Hiking

The Coal Mines Trail was established in 1994 as a cooperative effort of the City of Cle Elum, Roslyn and Kittitas County and is dedicated to the pioneers who first settled in this area. This interpretive trail is the original trail that the coal miners took to the mines, and is the old abandoned Burlington Northern Rail Bed, from the late 1880’s to 1963, when the last mine in Roslyn closed with little market for coal after the railroads converted to diesel engines in the years’ prior.

A walk on the trail affords visitors a first hand look at the coal-mining heritage through the remains of Roslyn’s mines, at the railroad depot site and barn, and at Powder House Road where dynamite was stored. You may also view the Coal Miners Memorial located in Roslyn. The official trail is charted at 4.7 miles from Flagpole Park to Ronald with opportunity to explore various spur trails, as well as going to the ethnic Roslyn cemetery where many of the miners are buried. The “easy” trail is open for multi-use, including trekkers, horses, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, sled dogs, and snowmobilers. It is closed to all motorized vehicles except for snowmobiles in the winter.

Tucked in the mile-high basalt plateau are many pretty meadows and even a few glacier-carved lakes such as Lost Lake and Manastash Lake.

The first mile or so the trail climbs steadily, but gently, through forested land. About 1.5 miles in, the trail reaches Lost Lake, elevation. The trail then levels out for a while and continues climbing until descending to Manastash Lake.The trail is in good shape during the drier parts of the year, though eroded from motorized traffic.

From I-90 near Ellensburg, take exit 106. Follow the road north until you reach Umptantum Road and take a left at McDonalds. Follow Umptantum Rd until you reach Manashtash Road. Turn right on Manastash Road. Follow this until it turns into Forest Road 31. As you approach Buck Meadows, 17 miles from Ellensburg, there will be a sign on your left for road 114, leading to the Manastash Lake trailhead parking lot. Northwest Forest Pass required. 

This trail makes for a great hike along old roads and trails through the forest. Excellent in the spring after the snow melts off. It also makes for a wonderful snowshoe trek in the winter.

Driving Directions – From Highway 970 heading east from Cle Elum drive to Teanaway River Road and turn left. Drive about seven miles and turn left on West Fork Teanaway River Road. Continue about a mile to the Middle Fork Teanaway River Road, which turns right, but stay straight and drive about a quarter-mile farther to the road end and obvious parking. The trail begins at Carlson Canyon at the West Fork Teanaway River. Cross the bridge and hike the main road Southeast along the river past the old campground. You will pass Bible Rock and another 1/4 mile to a junction. Continue straight along main road. The road will crest a small hill. Look for a trail going left uphill, it is an old road. The trail is about 6 miles roundtrip and gains 1200 feet elevation.

Davis Peak trail is an outstanding alpine hike which is eleven miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 3900 feet. Better be in shape for this one! The trail has great views from the trail and the old lookout site. It is steep but worth the extra effort.

Take I-90 east to Exit 80. Turn left through the towns. At the Salmon La Sac Guard Station, turn right onto Road # 4330 and continue about 1.7 miles to the large parking area for Paris Creek/Davis Peak on the left, elevation. Another parking area is down a rough road, turn left onto the gravel road # 34 beside the trailhead and continue downhill about 1/4 mile to another parking area for Davis Peak trailhead.

The hike follows along Lake Kachess, close to Snoqualmie Pass. The trail also is a great cross country ski trail in winter. It follows along a 9.2 miles trail, round trip, with a gain of 1000 feet with a lot of up and downs.

Driving Directions – Follow I-90 to exit 62. Drive northwest 6 miles to Kachess Campground. The trailhead is at the north end of campground.

The Knox Creek Trail climbs quickly out of the meadow through a alpine forest into open rocky outcrops. In about 1 1/4 miles it joins the Kachess Ridge Trail.  It then turn north and continue along the ridge with minor ups and downs to a viewpoint above Thorp Lake. Opportunities abound for hikers including photography, wildflowers and picturesque views of the surrounding area.   The Thorp Mountain Lookout is also accessible from the Kachess Trail.

Follow I-90, take Exit 80 (a.k.a. Roslyn exit). Head north for approximately three miles to a roundabout. Go around the roundabout and continue heading north. After approximately one more mile, enter Roslyn. Continue straight through town along the main road. The road bends at several locations. The road then goes through the small town of Ronald, and becomes known as Salmon La Sac Road soon after passing through town. After approximately 12.5 miles from Roslyn, turn left onto French Cabin Creek Road #4308. Follow this road for approximately 3.2 miles to a road intersection for Thorp Lake. Continue straight at the junction to the Knox Creek Trail.

With over 50,000 acres of land, there is boundless recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, sightseeing, picnicking, photography, ATV / Quad vehicle use (Green Dot road system), hunting and fishing, sledding and watching the annual elk feeding in winter. (Feed is generally put out at 8:00 a.m., but elk are visible throughout the day). The landscape rises from sagebrush steppe hillsides to dense stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir and is home to a large elk herd, mule deer, bear, spotted owls, northern goshawk, golden eagles, pileated woodpeckers, salmon, migratory and local birds, beaver, and other small mammals.

Take the Thorp Exit from Interstate 90 (exit 101); Turn left on the Thorp Highway, cross over I-90 and proceed about ¾ mile to Thorp Cemetery road and turn right (one mile south of the exit); travel west for 2.5 miles and turn left on Watt Canyon Road. During the winter, the elk feeding site is located one mile past the turn. Parking is available at the site. The gates at Robinson and Joe Watt Canyon are closed to all public use from late November-early December each year and re-open on May 1st. For more information call 509-925-6746. A free map of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area is available at the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce or the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife in Ellensburg.