Just moved to Ellensburg, or getting back into it after a while? These groups are beginner-friendly and welcoming — no need to be fast, experienced, or know a soul.
Wednesdays, 6:01pm · pick your own route (~45 min)
📍 Gazebo, north end of Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
Free and open to all; choose your own distance, everyone regroups.
First Saturday of each month, 8:00am
📍 Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park parking lot (Umtanum Rd bridge), Ellensburg
Over 160 species recorded along the river; binoculars and beginners welcome.
Tuesday evenings · membership sign-up on site
📍 Around Ellensburg — see club
Seasonal trail runs on the Ridge — see club
📍 Manastash Ridge trailheads, Ellensburg
Mondays 5:30pm, late March–September · women-led (currently on hold — check social)
📍 The ReCycle Shop, 415 N Main St, Ellensburg
Thursdays 5:30pm, late March–September · easy pace, frequent regroups (currently on hold)
📍 The ReCycle Shop, 415 N Main St, Ellensburg
Fridays 5:30pm, late March–September · trail-dependent, frequent stops (currently on hold)
📍 Rotating Kittitas Valley trailheads
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance — Kittitas
Seasonal work parties and community rides — see chapter
📍 Manastash Ridge & area trailheads, Kittitas County
Open daily during the academic year · $7 community day pass
📍 SURC Climbing Wall, CWU, Ellensburg
50-foot wall with top-rope and bouldering, open daily in the academic year; belay clinics and the annual Ropeless Rodeo comp.
Student club — wall sessions, comps & Vantage trips, see club
📍 SURC Climbing Wall, CWU, Ellensburg
Third Thursday most months (not summer), 7:00pm
📍 Hal Holmes Community Center, Ellensburg
Year-round guided drift-boat trips · book ahead
📍 Worley Bugger Fly Co., 1713 S Canyon Rd, Ellensburg
Upper Yakima wild-trout floats and casting instruction from Ellensburg’s original fly shop.
Year-round guided floats + Red’s University fly-fishing school · book ahead
📍 Red’s Fly Shop, 14706 Hwy 821 (Yakima Canyon), Ellensburg
Blue Ribbon trout water in the canyon; full- and half-day trips plus a multi-level fly-fishing school.
Summer guided floats, moonlight trips & rentals · reserve ahead
📍 Upper Yakima River, south of Ellensburg
Calm, family-friendly upper-river floats; rent a boat or join a guided trip.
CWU Outdoor Pursuits & Rentals
Spring–fall guided floats & paddle trips · CWU community
📍 Yakima River, from CWU Outdoor Pursuits, Ellensburg
Manastash Ridge Trails Coalition
Volunteer trail work and the Ridge’s ~20 miles of public trail
📍 Manastash Ridge trailheads, Ellensburg
Seasonal restoration & volunteer outings — see KCT
📍 Around the upper Yakima basin, Kittitas County
CWU Outdoor Pursuits & Rentals
Fall & spring day hikes and backpacking trips · CWU community
📍 Rotating Cascade trailheads, from CWU, Ellensburg
Ellensburg Cross Country Ski Club
Winter club outings on groomed Sno-Park trails
📍 Blewett Pass & Salmon la Sac Sno-Parks, near Ellensburg
CWU Outdoor Pursuits & Rentals
Winter guided Nordic & snowshoe trips · CWU community
📍 Cascade Sno-Parks, from CWU, Ellensburg
Ski packages, snowshoe rentals & local beta all winter
📍 Mountain High Sports, 105 E 4th Ave, Ellensburg