Listed below is Washington's most comprehensive ski resort guide with 15 ski resorts. The highest point in Washington is Mount Rainier 14,410 ft. high, and the lowest point is the Pacific Ocean at sea level. Washington's climate varies greatly from west to east is best described as a mild oceanic climate in the west, and a much drier climate prevails in the east.
49 Degrees North features a vertical drop of 1846 feet, wide-open groomed cruising, mogul runs, back-country adventure, gladed tree skiing, snowboard terrain, cross-country trails, and special beginner runs spread over 1,100 acres. A new quad chair lift was added last year, opening up new terain - Sunrise Basin.
Badger Mountain serves the community of Waterville, Washington. Badger is run completely by volunteers. The rope tows are run by old automobile engines; a local farmer owns a hopped-up tracker that acts as a snowcat, and the city owns the hill.
Crystal Mountain is the largest ski area in Washington with at total of 2,600 acres and 57 named runs. Crystal Mountain offers stunning views of Mt. Rainier from the summit. It is famous for the cold Cascade storms that can dump several feet of fresh snow anytime from November through April.
Echo Valley is the place for winter recreation in the Lake Chelan Valley. Families have been skiing at Echo Valley for several generations and visitors to the valley love our friendly, family atmosphere. From skiing to snow tubing, it's all here at Echo Valley. Echo Valley has a vertical drop of 1846 feet over 1100 skiable acres and 42 trails.
The Hurricane Ridge Ski Area is located in the beautiful Olympic National Park. Rising a mile high, Hurricane Ridge offers spectacular winter recreation and activities here on the North Olympic Peninsula, featuring winter vistas unmatched anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Hurricane Ridge is family oriented ski area, offering to Olympic Peninsula residents and visitors a quality winter sports experience.
Leavanworth Winter Sports Club has been facilitating winter recreation in Leavenworth area. Traditionally the 'base' of our operations has been up at the 'Ski Hill' where today we offer two rope tows, a Nordic jumping hill, a tubing hill, and 8km of Nordic trails of which 5 are lighted for night skiing.
Leavanworth Winter Sports Club has had most of its growth and success in the establishment of world class Nordic skiing since the mid-1990's, and currently maintains 26km of trails at 3 locations in the valley - the Icicle River Trails, the Golf Course Trails, and the Ski Hill.
Loup Loup has 1,240 vertical feet with 10 major runs ranging from beginner to expert trails. The Loup Loup keeps all its skiers and snowboarders satisfied. The hill is serviced by a Poma Quad chair lift.
Another Poma surface lift and beginner rope tow give snow lovers a chance to practice their skills off the beaten path. Runs are groomed nightly by tiller-equipped snow cats, with plenty of off-pique adventure just outside the major runs. The Loup Loup also provides 25k of groomed cross-country trails from beginner to expert to telemark, with another 50k only 5 minutes away.
Mission Ridge resort boasts 2100 acres of skiable terrain with 35 trails, making it one the largest in Washington. Ninety percent of the resort is rated blue or black in difficulty. Bowls, glades and chutes can be found all over the mountain. An interesting historical note to Mission Ridge is the fact that a B-24 Liberator Bomber crashed at the resort and it is memorialized at the entrance to the Bomber Bowl run.
Mt. Baker ski area sits at the edge of the wilderness in the heart of the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State. One of North America's top resorts for snowfall, Mt. Baker Ski Area receives an average of over 600 inches of snow each year.
Over 1,000 acres of terrain are serviced by eight chair lifts and two lodges. The White Salmon Day Lodge offers a spectacular view of 9,720-foot Mt. Shuksan and the surrounding Cascade mountains. Head to Mt. Baker for steep chutes, natural half-pipes, plenty of tree skiing and spectacular scenery.
The Sitzmark Ski area is located on Havillah road near Tonasket, Washington. Sitzmark has a chair lift and a 660 vertical foot ski run with an elevation of 4,950 ft. The Sitzmark Ski area promotes good "family fun" with many family oriented events.
Ideally situated in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington, Bluewood has a vertical drop off 1126 ft with the second highest base elevation in Washington State and is renowned for its clear skies and dry powder, while receiving an average snowfall of more the 300 inches annually.
Stevens Pass has the most diverse terrain; most lighted nighttime acreage in Washington state. The terrain ranges from expert only, double black diamond chutes and couloirs to smooth, wide open cruising runs for all levels of skiers and riders. The geographical elevation of Stevens in the North Central Cascades combined with dry wind from the east and 415" of annual snowfall mean the conditions are consistently top-notch.
The Summit at Snoqualime is located less than a hour from Seattle. The Summit consists of four mountains -- Summit Central, Summit East, Summit West and Alpental -- each with its own appeal. The monster among them is Alpental, best suited to advanced and expert skiers with its 50% advanced terrain.
Located in Washington's Cascade Mountains with the highest base elevation on the Cascade crest at 4,500 ft, White Pass was named one of the 10 "Best in the West" ski areas by Outside Magazine. They strike a perfect balance between pulse quickening steeps, wide open cruisers, and gentle learning areas, with 20% of the terrain geared toward experts, 60% toward intermediates, and 20% toward beginners.
