Where we actually eat.

 

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cottage cafe logo sign made out of wood

Eric & Beth's Pick - Cle Elum

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge

"If we only get to send you one place, it's this one. Order the Corned Beef Hash or the Chicken Fried Steak, and don't skip the cinnamon roll on your way out. It's the kind of classic that every local has a standing order at."

Website | Menu | Bakery

 

 

 

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orchard logo on black background

Eric & Beth's Pick - Cle Elum

Orchard Restaurant

"This is our date night spot downtown. The Pappardelle Ragu and the Aged New York Steak are both standouts — a little more polished than most of what's around, without feeling fussy."

 

Website | Food Menu | Drinks

 

 

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Hand holding wine bottle pouring into wine glass

Eric & Beth's Pick - Tumble Creek

Descend Dining Room & Lounge

"Members and guests only — but if you're staying with us, the Baldy Burger at Descend is non-negotiable. It's one of the genuinely underrated perks of being on the private side."

Good Eats: Honorable Mentions

The Sunset Cafe & Loose Wolf Saloon │ Cle Elum

 

All-day comfort food with a big local following. Best bets: the Elk Hunter, the Wrangler French Dip, and the Prime Rib Dinner.

Stella's │ Cle Elum

 
Our go-to for a lighter, quicker breakfast or lunch. The BLTA and the Classic Breakfast Sandwich both deliver.

Beau's Pizza & Pasta │ Cle Elum
 
Family-owned, scratch-made, and the warm lodge feel you want after a day outside. Get the Beau's Special and the Creamy Clam Chowder.

The Source Plates and Pours │ On Resort
 
Public on-resort dining with elevated comfort fare. A solid mid-week option when you don't feel like driving into town.

 

The Stovehouse │ On Resort
 
On-resort dining with a mountain lodge feel. The Pan-Seared Steelhead is a favorite.

GOLF

Suncadia is a genuine golf destination — two resort courses plus the Tom Doak gem on the private side. Here's how to think about each.

  • Tumble Creek Golf Club - Private

    Eric & Beth's Pick

     

    "This is the course people whisper about. Tom Doak-designed, par-72, 7,122 yards of strategic, landscape-driven golf — ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top private courses in the country. Access is members and their guests only, which is part of what makes it feel the way it does."

    man in red with golf club in hand on green golf course

  • Prospector Course - Resort

  • Rope Rider - Resort

man in red with golf club in hand on green golf course
Prospector Golf Course at Suncadia
Rope Rider Golf Course at Suncadia
man in red with golf club in hand on green golf course

HIKING

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orange sunset mountain scene with snow

Tumble Creek Fire Lookout

Eric & Beth's Pick

 

"One of our favorite local hikes — a real payoff at the top with old fire lookout views. It's the kind of hike we take visiting family on to show them why we moved here."

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Biking at Suncadia

Suncadia Trail Network

Resort

 

40+ miles of trails that flex easily between hiking, biking, and Nordic skiing. Great for morning walks, family outings, and dog-friendly loops right from the neighborhood.

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mountain views with water and trees

Firewatch, Mt. Baldy & River Conservancy

Tumble Creek

 

A more rustic network accessible from Tumble Creek — connects to Lake Cle Elum trails and doubles as the winter snowshoe/Nordic route.

FLY FISHING

The Cle Elum River has real fly water. Here's where we'd start, in order of how near-town they are.

Bullfrog Road Bridge

The easiest near-town access. Short walk to the river from a pullout, and a USGS gauge at the bridge makes it easy to check flows before heading out.

Cooper Bridge area

One of the better-known upper-river access zones north of Cle Elum, with straightforward roadside access off Salmon La Sac Road.

Salmon La Sac / upper river

The prettiest water of the three. Smaller, more wadeable, with willing cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout. Salmon La Sac Campground is a good public starting point.

A Couple of Practical Notes

The best window on the lower Cle Elum is mid-summer into early fall. There's currently a WDFW closure from the green bridge upstream to the Cle Elum Dam for fish-passage construction, so check before you go.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Nelson Farm Park Pump Track at Suncadia

Suncadia Trail System

Resort

 

40+ miles of trails, broad and family-friendly. Rentals at the Suncadia Rental Pavilion — e-bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, and kid trailers. The Nelson Farm Pump Track is a fun add-on for beginners and experienced riders.

two people biking on trail with tall green trees

Tumble Creek Network

Private

 

More private and residential. The Hill House connects to 10+ miles of paved path through the community, plus direct access to rustic riding on the Firewatch, Mt. Baldy, Lake Cle Elum, and River Conservancy trails.

CLE ELUM LAKE

Boating, paddling, swimming, beach days, fishing — the lake is where a lot of summer weekends start and end.

 

Speelyi Beach - Eric & Beth's Pick


"If you're bringing kids or first-time visitors to the lake, this is where you go. Wide sandy beach, easy wading, good for kayaks. The Wish Poosh area nearby is a solid base for shore access and camping."

 

Fishing the lake


A real fishery — WDFW lists lake trout, kokanee/sockeye, rainbow, burbot, mountain whitefish, brook, brown, and westslope cutthroat. USFS boat launch and camping facilities, plus good shoreline access via Forest Service land.

 

One practical heads-up — lake access is seasonal. Reservoirs support water sports best in spring and early summer, and the Wish Poosh boat ramp usually closes by early July as water levels drop.

WINTER SPORTS

Winter isn't a shoulder season here — it's one of the best times to be outside. Suncadia leans public and resort-style. Tumble Creek leans quiet and residential.

  • Snowshoeing & Cross-Country Skiing

    Suncadia Nordic Trails - Resort

     

    Miles of groomed Nordic trails and open flats, trail maps, guided outings, and rentals through the Winter Shop at Prospector. Public access at no charge.

     

    Tumble Creek Winter Trails - Private

     

    The Firewatch, Mt. Baldy, Cle Elum Lake, and River Conservancy trails double as snowshoe and Nordic routes in winter. Quieter, more private, member-oriented.

    Cross Country Skiing at Suncadia

  • Snowmobiling

Cross Country Skiing at Suncadia
snowmobiling in the snow with tree background
Cross Country Skiing at Suncadia

WHAT'S NEXT?

The best way to understand this place is to experience it.

Wherever you are in the process — daydreaming, planning your first visit, or ready to make a move — we're happy to help.

Swim and Fitness Center at Suncadia