This is a great flat hike for winter this year. Because of the lack of snow, we were able to hike in low top trail runners. We started at the South Cle Elum TH (need Discovery Pass unless you just park in town nearby on the side of the road). From SCE, you can hike either west or east as far as you like. There are nice bucolic views, wetlands, forests, etc. We saw blue herons on the west of SCE option. We went both west and east for a total of about 8 miles and never saw another person on the trail. What a great resource this trail is!

this trip is based on the 100 hikes book, 1985 edition. the directions to reach the beginning of the trail are not correct now. after taking i-90 exit 84 into cle elem town, go north to the main street of town and at the traffic light take a LEFT. go to the LAST traffic light before the main street goes up the hill and out of town, take another LEFT. [there are no signs to swiftwater trailer park]. this road is called the south cle elum road. it crosses the railroad tracks, goes under the freeway, and becomes 4th street. drive straight and bear left uphill half a mile to a split road. take the left onto lower peoh point road. this passes under the freeway again in a little over 2 miles. then mark .6 miles to a paved road on the left. park on the side before curving left and down the hill. we found the nature to be only average, but the birding was great. we concentrated on the third of the mile to the long red barn on the left.