Ellensburg
Around Ellensburg
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Washington · 48k people
Ellensburg
Locals say Kittitas Valley · “Rodeo Capital of the Northwest”, “The Hub”
Cowboy spirit, mountain soul.
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Welcome to the Kittitas Valley! Whether you're here for the rodeo, the river, or the mountains, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Come for the small-town charm and stay for the adventures.
Clubs for Ellensburg
No clubs for Ellensburg yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Ellensburg. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Ellensburg. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Central Washington University Public university campus with historic red-brick buildings.
- Ellensburg Rodeo Grounds Home of the famous Ellensburg Rodeo, a major summer event.
- Historic Downtown Ellensburg Brick streets and turn-of-the-century architecture with shops and cafes.
- Lake Cle Elum Large reservoir popular for boating, fishing, and lakeside camping.
- Roslyn Historic District Old mining town known for filming the TV show 'Northern Exposure'.
- Iron Horse State Park Converted railroad trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
- Outdoors Hike Manastash Ridge
- Outdoors Float the Yakima River
- With kids Visit the Ellensburg Farmers Market
- With kids Explore the Kittitas County Historical Museum
- Evenings Brewery taprooms downtown
- Evenings Live music at local bars
- Locals love Coffee shops
- Locals love Breweries
Through the year
- Ellensburg Rodeo September One of the oldest rodeos in the country, held over Labor Day weekend.
- Kittitas County Fair September Traditional county fair with livestock, exhibits, and carnival rides.
- Jazz in the Valley June Annual jazz festival featuring local and national artists.
- Ellensburg Brewfest August Craft beer tasting event with local breweries and food vendors.
- Ellensburg Classic Car Show July Showcase of classic and custom cars in historic downtown.
Semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. Best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Spring and fall are the most pleasant, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
Talk like a local
- “The 'Burg”
- Nickname for Ellensburg.
- “The Valley”
- The Kittitas Valley area.
- “Cle Elum”
- Pronunciation of Cle Elum (CLEE-EL-um).
- “Up the pass”
- Going over Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle.
Getaways
- Yakima Wine tasting and the Yakima Valley SunDome events.
- Wenatchee Apple capital, riverfront park, and the Pybus Public Market.
- Seattle Big-city attractions, Pike Place Market, and pro sports.
- Hood River Wind surfing, fruit stands, and the Columbia Gorge.
Local flavour
Rooting for Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), Seattle Kraken (NHL), Washington State Cougars (NCAA Division I), University of Washington Huskies (NCAA Division I)
Eat and drink
- Ranch-style steak Local cattle ranching makes beef a staple, often served in cowboy-themed eateries.
- Huckleberry pie Huckleberries grow wild in the nearby Cascades and are celebrated in local desserts.
- Craft beer A growing local brewery scene, with brews inspired by the mountain landscape.
Where people go
- Rodeo grounds The Kittitas County Fairgrounds host the famous Ellensburg Rodeo.
- Historic downtown Brick buildings and a walkable main street with local shops and cafes.
- Mountain trails Access to the Cascades for hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing, especially near Snoqualmie Pass.
- River fishing spots The Yakima River offers trout fishing and scenic floats.
- Lakeside cabins Cle Elum Lake and surrounding areas are popular for summer retreats.
Heritage and traditions
Ellensburg and the Kittitas Valley are proud of their Western heritage, the legendary Ellensburg Rodeo, and the rare Ellensburg Blue agate found only here. The region also cherishes its coal-mining past in Roslyn and Cle Elum, and the quirky fame from 'Northern Exposure.'
This time of year in Ellensburg
- Hunting season Autumn Fall brings deer and elk hunting in the surrounding national forests.
Say it like a local: “The Ellensburg wind” — A term for the wind that blows through the valley, often strong in spring.
Festivals
- Cle Elum Pioneer Days July A summer celebration of the town's logging and mining heritage, with a parade and live music.
- Ellensburg Windfest May A spring kite festival that takes advantage of the valley's famous winds, with colorful kites and family activities.
Landmarks with a story
- Thorp Grist Mill A restored 1883 grist mill on the Yakima River, a testament to the valley's agricultural past.
- Kittitas County Courthouse Built in 1886, this brick courthouse anchors historic downtown Ellensburg and survived the 1918 fire.
- Roslyn Museum Housed in a former hotel, it tells the story of the region's coal mining boom and the town's ethnic diversity.
- Cle Elum Historic District Brick storefronts and old saloons recall the early 1900s mining and railroad era.
Food traditions
- Basque lamb stew A legacy of the Basque sheepherders who grazed flocks in the Kittitas Valley; slow-cooked lamb with peppers and potatoes is still served at local gatherings.
- Huckleberry pancakes Pancakes topped with wild huckleberries, a late-summer treat when the berries ripen in the Cascades.
- Dutch oven cowboy cooking At rodeo camps and ranch events, meals like stews and biscuits are cooked in cast-iron Dutch ovens over open fires, a nod to trail-driving days.
- Coal miner's meat pies In Roslyn and Cle Elum, pasties and meat pies were a lunch staple for miners; local bakeries still make them.
Music and arts
- Cowboy poetry A tradition of reciting verses about ranch life, often featured at rodeo events and local gatherings.
- Bluegrass and folk music Local bands play at festivals and bars, with a strong following in the valley.
- Ellensburg Blue agate jewelry Local artisans cut and polish the rare blue agate into rings, pendants, and belt buckles.
- Roslyn art galleries The town's historic buildings host galleries and studios, inspired by its 'Northern Exposure' fame.
A little history
- 1880s–1920s Coal mining era in Roslyn and Cle Elum
- 1918 Great Ellensburg Fire destroyed much of downtown
- 1891 Central Washington University founded as the Washington State Normal School
- 1990–1995 Filming of the TV series 'Northern Exposure' in Roslyn
Rivalries
- CWU vs. Western Washington University Football rivalry between the two state universities.
- Ellensburg vs. Cle Elum Friendly high school sports rivalry between the towns.
- Game day Ellensburg Rodeo
- Game day CWU football games
- Outdoors Huckleberry picking
- Outdoors Rockhounding for Ellensburg Blue
- With kids Rockhounding for Ellensburg Blue
- With kids Visiting the Roslyn Museum
Locals speak with a mild Western drawl, mixing Pacific Northwest casualness with cowboy slang. You'll hear 'the pass' for Snoqualmie Pass, 'huckleberry' for the wild berry, and a few coal-mining terms in Roslyn and Cle Elum.
Only here
- Ellensburg Blue agate, a rare gemstone found only in the Kittitas Valley.
- Roslyn was the filming location for the beloved TV series 'Northern Exposure' (1990–1995).
- The Ellensburg Rodeo is one of the top 10 rodeos in North America and has been held since 1923.
- The valley's strong winds make it a kite-flying paradise, celebrated at the annual Windfest.
New here? A few tips
- Be ready for wind—Ellensburg is one of the windiest towns in Washington, especially in spring. A windbreaker is essential.
- Learn to say 'the pass' for Snoqualmie Pass. It's the main route to Seattle and can close in winter, so check conditions before heading west.
- Rodeo weekend (Labor Day weekend) is huge—book lodging months ahead and expect downtown to be packed.
- Try a huckleberry shake or pie in late summer; it's a local obsession.
- The Ellensburg Blue agate is a real treasure—ask a local where to look, but be respectful of private land.
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Ellensburg, WA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.