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A Complete Guide to Fun When You Visit Suncadia Resort

05•21•2022

Only 90 minutes outside of Seattle just over Snoqualmie Pass, Suncadia Resort is a beautiful and popular resort destination.  With its huge evergreen trees, flowing rivers, and mountain views, the spectacular scenery is as much of a draw as its wide range of activities.  Whether you are looking to golf, visit one of the several pools, hike, visit the spa, or participate in one of their other offered activities, there is something to do for everyone.

Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum is one of the places that we have visited the most times since we moved to the state of Washington.  As long as the mountain pass conditions are good, it’s a short, easy drive from Western Washington.  Plus, Cle Elum receives less rain and more sunny days than Western Washington.  And in the winter, Suncadia often has snow, allowing for a wide range of fun winter activities.  This makes it a great escape from the city!

•LODGING AT SUNCADIA•

Suncadia has quite a range of accommodation options, depending on what you are looking for.  We typically stay at the Suncadia Lodge, which offers over 250 guest rooms and suites, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom condos and penthouses.  Many of the rooms (except the Lodge Two Queen room) offer some sort of kitchen too.  We typically stay in the one-bedroom suite, which offers a full kitchen complete with a full-size fridge, microwave, stove, dishwasher, and washer and dryer.  Many of the rooms also offer a gas fireplace and a walk-out balcony to enjoy the views.  You will also have the option to choose a Resort View room or a River View room.  We always opt for the River View rooms, which are slightly more expensive, but they offer spectacular views of the river, forest, and mountains in the distance. 

The Inn at Suncadia is a smaller, more intimate lodging option with less than 20 rooms that is located close to the Lodge.  Inn rooms offer either two double beds or one king, private balconies, gas fireplaces, and mini-fridges. 

Suncadia also offers a selection of vacation home rentals.  From the Trailhead Condominiums that are located near to the Lodge, to attached townhomes with a few bedrooms, to larger homes with multiple bedrooms, they have options to fit a wide range of group sizes.  All of the homes have an upscale Pacific-Northwest rustic vibe and are beautifully designed.  We stayed in a vacation home on one of our trips to Suncadia, and it was very nice.  It was spacious and private and very elegant.  Plus, we went in December, and it was beautifully decorated for the holidays, and we were able to go out in the yard and build a snowman!

Suncadia Lodge Balcony View; Best Resorts in Washington State
Suncadia Lodge Balcony View
Suncadia Vacation Home Interior; Best Resorts in Washington State
Suncadia Vacation Home Interior
Suncadia Vacation Home Interior; Best Resorts in Washington State
Suncadia Vacation Home Interior

•THINGS TO DO AT SUNCADIA RESORT•

There are so many cool activities to enjoy at Suncadia!  Here are some of the best things to do at Suncadia Resort:

Swim & Fitness – The pools is where we spend the most time when we visit Suncadia! 

  • At the Swim & Fitness Center, located not too far from the main lodge, they have a large indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and two water slides.  They also have a large outdoor pool and hot tub and lots of tables and chairs.  Towels are provided at check-in to the center.  They also have a large fitness center located on the second floor.  Our kids love the water slides, so this is usually our go-to spot when we visit!  They are open daily, but you should check the website ahead of time for information regarding closures of certain features, such as for maintenance.
  • The Nelson Farm Pool is an outdoor pool located at Nelson Farm.  It features a pool, splashpad, and small lazy river and is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.  Nellie’s Restaurant features grab-and-go food and drinks for pool-side dining. 
  • Lastly, there is a pool and hot tub located behind the main Lodge for use by the Lodge guests. 

Hiking and Biking – Suncadia has a trail system for hiking and biking.  Check out this trail map for more information.  This includes steps connecting the main lodge to the Cle Elem River below, featuring 379 steps covering 200 feet of elevation (similar to a 19-story building) with 20 landings.  The steps feature concrete molds of prints from local wildlife, which can be a cool distraction for kids (or adults!) as you make the climb back up. 

Nordic Trails – Suncadia also offers groomed Nordic Ski Trails and Snowshoe Trails in the winter. 

ATV and Side-by-Side Tours – You can try a guided ATV or Side-by-Side for 1-6 riders ages 5+. 

Winter Activities – In addition to cross country skiing and snowshoeing, Suncadia also offers other winter activities such as ice skating at the rink near the Swim & Fitness Center (including rentals) and sledding.  We tried both of these activities, including sledding on the hill near the Prospector Golf Course.  There were lots of other folks doing the same, and the kids had a blast!

S’mores by the Campfire – At the reception desk at the main lodge, you can pick up nightly s’mores fixings at no charge to cook on the campfires near the lodge, provided there isn’t a burn ban in effect. 

Spa – Suncadia is home to the Glade Spring Spa.  They offer services including massage, skin care, and nail treatment.  The Spa is conveniently located right near the main Lodge.  I have never been to the spa because it is on the pricey side. 

Golf – There are two 18-hole golf courses at Suncadia: The Rope Rider and The Prospector.  Both are generally open sometime in April through sometime in October. 

Bike and Boat Rentals – Suncadia offers rentals of bikes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and Razor scooters at the Rental Pavilion located between the Lodge and the Swim & Fitness Center. 

Other Activities and Experiences – Suncadia offers a wide range of seasonal and year-round activities and experiences.  They usually have an activity guidebook on their website that lists the activities for each season, such as a Spring Activity Guide.  Many of these can be booked online in advance on their website. 

  • Activities regularly offered at Nelson Farm include axe throwing, archery, a teddy bear factory, and tie-dye. 
  • Seasonally, Suncadia offers either roller skating and roller blading or ice skating at the rink located between the Lodge and the Swim & Fitness center, including skate rentals with safety pads available upon request as well. 
  • They also offer experiences that take place on certain days such as bingo, adult art classes (such as Sip & Spin Epoxy or Canvas & Cocktails), and kids art time. 
  • Another option is seasonal “backyard upgrades” where you can rent equipment such as a telescope, giant Jenga or Connect 4, cornhole, or karaoke. 
  • Dawson Park is home to a play structure, disc golf, basketball court, and tennis courts. 
  • During the summer, they offer Friday Night Movies at Nelson Farm.  You can bring chairs or blankets for an outdoor movie, and they have concessions and adult beverages available. 
  • There are several options for various guided tours and activities including guided hikes, a 3-hour river rafting trip, and fly fishing
  • Suncadia hosts a 5k and Half Marathon each year, which seems to take place the first weekend in August. 
  • There are also special holiday celebrations for certain holidays.  For example, at Easter they host activities such as an Easter egg hunt, deliveries from the Easter Bunny, and Easter brunch. 

Suncadia Swim & Fitness Center Outdoor Pool

Suncadia Swim & Fitness Center Slides

Suncadia Resort Steps

Ice Skating at Suncadia

•DINING AT SUNCADIA•

There are quite a few dining options at Suncadia, although honestly, we normally pack a big cooler and cook our own meals since we always get a room with a kitchen. 

  • Portals Restaurant is the restaurant in the main lobby of the Lodge, and it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 
  • The Stovehouse is located in the Inn at Suncadia overlooking the Prospector Golf Course and serves brunch, lunch, and dinner.  It is open on weekends but has more limited hours during the week.
  • Coal House Market is a small shop located in the lobby of the Lodge that serves espresso drinks, grab-and-go sandwiches, pastries, yogurt, juice, and more.  We often stop here for morning coffee, and we would recommend it!
  • Swiftwater Cellars is a winery that features a wine tasting room and the Hoist House Restaurant. 
  • Suncadia also has its own food truck.  During the summer it is located at the Swim & Fitness center, which makes for a perfect meal while taking a break from swimming. 

As you can see, Suncadia Resort offers a huge range of lodging, activities, and dining!  There’s something for everyone.  This is what makes Suncadia one of the best resorts in Washington State.  We love Suncadia and still have tons more to explore here in the future!  We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. 

Suncadia Resort; Things to do in Suncadia; Best Resorts in Washington State

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Suncadia Resort; Things to do in Suncadia; Best Resorts in Washington State