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A Skier’s Four-Season Guide to the Washington Cascades

By Lily Krass

If you’re trying to knock out a full calendar year of skiing, it’s hard to deny the Washington Cascades are a worthy place to be. Frothy, bottomless days in the winter compliment a stellar spring season when the sun pops back out. Then the snow sticks around up high through the summer.

But the Pacific Northwest isn’t just a skiing paradise. Endless shoulder-season activities help keep you active and quench your thirst for adventure year-round. No single blog post can cover the breadth of landscapes, hideouts, playgrounds, and vistas this region serves up. But whether you’re a longtime Northwest native or a traveler looking to explore new places, this guide will get you started.  

guide to the washington cascades
Rugged glaciers, lush greenery, volcanoes—the appeal of the Washington Cascades extends beyond ski season. | PHOTO: Lily Krass

Fall

I’ve always thought of fall as Outdoor Enthusiast Hype Season. When the first snow lands in the mountains, you feel like a 10-year-old on Christmas morning. Chinook and Cayuse Pass (on the West side of Mount Rainier National Park) close from late November through the end of May, but if the snow starts to fall a little earlier, it can be a great place to sneak up high for some early season turns.

Got wheels? Bikers enjoy full-on Hero Dirt when the trails strike that perfect balance of moisture and sunshine. Pedal right out of downtown Bellingham, and spend an afternoon at the Galbraith Bike Park. With 50 miles of singletrack over 3,000 acres, Galbraith has something for everyone, from fast flow trails to adrenaline-inducing jump lines.

On foot, hikers and trail runners relish crisp afternoons when vibrant changing leaves refract the sun’s rays. For miles of golden foliage, hit the Skyline Divide Trail in the Mount Baker Wilderness. It’s one of Washington’s most scenic trails, especially in autumn. Run through colorful meadows filled with wildflowers, and soak in views of the tall peaks you’ll be skiing come springtime.

guide to the washington cascades
From Seattle, an hour’s drive in any direction will take you someplace cool. | PHOTO: Lily Krass

Winter

Rain down low (hopefully) means snow up high. That’s the mantra that gets city dwellers through quiet, grey winters in the Cascades, anyway. We may not have 300 days of sunshine like the Centennial State, but resorts in Washington boast some of the highest snow totals in the world.

In-Bounds Pick: Crystal Mountain

Just two hours from Seattle, Crystal offers the most skiable terrain—2,600 lift-served acres—in Washington. A base-to-summit gondola drops skiers in front of a postcard view of Mount Rainier.

The High Campbell lift—more often referred to as Chair 6—is the place to go if you like steep terrain and are willing to work for it. Hop off the lift and traverse skier’s right across Campbell Basin. Drop into the bowl to end up right back at the lift, or continue on to hike the Throne. Here, a quick bootpack gets you to Southback, Crystal’s legendary in-bounds hike-to terrain. A trip into Southback involves a rollercoaster of tight traverses, sidestepping, and bootpacking. Then there’s the long, flat traverse back out. Wide open bowls, steep chutes, glades, and cornice hucks make it worth the trip. (Southback is controlled, in-bounds terrain, but ski patrol recommends carrying avalanche gear and travelling with a partner.)

skiing crystal mountain southback
Crystal Mountain’s Southback area is no joke. | PHOTO: Lily Krass

Evening libations? Hit the Snorting Elk Bar. If you’re into the #vanlife thing, score a spot in B Lot, where a tight knit community of skiers may just clue you in to more stashes.

Not to be forgotten: Summit at Snoqualmie/Alpental and Mount Baker

If you’re looking for something a little closer to home, the Summit at Snoqualmie and Alpental are only about 50 miles from Seattle. You get a nice variety of terrain plus night skiing. A slightly smaller resort, the freezing level definitely comes into play here. But when it’s on, Alpental boasts world-class steep skiing and backcountry access that rivals the bigger resorts around.

Up toward the Canadian border, Mount Baker is a small locally owned resort with a reputation for uber-deep snow. Baker holds the world record for most snowfall in a single season—1,140 inches in 1998-9. It’s not uncommon to spend a good chunk of the day in the white room. If the sun pops out while you’re there (it does happen, I promise), you’ll get a glimpse of “The Arm,” a steep ridgeline of backcountry terrain that snakes up Mount Shuksan. Easily accessible from the top of Chair 8, the Shuksan Arm seduces plenty of skiers from the comforts of the resort to the exposed spines and high-consequence terrain that most folks have only seen in the movies.

In many ski destinations, locals hide stashes like their lives depend on it. But in the Northwest, how-to and where-to information is pretty easy to come by. The website Turns All Year gives you year-round insight, with trip reports organized by each month. If you’re heading out and need some tips, it’s a great resource for trip planning.

skiing mount baker washington cascades
Year in and year out, Mount Baker sees some of the most snow of any mountain in the States. | PHOTO: Lily Krass

Spring

For adventure skiers in the Northwest, springtime means one thing—volcano season. Washington has five major active volcanoes that flaunt incredible ski descents. There are routes for all experience levels. 

Mount Adams

Skiing the Southwest Chutes off Mount Adams may be the most fun you can have on skis when the resorts close. This route is not glaciated, making it a popular ascent for less experienced volcano skiers—although the 7,000-foot slog up is no cake walk. The Southwest Chutes drop off the false summit of Adams and deliver 4,000 feet of sustained 35-40-degree corn skiing. Skiers typically do the trip in one or two days.

Mount Baker

A stellar ski with some glacier navigation thrown in, Mount Baker is a great stepping stone if you’ve got your sights set on Rainier. The Coleman-Deming is the most common ski route in the spring, winding up through gentle glaciers and then straight up the steep Roman Wall. If conditions line up, enjoy 8,000 feet of skiing all the way back down to the car.

If you think you’ve got the fitness but not the glacier skills, Pro Guiding Service in North Bend offers the “Mount Baker Bullet Train.” The goal: climb and ski the route in a single day.

Mount Rainier

The most prized objective in the state and the most complex glaciated terrain in the Lower 48. Mount Rainier draws mountaineers from around the world. While many visit Rainier to hone their mountaineering skills for bigger objectives, the ski itself is something to aspire to.

The classic Emmons route offers a slightly more remote feel than the crowded Disappointment Cleaver, approaching the crater rim from the Northeast instead of the Southeast. The route climbs about 10,000 feet, and skiers usually spend the night at Camp Schurmann (9,640 feet).

skiing mount rainier washington
For serious ski mountaineers, Mount Rainier is arguably the gold-standard for objectives in the Lower 48. | PHOTO: Lily Krass

Summer

Thanks to the Northwest’s maritime snowpack, snow sticks around for a while. If you’re still jonesing for turns come August, the Muir Snowfield in Mount Rainier National Park is your best bet. It may be sloppy and rifled with sun cups, but hey, you’re skiing in summer.

There are always scraps of snow to sniff out during the hotter months, but Washington’s mountain biking and hiking trails come into prime form in the summer.

Get your adrenaline fix at Stevens Pass Bike Park. Progressive jump lines and fast, flowy descents make you whoop and holler like you’re ripping turns through chest-deep pow.

If you can get a permit, a backpacking trip through the Enchantments should be on every hiker’s bucket list. Near Leavenworth, the Enchantments are a true gem of the Northwest. Smooth granite contrasts jagged ridges that lurch toward the sky. The turquoise-blue lakes are some of the most striking in the state. If you can’t snag a permit through the lottery system, a thru hike is a viable option, since you only need a permit to camp overnight. Point to point, it’s about 20 miles of pretty rough hiking with 4,500 feet of climbing and 6,500 feet of descending. The jaw-dropping scenery will quickly soothe your tired legs.

guide to the washington cascades
The Enchantments hardly need a description. | PHOTO: Lily Krass

Ready to book your trip to Seattle? Good news: Any time of the year is the right time.

Speaking of the Northwest—make sure you ski Alaska before you die

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