La Sac Up For Camping

We packed up the car and drove east of the Pass this weekend to settle, live in, and finally deconstruct our own little suburb out in the woods. Camping. We love it. Salmon La Sac, near Cle Elum, was our target when we rolled out of Seattle, although we didn't have a spot reserved and there was some question about whether the campground was even in operation. Some of the big storms from this past winter washed a lot of stuff out up there--including, most importantly, the road leading to the campground--and the Reserve America website still says "CAMPGROUND CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."

We figured we'd just drive up and wing it if turned out Salmon La Sac was actually closed. No need. It's open. Salmon La Sac road is obviously freshly-repaired just outside the Salmon La Sac campground and there is still some work going on within the site, but for the most part it's open. Call ahead to reserve one of the riverside sites--we didn't, but still managed to claim something decent, although not right on the water. There are also some first-come-first-served river-side sites that we hear exist, but didn't investigate.

DO NOT spend the last of your cash on firewood on the road leading to the camp. It's a ways back in there and the 25mph speed limits make it drive longer than it is. $16 for a single site, $32 for a double. Alternately, bring a checkbook.

DO NOT bother bringing your swim suit this early in the season. The water is fast and fuh-reezing. We did see a lot of kayaks driving around on top of cars, but it was by no means overrun--we didn't see a single one in the water.

DO NOT turn back prematurely on Cooper River Trail #1311. There is a nice rapid right at the trailhead which means you won't be the only one there to see it. Hike the Cooper River Trail and don't pay any attention to what the old and the unfit walking back in the other direction tell you; the trail will eventually put you back on the banks of the river that you've been able to hear and not see for the first 2 miles or so, and there you'll have it all to yourself.

DO make the two hour-ish drive out to this river camp the next time you've got a spare day laying around. Drive 90 over the Pass to the Roslyn exit. Take 903 and Salmon La Sac Road up past Roslyn, Ronald and Lake Cle Elum/Reservoir Cle Elum and you're there.

We let the pictures do the talking after the jump.