Getting Oriented
The road leaves I-90 at Cle Elum (exit 80 or 84) and runs north through Roslyn (the SR-903 designation lasts through town). Past the head of Cle Elum Lake, the road becomes signed as Salmon La Sac Road and enters the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The Cle Elum Ranger District office in Cle Elum handles the paperwork for the area; the Salmon La Sac Guard Station at the campground entrance is the upper information stop.
Trail Overview
Twenty-eight miles, point-to-point. The lower 16 miles are paved and follow the eastern shore of Cle Elum Lake, passing Wish Poosh, Cle Elum River, and Owhi Campgrounds. Past Salmon La Sac, the road becomes FR 4330: rough, occasionally steep gravel that climbs along the upper Cle Elum River. Spur roads branch off (FR 46/Cooper Lake Road, FR 4330-126) to side destinations. The road ends at a parking area for the Deception Pass and Cathedral Pass Trailheads, both serving the eastern Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Points of Interest
- Cle Elum Lake. 4,800-acre reservoir. Day-use boating, swimming, and fishing.
- Wish Poosh, Cle Elum River, and Owhi Campgrounds. USFS developed campgrounds along the lake and lower river.
- Salmon La Sac Campground. 67 sites, vault toilets, drinking water, on the Cle Elum and Cooper Rivers.
- Cooper Lake. Spur road off FR 46 climbs to a high lake at 2,788 feet, with a small campground.
- Cathedral Pass and Deception Pass Trailheads. End of FR 4330, eastern Alpine Lakes Wilderness access.
- Pacific Crest Trail. Crosses near the head of the road in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
- Salmon La Sac Sno-Park. Winter access for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Where to Camp
Four developed Forest Service campgrounds along the route: Wish Poosh, Cle Elum River, Owhi, and Salmon La Sac. Reservations through Recreation.gov in summer. Cooper Lake Campground is up the spur road. Dispersed camping is permitted on national forest land along FR 4330 with the standard 14-day stay limit. Salmon La Sac has the most amenities, including potable water and a host. Roslyn and Cle Elum have small commercial bases.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- The paved section gets crowded summer weekends. Salmon La Sac Campground fills weeks ahead.
- The gravel section past Salmon La Sac is rough; aired-down tires help. Standard 4x4 trucks handle it; low-clearance cars sometimes scrape.
- Cle Elum Lake levels fluctuate with downstream irrigation demand; the shoreline can be muddy in late summer.
- Cooper Lake Road branches uphill; the road is maintained but tight.
- A Northwest Forest Pass is required at the trailheads.
- Cell coverage drops out at Cle Elum Lake.
- Black bear and elk are common. Store food properly.
- Snow closes the road past Cle Elum Lake in winter; the Salmon La Sac Sno-Park is the typical turn-around.
