Enumclaw
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Enumclaw

Enumclaw

Cascade foothills town southeast of Seattle, serving as a gateway to Crystal Mountain and Mount Rainier.

Enumclaw sits at the foot of the Cascade foothills in southeast King County, about 45 miles southeast of Seattle. The town bills itself the "Gateway to Mt. Rainier," and the claim is honest: Highway 410 heads east out of downtown, climbs through timber country, and delivers you to Crystal Mountain ski area and Mt. Rainier National Park beyond.

The surrounding landscape is the main draw. Crystal Mountain is Washington's largest ski resort, with terrain to suit everyone from beginners to steep-and-deep seekers, and the views of Rainier from the summit are exceptional. In summer, the same highway opens access to backcountry hiking, camping along the White River, and the wildflower meadows of the national park. If you have only one reason to stop in Enumclaw, it's as a base for these mountains.

In town, the pace is slow and agricultural. Dairy farms still ring the community, and the King County Fair — held each July — draws livestock judging, rodeo events, and the usual carnival sprawl. The Thunder Dome Car Museum and the Logging Legacy Memorial are the main in-town stops. The town has the feel of a place that exists on its own terms, not for tourists.

Guide

Getting There

Enumclaw is about 45 miles southeast of Seattle by car. The most direct route from Seattle is Highway 169 south through Renton and Maple Valley, then Highway 164 through Black Diamond to Enumclaw. From Tacoma, Highway 410 runs northeast through Puyallup. There is no useful public transit connection to Enumclaw from the Seattle metro area.

Highway 410 east from Enumclaw is the road to Crystal Mountain and the White River entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park; the entrance gate is about 36 miles from town. The road is open year-round as far as Enumclaw but the park section closes in winter beyond the White River Campground.

Guide

Things to Do

Enumclaw is above all a base for Crystal Mountain and Mt. Rainier National Park. The town has a few worthwhile stops of its own — a good car museum, a logging memorial, and some fine historic architecture — but the mountains to the east are the real reason to be here.