The Cascades - Washington State - page 301

fee). AE, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: 2 restaurants (Northwest, Mediterranean); lounge with view of the falls;
exercise room; full-service spa with Jacuzzis and saunas; complimentary mountain bikes; activities desk; lim-
ited room service; massage; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room:A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker,
hair dryer, iron.
ON THE EAST SIDE
Hidden Valley Guest Ranch If you're looking to get away from it all
but don't have the time or inclination to head to the wilds of Montana, this 700-
acre guest ranch is as good a substitute as you'll find in Washington. The setting,
on a grassy ridge above Swauk Creek, is the absolute epitome of a mountain-
ranch setting, and the cabins are suitably rustic yet have comfortably modern
amenities. The Appletree Cabin is the best. Horseback riding ($35 for 1 1 ⁄ 2 hr.)
is the favorite activity here. The ranch is 15 minutes east of Cle Elum off Wash.
970, which connects to U.S. 97 (the route over Blewett Pass to Leavenworth and
Wenatchee).
3942 Hidden Valley Rd., Cle Elum, WA 98922. & 800/5-COWBOY or 509/857-2322. Fax [phone]
units. $310 double. Rates include all meals. 2-night minimum in summer. Children 2 and under stay free in par-
ent's room. MC, V. Closed Oct 16-May 14. Amenities: Restaurant (American); outdoor pool; tennis court;
Jacuzzi; children's programs; game room; massage. In room:Coffeemaker.
Iron Horse Inn Railroad buffs won't want to miss an opportunity to stay
at this restored Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad bunkhouse.
The inn is filled with railroading memorabilia and each of the guest rooms is
named for a railroad worker who once lived here. The rooms vary in size and are
simply furnished with antiques. However, the most popular rooms here are the
three cabooses on short lengths of track beside the inn. These are large enough
to sleep four or five people.
526 Marie Ave. (P.O. Box 629), South Cle Elum, WA 98943. & 800/22-TWAIN or 509/674-5939. www.iron
horseinnbb.com. 10 units, 6 with private bathroom. $80 double with shared bathroom; $95-$105 double with
private bathroom; $135 suite or caboose. Rates include full breakfast. Children under 2 stay free in parent's
room. MC, V. Amenities: Jacuzzi. In room:No phone.
CAMPGROUNDS
Along the I-90 corridor, there are only a couple of campground choices on the
west side of Snoqualmie Pass. Tinkham Campground (47 campsites) at exit 42
off I-90 is the closest Forest Service campground to Seattle. It is set on the bank of
the South Fork Snoqualmie River. Denny Creek Campground (33 campsites) is
so close to the freeway that campers are lulled to sleep by the roaring of trucks.
Kachess Campground (120 campsites), near the north end of Kachess Lake,
is the biggest campground in the area. Powerboating and fishing are the most
popular activities here, but there are also some nearby trail heads providing access
to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The Cle Elum Lake area offers the I-90 corridor's
greatest concentration of campgrounds including Wish Poosh (39 campsites),
Cle Elum River (23 campsites), Red Mountain (10 campsites), and Salmon la
Sac (99 campsites), which is this area's biggest and busiest campground.
For information on campgrounds in this area, contact the Snoqualmie Pass
Visitor Center ( & 425/434-6111 ), which is located just off I-90 at the pass.
For national forest campground reservations, contact the National Recreation
Reservation Service ( & 877/444-6777; www.reserveusa.com).
WHERE TO DINE
IN THE SNOQUALMIE VALLEY
The dining room at the Salish Lodge (see above) is by far the best restaurant on
the west side of Snoqualmie Pass.