FAVORITE HIKES

Lodge To River Trail Hike

Looking for the perfect Suncadia photo opportunity? Head out our front doors and loop around the back of The Lodge towards our favorite river trail hike. Hiking down to the Cle Elum River will take you on a journey through native verdant forest over deer and elk trails. Along the way you will encounter the Fish Shed a small picnic pavilion that commemorates the Kittitas Band of the Yakama Indians who were the first to share meals along the shores. The Fish Shed also celebrates the native fish - Salmon, Rainbow Trout & the West Slope Cutthroat Trout - that are a vital part of the river’s ecosystem. This hike is clearly marked, is perfect for families with small children, and will take you to the river and back in just under an hour!

1,000 STEPS

If you are looking for something unique and different, check out our 1,000 Steps staircase that descends from the back of The Lodge at Suncadia down to our Riverfront Park. True to its name, the 1,000 Steps staircase provides guests with an exhilarating and informative stair climb to the river corridor that is 1,000 steps or more roundtrip! Also a learning experience, along the stairs you will encounter footprints and plaques at each landing with fun facts about the native wildlife Enjoy the view and the climb!

Nelson Creek Trail

This signature trail run is an “out & back” route beginning at Suncadia’s Nelson Farm down to the Cle Elum River’s edge. The trail is marked with red and blue arrows indicating trail directions and turnaround points along the way. The start of the Nelson Creek Trail is an old dirt road off of Nelson Dairy Road between the historic Roslyn Cemetery and the Nelson farm. Be sure to check out Suncadia’s Honey Bees, the grazing elk in the meadow and organic Hay Creek Garden at the farm before hitting the trail. The trail takes you through the woods, over logs and other small obstacles, along the Nelson Creek stream bed, and down to a beautiful meadow at the river bank. We’ve even built in a few small side adventures along the way to extend your run. At the “Y” in the trail, head to the right and you will stumble upon an abandoned fan-house, an artifact from the mining years that was used to ventilate the mineshafts more than 1,000 feet below.

Historic Trails

These two hikes merit special mention, and are easy, scenic hikes along former railroad beds. The Coal Mines Trail connects Ronald, Roslyn and Cle Elum and can be accessed at several locations on the northern side of the valley. Informational plaques tell of coal mining history. The marvelous Iron Horse State Park rambles from the Columbia River to Seattle, following the old Northern Pacific rail bed. It can be accessed at numerous places, including South Cle Elum, near the historic South Cle Elum Train Depot.

Suncadia Parks

If it’s a game of pick-up basketball or soccer you are after, look no further than Suncadia’s Dawson and Battista parks. With their Coal Mine-themed play structures, tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, and Dawson’s Dog Park, there is room for the entire family to run and play from sun up until sun down. Need a soccer ball or want to play Frisbee golf? Suncadia’s Community Associations team staffs an Equipment Cabin at Dawson Park with everything you need to take advantage of the parks’ play fields and sports courts.

Roslyn Coal Mines Trail Map

Points of Interest