Crystal Mountain Ski Resort

Crystal Mountain is our favorite ski resort to visit in the area. Read about activities you can do while there and info you need to know before you go.

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Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
Near Mount Rainier National Park
Ashford, Washington
Crystal Mountain is the closest ski resort to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, at just an hour and a half drive. It is also the largest ski resort in the state of Washington. Crystal Mountain offers lessons and rentals on site. I highly suggest getting rentals before arriving at the resort, this will save you a lot of time waiting in line and usually is cheaper off site.
View Crystal Mountain’s website HERE.
View info about rentals HERE.
View info about lessons HERE.

If you have a pass that gets you on the lift for free, you have to make a reservation the day you plan to go. If you need to purchase a lift ticket, then you purchase your lift ticket online for the day you’d like to visit, and then you do NOT need to make a reservation. Lift tickets for the day run about $90-110 per adult.
Read more info about lift tickets and reservations HERE.

There are multiple lodges at Crystal Mountain. In the area where the ski lifts are, there is nowhere to sit and hangout inside. There are benches in the locker areas but that’s about it. Dogs are not allowed in the ski area or inside here.

There are a few different restaurants on site but all are grab and go except the The Fireside Cantina does have covered outdoor seating with fire pits. There are also picnic tables on the other side for more seating (no fire pits). The Cantina had some really good food and fabulous drinks.
View dining options at Crystal Mountain HERE.

As I mentioned before, Crystal Mountain is the largest ski resort in Washington. There are over 50 runs and at least 8-10 lifts. While there were quite a few people at the resort when we went, everyone is very spread out on the lifts and trails. We did not have lines for any lifts.

We as a family like to stick to green runs. I will say that there were a couple green runs that were more like blue. So if you are a beginner, ask someone that works at the resort the best runs for beginners, they will know. We had a blast skiing the long greens down the mountain.
View the trail map HERE.

Face masks are required in all public areas of the resort and while waiting for the lifts. Masks are NOT required when you are skiing though.
Read about COVID safety precautions at the resort HERE.

The Gondola is a nice break from skiing that offers a gorgeous view. The Gondola is open in the summer as well. The gondola does have access to trails so lots of people take it to board or ski, we took it to explore the top and take in the views. If you’d like to come just to see the snow, they do offer tickets just for the gondola.
Read more info about the scenic gondola HERE.

The gondola is completely enclosed and has seats. You will only be seated inside with your party.

At the top, you’ll find a very brisk cold. The kind of stinging cold wind that takes your breath away. The view will also though. Unfortunately the day we went it was cloudy, but Mount Rainier is usually visible behind these.

The view was beautiful even without Rainier, but she would’ve been right there.

There is a restaurant at the top also. There are a few tables and chairs outdoors for seating. They close early though so make sure to make it for lunch, a drink or early afternoon snack.
Read about Summit House Restaurant HERE.

After taking in the views and snapping some photos, we headed back down on the gondola.

A few other notes: There are multiple parking lots and they do have a tram that runs to each of them and will pick you up and take you right up to the lift ticket windows. We hit a little bit of traffic off the mountain coming through Buckley but it was only about 20-30 minutes.

Finding the fun everywhere life takes us!
Love, Olivia Michelle