It’s boarding season here in the pacific northwest and my friends and I are all patiently waiting to hit the mountains just about every weekend. If you’re new to the area, Washington has a ton of places to go but finding the perfect experience for you can be a little daunting. So as requested via Instagram, here are my top 3 ski/snowboarding resorts you should check out and why.
Mt. Baker Ski Area
This little slice of heaven isn’t too close to Seattle, but instead north of Bellingham in Northern Washington. In my opinion, it’s worth the drive. The Mt. Baker Ski Area shares a border with North Cascades National Park, and the 1,000 acres of skiable terrain. The views are not only beautiful, but this park tends to be less crowed from my personal experience. The park caters to both the beginner boarder, back-country expert and the lounging-rather-be-drinking guest. I quickly learned that this mountain was filled with some really talented snowboarders and skiers, and over the years I have seen some awesome events take place there. From Ski Swaps, Music on the Mountain, competitions and more, the energy on Baker is not like any other mountain.
Overall Mt. Baker is my #1 mountain for a young adult atmosphere, groomed routes and extensive tree lines, plus a large terrain park.
Adult Season Pass: $755
Student Season Pass: $655
Adult Daily Lift Ticket: $54 - $60
Youth Daily Lift Ticket: $37 - $38
Official site: http://www.mtbaker.us/
Address: Mt Baker Hwy, Deming, WA 98244
2. Crystal Mountain Resort
Looking for a breath taking view of Mt. Rainer? You will get that and a lot more. I promise you’ll be blown away with all the sights Crystal Mountain Resort has to offer. Located just under two hours from Seattle and Bellevue, Cristal Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the state if Washington. Shred 2,600 acres, take 10 different chairlifts and a personal favorite, one eight-passenger gondola ride to tippy top.
Crystal ranks #2 on my list for its groomed routs, watering hole options and the ability to escape the crowds and find your own run pretty much anywhere you turn.
Adult Season IKON Pass: $999
Youth Season IKON pass: $819
Adult Daily Lift Ticket: $79-$99
Youth Daily Lift Ticket: $59 - $69
Child (0-10): Free
Official site: https://crystalmountainresort.com/
Address: 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd, Enumclaw, Washington
3. Stevens Pass Resort
A little closer to city life, Stevens Pass Resort is about 83 miles out of Seattle. It hits #3 on my list for its wide variety of runs, 37 to be exact. With 10 high-speed chairlifts, you have over 1,200 acres to explore. My friends and I have a blast hopping from one run to the next. A great place for a large group and making new friends, Stevens has a wide variety of dining and drinking options. Safe to say it always feels like a party at Stevens.
I would say it’s a pretty popular spot for its clean runs but also the convince to the city population keeps this park pretty full.
Adult Season Pass: $755
Student Season Pass: $655
Adult Daily Lift Ticket: $54 - $60
Youth Daily Lift Ticket: $37 - $38
Official site: https://www.stevenspass.com/site
Address: US-2, Skykomish, WA 98288
I personally still have many more mountains to explore myself. To name a few that are highly recommended by my friends, Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort in Wenatchee Washington and White Pass Ski Area in Lewis Country are now on the must see list. Do you have a recommendations? I’d love to hear! Comment below.