Crystal Mountain Ski Vacations

If you are searching for a place to ski in or near the state of Washington, then a good option is Crystal Mountain. As a matter of fact, it is Washington’s only alpine ski resort. Seated just below Mount Rainier (which has a top elevation of 14,408 feet) 76 miles southeast of Seattle, the mountain tops out at just over 7,000 feet and has a vertical drop of 3102 feet.

Ski season lasts between the months of mid-November and mid-April (that is, as long as there’s no avalanche danger), during which several feet of fresh powder falls on the mountain due to the cold Cascade storms that frequent Crystal Mountain. You can even often find a full 12 feet of snow at the summit.

This area has much rough terrain, so most of the slopes are better for advanced skiers who find that these thrilling slopes are unparalleled. As a matter of fact, about half of the runs, which span over 2,300 acres, are for experts. While this destination is geared towards experts, there are lessons for beginners

If you are ready for the black diamond trails, but your kids aren’t, then you can register them in the Kid’s Club. It is open from 8am to 4pm each day for children between the ages of four to eleven. The kids aged will be supervised while they ski on a ‘kid appropriate’ slope, and snowboarding is also available for children between the ages of seven and 11 years old. Your child will have fun, while being supervised and taught. The cost of the care includes lunch, a lift ticket, a four hour lesson, and supervision. Rental equipment is available for the kids for an additional fee.

The base area lodging accommodates 700 guests, and there are rentals for skis as well as other equipment. Crystal Mountain has fifty trails, which can be accessed from its ten lifts: three double chairs, two high speed six passenger lifts, two high speed quads, two triple chairs, and one children’s surface lift.

There are also several other places to choose from for your lodging, and the area has a bit of nightly entertainment and dining venues as well. But the biggest attraction is the skiing; it is the spot where expert skiers up and down the coast flock to for exciting skiing.

After a day of skiing, you should definitely head over to East Peak Massage & Fitness to enjoy a nice relaxing sauna or hot tub. There you can also take showers and have fun in the game room. You can even get a massage with a reservation.

At Crystal Mountain there’s a convenient service available: The Crystal Mountain Express Bus service, which typically runs from mid-November to mid-March. You will be picked up from your lodge where you can enjoy a luxury coach bus ride and then you will be dropped off at the base plaza. From here you can take on a fun day at the slopes.

Everyone has fun at Crystal Mountain, but again, the slopes are more for intermediate and expert skiers – although beginners can have fun as well. Just use good sense on the slopes here, and make sure to avoid trails that you don’t feel like your ready for.