge, Lake Ingalls, and Thorp Mountain Lookout above the lake basin.

Taneum, Manastash & Naneum

South and east of Cle Elum, the Taneum, Manastash, and Naneum drainages offer less-trafficked trails through open ponderosa pine forest, including the Naneum Meadows Trail, Manastash Trailhead, and the Umtanum Creek Falls Trail near the Yakima River canyon.

Day Trips & Further Afield

These trails are within a day trip from Cle Elum and worth the drive for a change of scenery, including Rattlesnake Ledge and Twin Falls near North Bend, Icicle Gorge near Leavenworth, and the Ira Spring Trailhead in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Planning a trip?

If you need services — check the Cle Elum & Roslyn services directory for lodging, gear, and guides near the trailhead.

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