Crystal Mountain

Washington's Premier Alpine Destination

Crystal Mountain stands as Washington State's largest ski resort, commanding an impressive 2,600 acres of diverse terrain with over 80 named runs spread across multiple peaks and basins in the heart of the Cascade Range. Located just two hours from Seattle on the northeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park, Crystal Mountain offers some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in North America. From the summit, visitors are treated to breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Rainier and, on clear days, all five of Washington's majestic volcanoes. The resort's iconic Mt. Rainier Gondola, Washington's only high-speed gondola, provides year-round access to these stunning vistas and the state's highest-elevation restaurant, the Summit House, perched at nearly 7,000 feet. With an average annual snowfall of 486 inches and a vertical drop exceeding 3,100 feet, Crystal Mountain delivers world-class skiing and riding conditions from early November through late spring.

Six Decades of Mountain Excellence

Crystal Mountain's story began in the mid-1950s when passionate skiers scouted the Cascade backcountry for the perfect location to develop a ski area. After presenting their proposal to the U.S. Forest Service in 1955, the resort officially opened in December 1962 with two double chairlifts and quickly made national headlines by hosting the 1965 National Alpine Championships, drawing legendary skiers including Jean-Claude Killy. The resort experienced transformational growth under Boyne Resorts' ownership beginning in 1997, which brought significant capital improvements including high-speed chairlifts and the landmark Campbell Basin Lodge in 2004. The 2007 installation of the Northway lift marked a pivotal expansion, opening 468 acres of former backcountry terrain and increasing the resort's skiable area by 70%. Acquired by Alterra Mountain Company in 2018, Crystal Mountain continues its tradition of excellence with terrain that spans from gentle beginner slopes to the legendary steep chutes and deep powder of the Northway area, all while maintaining its authentic mountain culture epitomized by the famous Snorting Elk après-ski bar.