How to Plan a Summer Weekend Adventure Near Ellensburg, Washington

Getting out of the house is a goal that a lot of us have during the summer months. However, as each summer comes and goes most of us find that we didn't take advantage of the summer weather. This year get your family outside for an inexpensive adventure in the wild areas around Ellensburg, Washington.

Step 1: Learn About Ellensburg, Washington

Ellensburg is a quaint little town that has a population of about 15,500 people. The summer climate in this city is perfect for outdoor activities and get-a-ways. The average temperature range for a typical summer day is between 41 degrees F and 85 degrees F. The rainiest month of the summer is June and the driest month is August. When you are planning your Ellensburg weekend get-a-way make sure that you leave time to visit local attractions like the Kittitas County Farmers' Market and the Kittitas County History Museum.

Step 2: Plan Your Overnight Accommodations

When you are planning an active summer weekend adventure near Ellensburg you have several lodging options to choose from. The cheapest option is to simply camp out at a local campground. One of the closest campgrounds is the Mineral Springs Resort. Other nearby campgrounds include: the Baker Creek Campground, the Lion Rock Spring Campground, and the Swauk Campground.

Your next option is to rent an RV for the weekend, or to bring your own RV on your weekend holiday. If you select the RV option then you may want to consider staying at a local RV park like the Stagecoach RV Park. It is located only 13 miles from Ellensburg, Washington.

If you don't want to camp out or stay in an RV then you also have the option of renting a hotel room for the weekend. Because Ellensburg is a small town your lodging options are going to be limited. However, there are several hotels to choose from including: Best Western Lincoln Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn Ellensburg, Ellensburg Super 8 Motel, and the Ellensburg WA Days Inn.

Step 3: Know Where to Find the Fun

There are at least eight trail systems that you can explore located within 30 miles of Ellensburg. The closest trail system is the Teanaway Wilson Stock Trail. This system is nine miles away from Ellensburg, it offers 5.6 miles of trails to hike on, and it offers a challenging 1087 foot elevation change. Other nearby trails include: the County Line Trail, Devils Gulch Trail, High Creek Trail, Keenan Meadows Trail, Miller Peak Trail, Red Hill Trail, and Snow Lakes Trail.

If you are interested in rafting then there are at least 10 whitewater runs that you can ride. For family raft trips you may want to consider a class II run like the one on Yakima River that is 4 miles from Ellensburg. This run follows the Yakima River from Teanaway River to Thorp. If you want a high intensity run then you will want to travel 21 miles to icicle Creek. Here you will find a 2.2 mile run that connects the Snow Creek Trailhead to Leavenworth Hatchery.

While rafting is a great summer adventure it is not the only water adventure that you can have. Near Ellensburg there are at least seven lakes and ponds that you can paddle around, swim in, or play with watercraft in. The closest pond is 5 miles away and it is called the Mill Pond. The closest lake is Big Lake and it is located within 8 miles of Ellensburg. The other ponds and lakes that you can play in include: Cabin Lake, Little Lake, Reimer Pond, Tjossem Pond, and Wenas Lake.