Where should you ski this winter? Your guide to 10 Cascade slopes

Gregory Scruggs

Seattle Times staff reporter

Early December rain dampened the mood literally and figuratively in the Cascades high country, but don’t let El Niño jitters get the better of you. There have already been powder days this season, and if everyone keeps doing their snow dances, we’ll hopefully clock many more.

Snowy destinations sprawl up and down the Cascade spine, with slopes for skiers, snowboarders and every kind of winter-sport enthusiast from Oregon to British Columbia (Whistler Blackcomb, while located in the Coast Range, gets honorary Cascadian status for this list).

Note that many ski areas sell lift tickets with a dynamic or fluctuating pricing scheme. Price ranges are accurate for online ticket purchase as of press time. Buy online in advance for lowest prices. Lift tickets typically cost more at the ticket window — however, on peak days, some ski areas do not sell walk-up tickets.

Do your homework, then hop in the car this winter and sample the excellent ski options reachable from Seattle on a day or weekend trip.

Crystal Mountain Resort

33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd., Enumclaw; 833-279-7895; crystalmountainresort.com

What it’s known for: Resort aspirations and Rainier views

Washington’s only ski area with resort aspirations is the state’s biggest, a spot where you can ogle Mount Rainier up close and personal, enjoy après-ski on an outdoor patio, tie one on at the Snorting Elk Cellar and then stay overnight to do it all again tomorrow. With its highest point cresting 7,000 feet, Crystal has extensive above-tree-line terrain, another rarity among Cascade ski areas, and wins hands down for sheer variety. As a dead-end road rather than a mountain pass, the drive is less prone to avalanche closures than Snoqualmie or Stevens, but the upper mountain also suffers from wind holds. With all the bells and whistles, plus an ongoing capital plan to build new lodges and a hotel, Crystal is priced accordingly.

Distance from Seattle: 85 miles (approximately 2 hours)
Open for season: Yes
Season passes: Anytime Legend Pass (unlimited access), Ikon Pass (seven days without blackouts), Ikon Base Pass (five days with blackouts), Roots Pass (midweek only until March 11)
Lift tickets: $89-$179 for adults; $38-$77 for children ages 5-12; $81-$163 for ages 13-22; $38-$77 for seniors
Vertical rise: 2,612 feet
Amenities/other activities: Weekend/holiday night skiing, terrain park, scenic gondola rides, snowshoe trails, rentals, tuning and repairs, gear shop, ski school, freeride and race programs, lockers, two on-mountain restaurants, day lodge (espresso stand, two bar/restaurants), outdoor drinking and dining from yurts and containers, three on-site hotels, RV lot, EV chargers
Getting there: Crystal Mountain Road is a two-lane road with curves and some exposure. Chains generally not required but should be carried. Resort runs free shuttles from parking lots to base area. Free coach bus on weekends from Enumclaw Expo Center starting Dec. 26. Parking is $20 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; reservations required. Free with valid season pass or carpools of four or more.
Deals/special pricing: Cheaper tickets available for afternoon and night skiing only (starting at 1 p.m.) and beginner lift only. Three-day Wild Cards valid on nonblackout days are $329; midweek only for $249. People 80 and older ski free.
Challenge level: Limited beginner options, ample intermediate runs, loads of expert terrain, from bowls to chutes to trees.
Adaptive program: No

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Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort

7500 Mission Ridge Road, Wenatchee; 509-663-6543; missionridge.com

What it’s known for: Great powder, short lines

Why journey east of the Cascade crest? For the allure of drier, lighter snow and hundreds of days of sunshine per year, try Mission Ridge. Perched high above the Wenatchee Valley, on clear days with no valley fog, you can ski with a view of the bone-dry desert below. The surreal visual is a sharp contrast to the green canopy of the Western Cascades. With a smaller nearby population, lift lines tend to be shorter, though the modest ski area has just one high-speed lift, which features Washington’s only bubble chair. Mission Ridge also boasts the second-longest vertical for night skiing in the U.S., and if a yearslong lawsuit is ever resolved, the Ridge is primed for expansion. Wish the ski hill luck by rubbing the B-24 bomber wing — a relic from a World War II training accident — perched atop the resort.

Distance from Seattle: 161 miles (approximately 3 hours)
Open for season: Yes
Season passes: Premier Pass (unlimited, sold out), Core Value (midweek, night skiing, early/late season weekends), Midweek Pass, Twilight Pass (2 p.m. to close), Indy Pass (two days), Powder Alliance (purchase a season pass and get three days at 21 other resorts)
Lift tickets: $79-$139 for adults; $49-$109 for youth ages 8-12; $59-$119 for youth ages 13-17; $69-$129 for ages 18-24; $19-$69 for ages 70 and up
Vertical rise: 2,250 feet
Amenities/other activities: Night skiing Wednesday through Saturday from Dec. 26 to Feb. 24, snowshoe trails, rentals, tuning and repairs, gear shop, one on-mountain restaurant, roving taco-serving snowcat, day lodge (cafeteria, espresso bar, pub, snack shack), RV lot
Getting there: From Seattle, travelers must cross at least one mountain pass, via Interstate 90 or Highway 2. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation website (wsdot.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories. Free SkiLink bus service from downtown Wenatchee to the resort on weekends and holidays through end of April except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Deals/special pricing: Holders of Summit at Snoqualmie Unlimited Pass get 50% off lift tickets Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
Challenge level: Limited beginner terrain, the resort is great for intermediate skiers to push themselves, with abundant off-piste terrain.
Adaptive program: No

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Mt. Bachelor

13000 S.W. Century Drive, Bend, Ore.; 541-382-1709; mtbachelor.com

What it’s known for: 360-degree volcano skiing, proximity to beervana

Washington may have the Cascades’ biggest volcanoes, but Oregon has a lot more of them. Shield volcano Mount Bachelor, 20 miles outside Bend, is the only one completely wrapped in ski infrastructure. Much to cartographers’ consternation, you can ski and ride 360 degrees on this aesthetic snowy cone. Volcano skiing isn’t the steepest, but it’s reliably good: 450-plus inches of average annual snowfall on the dry and fluffy side of the Cascades, though volcanic storm exposure means storm days are exceptionally windy. While there is no slopeside lodging, overnight stays abound in Bend, the high desert outdoorsy boomtown with a famed Ale Trail.

Distance from Seattle: 350 miles (approximately 6 hours)
Open for season: Yes
Lift tickets: $99-$159 for adults; $51-$90 for ages 6-12 and 70-plus; $69-$119 for ages 13-18 and 65-69
Vertical rise: 3,365 feet
Amenities/other activities: Ski school, child care, designated uphill zone, nordic center, snowshoe trails and tours, rentals, tuning and repairs, two-day lodges (two espresso stands, two bars, two cafes, one restaurant), one on-mountain lodge (cafeteria, restaurant, espresso stand), interlodge shuttle, EV chargers, RV lot, hot showers
Getting there: The quickest route from Seattle crosses the Cascades near Mount Hood on Oregon Highway 26. Consult the Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck website (tripcheck.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories. The ski area is 40 miles from Redmond Municipal Airport, with daily service from Sea-Tac Airport.
Deals/special pricing: Ikon pass holders get five days (base pass) or seven days (full pass). Lift tickets are $99 on Thursdays from January through April. Ski or Ride in 5 program offers five days of lessons and rentals for $499, comes with season pass for remainder of season.
Challenge level: Mellow beginner and intermediate runs, plus expert terrain on summit cone.
Adaptive program: Yes, through Oregon Adaptive Sports

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Mt. Baker Ski Area

End of Mt. Baker Highway, Deming, Whatcom County; 360-734-6771; mtbaker.us

What it’s known for: Snow, snow and more snow

It snows here. A lot. Mt. Baker Ski Area still hangs its hat on the world-record-breaking 1998-99 season, when it snowed 1,140 inches. Modest elevation can affect snow levels, so watch the weather closely before making this long day trip from Seattle. Overnight in nearby Glacier for a weekend getaway. If you nail the forecast, bring your fattest skis and your brightest goggles — sunny days are a rarity here in the North Cascades, but when they do come, glorious Mount Shuksan looms overhead. Famous for its ski-at-your-own-risk “extreme danger” zones and a natural half-pipe that hosts the annual Legendary Banked Slalom (Feb. 9-11, 2024), no-frills Mount Baker still feels like a locals’ secret in an era of ski-industry consolidation.

Distance from Seattle: 133 miles (approximately 2 hours 45 minutes)
Open for season: Yes
Season pass: Unlimited only, not a participant in any multiresort passes (sold out). A limited number of Mostly Midweek season passes will be available this season.
Lift tickets: $91.20 for adults ages 16-59; free for ages 6 and under; $38.89 for ages 7-10; $56.48 for youth ages 11-15; $76.85 for ages 60-69; $53.70 for ages 70-plus
Vertical rise: 1,500 feet
Amenities/other activities: Rental and gear shop, ski school, three day lodges (Heather Meadows on weekends only), snowshoeing to Artist Point, RV lot
Getting there: Highway 542 (Mt. Baker Highway) is a narrow, winding, two-lane road with exposed sections; it dead-ends at the ski area. Baker Bus runs one round-trip per day from Bellingham via Glacier (from Kendall on weekdays); reserve online at bakerbus.org.
Deals/special pricing: $55.56 for beginner chair only. Fifth graders ride free with enrollment. Two adults eligible for half-price lift tickets after 10 a.m. if children ages 4-6 are enrolled in Powder Pups program.
Challenge level: Affordable learning area for beginners, not many groomed intermediate runs, lots of ungroomed expert and extreme terrain.
Adaptive program: Yes, through Move United

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Mt. Hood Meadows

14040 Oregon Highway 35, Mount Hood, Ore.; 503-337-2222; skihood.com

What it’s known for: Family-friendly amenities, room to roam

The largest and most sprawling resort on the flanks of Mount Hood, independently owned Meadows may offer the most family-friendly amenities — like day care for children as young as 6 weeks old. With 2,150 skiable acres, there is room to roam, but even with six high-speed quads, lift lines can back up on busy weekends.

Distance from Seattle: 232 miles (approximately 4 hours)
Open for season: Yes
Lift tickets: $59-$164 for ages 25-64; $15 for children under 6; $29-$89 for children ages 7-14; $59-$154 for ages 15-24; $49-$119 for ages 65-74; free for adults 75 and older
Vertical rise: 2,777 feet
Amenities/other activities: Rental and gear shop, ski school, night skiing, nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing, three restaurants, three on-mountain restaurants, EV chargers, child care
Getting there: Highway 26 is a multilane state highway over a mountain pass susceptible to winter weather. Consult the Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck website (tripcheck.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories.
Deals/special pricing: Lift tickets sold with variable start times (9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m.) — start later and save. Military service members pay $49 nonpeak and $99 for peak tickets. Certified ski and snowboard instructors and ski patrollers get 25-50% off. Mt. Baker season pass holders eligible for three free days. Indy Pass holders eligible for two free days.
Challenge level: A little bit of everything, with 14 greens, 38 blues, 23 black diamonds and 10 double-blacks.
Adaptive program: Yes

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Stevens Pass

Summit Stevens Pass, 93001 Highway 2, Skykomish; 206-812-4510; stevenspass.com

What it’s known for: Enticingly powder-filled intermediate and advanced runs with steep pitch

After encountering a few moguls since Vail Resorts acquired the lovably scruffy ski area in 2018, Stevens Pass has righted the ship. Multiple years of investment in upgraded chairlifts — the latest this season is the new quad Kehr’s Chair to replace an old double — has eased notorious front-side lift lines, though the back side can clog up at the bottom of Jupiter Express and Southern Cross. A starting elevation of 4,000 feet combined with its mountain pass geography means snow stacks up big time. With limited parking available, plan to leave home early, especially on weekends and powder days, as lots can and will reach capacity. Stay in Leavenworth for a proper getaway. As the locals say: SPKA. Look it up.

Distance from Seattle: 82 miles (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes)
Open for the season: Yes
Season passes: Epic Pass (unlimited access to Stevens Pass and partner resorts, sold out), Epic Local Pass (unlimited access to Stevens Pass and limited access to partner resorts, sold out), Premium Pass (unlimited access to Stevens Pass only, sold out), Select Pass (off-peak days only, sold out)
Lift tickets: $102-$169 for adults; $71-$118 for ages 7 to 12
Vertical rise: 1,784 feet
Amenities/other activities: Night skiing, nordic center with snowshoe trails, ski school, rentals, tuning and repair, gear shop, three day lodges (cafeteria, espresso stand, snack shack, two pubs, four restaurants), EV chargers, RV lot
Getting there: Highway 2 is a sometimes multilane, sometimes two-lane state highway over a mountain pass that is susceptible to winter closures for avalanche control and spinouts. Carry chains — they can be required under penalty of fine. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation website (wsdot.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories. Resort runs free shuttle buses from satellite parking and nordic center to main base area. On weekends, holidays and powder days (6-plus inches new snow), lots A and G are reserved for carpools of four-plus until 1 p.m.
Deals/special pricing: Kids 6 and under ski free.
Challenge level: Over half of runs are intermediate. Limited beginner skiing on front side. About one-third advanced runs.
Adaptive program: Yes, through Outdoors for All Foundation

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The Summit at Snoqualmie / Alpental

1001 Highway 906, Snoqualmie Pass; 425-434-7669; summitatsnoqualmie.com

What it’s known for: Seattle’s ski and snowboard training ground

“Where Seattle learns to ski and snowboard” couldn’t be truer. An hour from the city with easy interstate access and abundant parking, The Summit at Snoqualmie began as a project of the Seattle municipal park board in 1934. More than eight decades later, Seattle skiers still carve their first turns along the gentle slopes at Summit West and graduate to the steep cliff runs that mark Alpental’s Edelweiss Chair. On busy days, lap the Silver Fir high-speed quad at Summit Central. In addition to a comprehensive ski school, The Summit earns its family-friendly chops with an extensive snow tubing center. The state’s largest night skiing operation entices for post-work and school shred sessions. Just pack the Gore-Tex — at 3,000 feet, Snoqualmie is the lowest-elevation mountain pass in the Washington Cascades, which can mean rain here when there’s snow elsewhere.

Distance from Seattle: 54 miles (approximately 1 hour)
Open for the season: Yes
Season passes: Unlimited (no blackouts or restrictions, three days at other Boyne resorts), LTD Pass (unlimited except no Alpental on weekends), Twilight Pass (any lift after 2 p.m.), Remedy Pass (nonholiday midweek, plus early/late season weekends), Ikon Pass (five to seven visits, reservations required)
Lift tickets: $71-$135 for adults; $23-$27 for children ages 6 and under; $48-$92 for ages 7 to 12; $51-$99 for ages 62-69; $30-$35 for ages 70-79
Vertical rise: 2,280 feet
Amenities/other activities: Night skiing, nordic center with snowshoe trails, snow tubing, rentals, tuning and repairs, gear shop, ski school, 12 restaurants, four bars, outdoor food trucks, RV lot. Brewery, restaurant and ski museum at The Pass Life. Cafe/grocer, evo satellite store and coworking space at The Firehouse.
Getting there: Interstate 90 is a multilane interstate highway over a mountain pass susceptible to winter closures for avalanche control and spinouts. Carry chains — they can be required under penalty of fine. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation website (wsdot.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories. Resort runs free shuttle buses between base areas. Parking is free in primary lots; $10 for Little Thunder Lot (Summit West) and front of Main Lot (Summit Central), or free with three-plus carpool.
Deals/special pricing: “Worry-Free Winter Assurance” discounts the price of following season’s pass if resort opens less than 100 days this season. Flex 3-Packs with holiday and weekend blackouts for $230, Saturday blackouts only for $330. People 80 and older ski free.
Challenge level: Extensive beginner terrain at Summit West, good intermediate options at Summit Central and East, rowdy expert terrain at Alpental.
Adaptive program: Yes, through Outdoors for All Foundation

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Timberline

27500 E. Timberline Road, Timberline Lodge, Ore.; 503-272-3311; timberlinelodge.com

What it’s known for: Summer skiing and “The Shining”

Imposing Timberline Lodge is a Northwest architectural icon dating to the 1930s, instantly recognizable to anyone who has seen “The Shining.” (Note that the pool and hot tub are closed for repair until further notice.) The historical resort has other claims to fame, like the Palmer lift that stretches to 8,500 feet on Mount Hood, allowing for summer skiing on the Palmer Glacier. Come winter, the terrain is mellower than neighbors like Skibowl and Mount Hood Meadows. An easy day trip from Portland, but if you are looking for a snowy weekend getaway, there are lodging options in nearby Government Camp, the lodge itself and the coveted high-mountain rustic chic Silcox Hut.

Distance from Seattle: 227 miles (approximately 4 hours)
Open for season: Yes
Lift tickets: $145 peak and $114 weekday for adults; free for ages 6 and under; $79 peak and $75 midweek for ages 7 to 14 and 65-plus; $119 peak and $101 midweek for ages 15 to 17
Vertical rise: 3,690 feet
Amenities/other activities: Rental and gear shop, ski school, Friday and Saturday night skiing, historical lodge, on-mountain overnight hut, three restaurants, two bars, one on-mountain restaurant, snowcat skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing
Getting there: Oregon Highway 26 is a multilane state highway over a mountain pass susceptible to winter weather. Consult the Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck website (tripcheck.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories.
Deals/special pricing: Member of Powder Alliance (purchase a season pass and get three days at 18 other resorts).
Challenge level: Intermediate with more reliable options for powder skiers.
Adaptive program: No

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Whistler Blackcomb

4545 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, B.C.; 604-967-8950; whistlerblackcomb.com

What it’s known for: The best skiing in the Pacific Northwest

Host of the 2010 Olympic alpine and nordic events, Whistler Blackcomb is the big kahuna of Pacific Northwest skiing, a true international destination resort. With a vertical mile from top to bottom, 200-plus trails and more than 8,000 skiable acres, you can spend a week here and barely scratch the surface.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler is no mere ski town; the entire place is laid out to encourage walking (or a short bus ride) from lodging to lift, a stroll through a wonderland village that people visit with no intention of skiing — content to visit boutique shops, fine-dining restaurants, cozy bars, bumping nightclubs, a movie theater or the outdoor ice rink. Whistler has the crowds and costs to match these amenities, but everyone — from the nonskier to the wannabe extra in a Warren Miller movie — returns home happy. Pro tip: Don’t get discouraged by rain in the village. Stay dry in the gondola and know that means it’s snowing up high.

Distance from Seattle: 218 miles (approximately 4 hours, border crossing can vary)
Open for the season: Yes
Lift tickets: CA$212-$299 for adults; CA$106-$150 for ages 7 to 12; CA$180-$254 for ages 13 to 18; CA$191-$269 for ages 65-plus
Vertical rise: 5,283 feet
Amenities/other activities: Everything you can imagine or reasonably expect from a ski resort and then some, like a Scandinavian day spa, Olympic-class cross-country skiing, dog sledding and bobsled track.
Getting there: Must have proper ID to cross the U.S.-Canada border (passport, green card, NEXUS card, Washington Enhanced Driver’s License). M+S or winter tires required on Sea to Sky Highway under penalty of fine. Check DriveBC.ca before you go. Regular bus service to and from Vancouver International Airport and downtown, plus reliable free and paid local bus service throughout Whistler.
Deals/special pricing: Included on Vail Epic Pass. Washington residents eligible for Edge Card offering discounted two-, five- and 10-day options (must have purchased before Dec. 3).
Challenge level: Something for everyone — enormous learning area, endless groomed runs, huge terrain parks, ample glades, extreme alpine runs.
Adaptive program: Yes, through Whistler Adaptive Sports Program

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White Pass Ski Area

48935 Highway 12, Naches, Yakima County; 509-672-3101; skiwhitepass.com

What it’s known for: A sleeper resort with stunning views

A sleeper ski area most popular with South Sound residents, White Pass nevertheless starts at 4,500 feet, higher even than Stevens Pass. Like Crystal, the resort boasts stunning panoramic views of Mount Rainier — in this case, of the mountain’s south side. A 2011 expansion (some 30 years in the making) has largely eliminated clogged lift lines, and an on-mountain yurt makes for a cozy midday cocoa or beer break. With a charming inn and a growing nordic center, White Pass is an overlooked overnight destination.

Distance from Seattle: 146 miles (approximately 3 hours)
Open for the season: Yes
Season pass: Unrestricted (valid any day ski area is open, sold out), off-peak (midweek except holidays, weekend included from March 24), Indy Pass (two days), Powder Alliance (purchase a season pass and get three days at 21 other resorts)
Lift tickets: $85 for adults; free for ages 8 and under and ages 73 and up, plus $25 one-time processing fee; $57 for ages 9-16
Vertical rise: 2,050 feet
Amenities/other activities: Night skiing on Saturdays and holidays through end of February, tubing hill, nordic center, snowshoe trails, rentals, tuning and repair, gear shop, ski school, one on-site hotel, two on-mountain eateries, two lodge restaurants, espresso bar, pub, RV lot
Getting there: Highway 12 is a multilane state highway over a mountain pass. Carry chains — they can be required under penalty of fine. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation website (wsdot.com) before you go for chain requirements and traction tire advisories.
Deals/special pricing: Holders of Summit at Snoqualmie Unlimited Pass get 50% off lift tickets Monday through Friday (excluding holidays); $35 for beginner areas only, $30 for night skiing only. Discounts for active duty military.
Challenge level: A cruiser’s paradise with lots of intermediate runs, including mellow bowl skiing.
Adaptive program: No

Gregory Scruggs: gscruggs@seattletimes.com; Gregory Scruggs is the outdoors reporter at The Seattle Times.