Liberty and Ronald

Upper Kittitas County

Liberty

The 17-acre town site of Liberty, more than 10 miles northeast of Cle Elum o U.S. Highway 97 and along Liberty Road, once was a busy gold mining town in the late 1890s. ere are still gold-mining claims in the area that are worked o -and-on by locals and out-of-towners. Visitors can pan for gold, but must be careful not to trespass on private property or a claim. e re hall has an exhibit of historic photos of life in Liberty and information about local hard-rock mining.

e town was o cially recognized as a historic district in 1974 and is surrounded by U.S. Forest Service lands that are known for great camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, crosscountry skiing, snowmobiling and four-wheel-drive trips in approved areas.

Explore the Old Blewett Pass Highway during the summer. It parallels Highway 97 from Liberty to Leavenworth. You can explore the old summit, the old Blewett town site and Echo Point.

Ronald is a jumping o point for outdoor enthusiasts venturing into the Lake Cle Elum area, Salmon la Sac or other parts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and Alpine Lakes Wilderness. e tiny community has historical ties to the coal mining and logging industries, and Hawthorne Hall is often used for ethnic heritage celebrations.

Salmon la Sac has been a favorite recreation area for locals and visitors alike for generations. In the summer, there’s hiking, picnicking, kayaking, berry picking and camping. In the winter, there’s cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Ronald