5 Ellensburg Picnic Destinations
If you are looking for a perfect place to enjoy some food while taking in the diverse surroundings that Ellensburg has to offer, make sure to check out the following options for picnic destinations. You are bound to find one that suits your mood and will make for an absolutely perfect day or evening out.
Kleinberg Park
This park offers a unique experience for someone who is looking for a great picnic location in the Ellensburg area. Not only does this pocket park have a picnic table for enjoying your meal on a table-top and a nice field of grass to put down a blanket, but it also features a historic site! The park is located near the old Ellensburg Railroad Depot and it even hosts an old caboose. Overall, this small park sure has a charming feel, and it is perfect for getting out of the house and enjoying a picnic in peace and quiet.
Helen McCabe Park
Just five miles south of Ellensburg, this park sits on the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway. This park has seen renovation in 2008, which included adding fishing access points to the pond, improving the trail system, planting a great deal of vegetation, and so forth! Whether you are interested in taking a walk, going fishing, or simply enjoying a nice picnic, the Helen McCabe Park is definitely a great option to consider. This park is 64 acres and is composed of mainly flat landscape as it is mostly located within the 100-year flood plain. Interestingly, the pond that is on-site of the park, being 8 acres, is actually man-made due to the gravel excavation that was happening during the construction of I-82. That being said, fishermen can enjoy a nice day out and have a great chance at catching rainbow trout, and even an occasional channel catfish from time to time. If you do decide to go on a charming picnic here, you can rest assured that the view will be gorgeous. With plenty of vegetation and a spectacular view of the Yakima River Canon, you are bound to have the time of your life. In addition to this, there are plenty of birds in the area, so as an added bonus you can bird watch during your picnic as well.
Mountain View Park
If you are looking for a fun-filled day with your little ones, Mountain View Park is an excellent option. With a picnic shelter available, you have the option of enjoying a picnic here or outside in the open, grassy areas. Another great feature of this park is that it offers a wide array of amenities including basketball hoops, a play structure, soccer fields, a baseball field, a roller hockey rink, and so forth making it an ideal location for a family day out. There are also public restrooms and electricity that are available. For a more family-oriented picnic make sure to check out this park!
Whipsaw Brewing
If you are looking for a more mature take on a picnic, we suggest that you consider going to Whipsaw Brewing. You can sit back and relax with some friends while enjoying food from The Honey Hole, a new food truck that the company welcomed on-site not too long ago, one of Whipsaws’ recommended food paces from nearby, or even by bringing your own bite to eat from home! Some other recommendations for food places to order from, if you plan to come to Whipsaw, include Pita Pit, Red Horse Diner, Tacos Chalitos, Ano Delivery, and several others. In addition to this, the brewery offers some exclusive events from time to time so if you’re lucky, you can also listen to some live music in addition to the brews and food.
L.T. Murray Wildlife Area
Areas such as the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area are key to protecting the animals and their habitats, but they also provide opportunities for recreation, so long as it’s compatible with the conservation goals. This particular area is located along I-90 in Kittitas County. The complex is split into different sections, and as a whole, it’s about 110,000 acres. The landscape is a mix of shrubsteppe, coniferous forest, and riparian habitat. In this unit, there are plenty of opportunities for an adventure such as dispersed camping, Green Dot Roads, fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, wildflower tours, and so much more. Another great use for this area is to enjoy a picnic there. One can spend the day at the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area by engaging in any of the many opportunities that the complex presents, and then in the evening you can sit down and enjoy a pretty picnic. You can take in all of the beauty while you sit in peace and enjoy a bite to eat. It is to no surprise that there has been a recent increase in recreation at the wildlife area for more calming activities like bird watching and shed antler collecting.
