By Lakeside, Ronald, and Roslyn, Washington, is a huge, sparkling lake and reservoir along the course of Cle Elum River. Lake Cle Elum is the most eastern of three large lakes in the Cascade Mountain Range, and arguably the most fun year-round. While you will find many people enjoying the water by fly-fishing and swimming, the majority of them will be boating – water-skiing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Near the shore along the hundreds of miles of trails and nine parks, including Washington State Horse Park to the south and Teanaway Community Forest to the east, bikers, hikers and horseback riders are busy exploring nature’s wonders.
Lake Cle Elum’s rich heritage is preserved along its trails, such as Coal Mines Trail, with several mining sites and tools awaiting hikers’ discovery along the abandoned mining railway easement near Crystal Creek, and in other more expected places. One is Carpenter House, a 1914 mansion owned by a successful banker and his family and now housing High Country Artists’ gallery. Another is the Telephone Museum, the oldest of its kind west of the Mississippi, which also hosts coal mining artifacts. Once wealthy in minerals, now rich in history and scenic beauty, Lake Cle Elum is a treasure waiting for you.