#27 in Best Ski Resorts in the USA
Less than an hour east of Seattle, The Summit at Snoqualmie – known as “Seattle’s Home Mountain” – was once made up of four individual ski resorts.
But it’s now a 1,914 acre ski area that gets about 435 at its lowest elevation base to 600 inches of snowfall annually at its highest Alpental base in its Snoqualmie Pass location, in the heart of Washington’s Cascade ranges.
The Summit at Snoqualmie boasts the most night skiing in the U.S., with 541 acres in three mountain areas open after 4 p.m. There is also a 20-lane tubing park, three satellite terrain parks along with two core parks at the ski area and 23 trails set aside for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The Summit at Snoqualmie has a Ski & Snowboard School that offers private and group lessons for kids and families as well as a Kids Corral half-day package and a Kids Club half-day package for a variety of ages. The resort has a ski and snowboard rental shop that offers a season rental pass, and there are numerous rental operations nearby, on the pass – some like Chair Two, specialize in snowboard rentals. The Summit at Snoqualmie is an Ikon Pass destination. There is slopeside dining here, though no resort accommodation.
The season usually begins in early December and runs through April. Snowmaking covers only five acres here. Some say the best time to ski and snowboard at The Summit at Snoqualmie is in January when lower temperatures mean more snow and less chance of rain, and holiday crowds can be avoided.
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The Summit at Snoqualmie does not offer resort accommodation, but there is a number of lodging options nearby. About 30 minutes from the resort is the Salish Lodge & Spa, an elegant retreat about half-way from Seattle. Each room has either a spa shower or an oversized soaking tub as well as robes and a gas fireplace ( www.salishlodge.com ). Ski and Stay packages are available at the Snowcap Lodge, as well as hot cider and fresh cookies on arrival in this affordable boutique-style hotel, also about 30 minutes from The Summit’s bases ( www.snowcaplodge.com ). For larger groups, Suncadia has everything from studios to one and two-bedroom suites and penthouses in its multi-option resort ( www.destinationhotels.com ).
The Summit at Snoqualmie has a surprising variety of basic dining options, for hungry skiers, all near or on The Summit’s bases. For tacos and made to order burritos, stop in at Rosita’s, at the Summit West base. Up at the Alpental base, the Backcountry Bar offers pizza by the slice as well as brews on tap and spirits. At the Summit West, Big Air has barbecue platters and smoked Alaskan Salmon specials, as well as a small beer garden serving local brews ( www.summitatsnoqualmie.com ).
By air, the closest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a major West Coast hub with regular flights arriving daily. There is a shuttle service from the airport to The Summit at Snoqualmie, as well as car rental counters.
Driving, The Summit at Snoqualmie is just under an hour east of Seattle, via the I-90.
While having a vehicle will give guests the most flexibility, there is also a free shuttle that transports guests between the different base areas, from Tuesday to Sunday through the winter season.
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Stevens Pass
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Crystal Mountain
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White Pass
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Vertical Drop (ft) | 1,800 | 3,100 | 2,050 |
Skiable Area (ac) | 450 | 348 | 350 |
Number of Trails | 52 | 57 | 47 |
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