Explore the majestic setting in Cle Elum
The area's culture and monuments are just a few of the reasons to vacation in Cle Elum. This city's cafes, hiking and golfing draw many visitors. With a vacation rental, you get a home away from home—many rentals offer full kitchens and outdoor grills for some home cooking.
Cle Elum _ wine not?
Don't be fooled by the laid-back vibe _ you'll find lots to do in Cle Elum. Oenophiles flock to Swiftwater Cellars for its charming ambiance, elevated local cuisine, and top-flight wines. After a tipple (or four), you can head to the nearby Suncadia Resort. The year-round destination boasts plenty of hiking and biking trails, and winter visitors can enjoy activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating. Art lover? Then don't miss local landmarks like the Tire Rim Statue _ 50 tire rims welded together by a local artist _ and the Whimsical Wheelbarrow Tower, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Into the great wide open in Cle Elum
Offering everything from the steep mountain peaks to the broad Yakima River, Cle Elum is a nature-lover's paradise. Horseback riding is a popular activity, and a number of ranches and equestrian centers in the area offer guided rides for guests of all skill levels. Feeling more like a stroll than a saddle? You can check out the 1,612-acre Iron Horse State Park, where you'll find more than 100 miles of hiking trails, plus a number of campsites and spectacular views of the surrounding scenery.
Warming up to Cle Elum
Since it's in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains, Cle Elum is generally dry all year round, and its warm summer mediterranean climate means temperatures are on the mild side. Summers are warm, with average highs of 80_F in July and August. The pleasant weather means that Cle Elum vacation rentals are a popular summer pick, and you'll find that prices tend to be somewhat higher between May and September. If you're willing to wait until after Labor Day, you'll be able to save some dough, but bring a coat _ average lows dip into the 20s from November through February.
From peaks to creeks in Cle Elum
Cle Elum is surrounded by the wooded foothills of the Cascade Mountains, just east of some of the highest peaks in the range. The nearby Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest boasts alpine meadows and high-altitude hiking trails, and its rivers and streams are home to beavers, salmon, and trout, as well as countless species of migratory birds. In town, the Yakima river is a popular destination for fly fishers thanks to its thriving fish populations. With a Cle Elum vacation rental, some of the country's most pristine natural splendor will be just a short drive from your door.
Traveling to and around Cle Elum
Fly into Wenatchee, WA (EAT-Pangborn Memorial), the closest airport, located 37.3 mi (60.1 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you might consider flying into Yakima, WA (YKM-Yakima Air Terminal - McAllister Field), which is 47.9 mi (77 km) away.