Skiing in Washington State during the winter months creates the perfect opportunity to visit the ski resort Crystal Mountain. If you are in or near Washington State, you should definitely pay a visit. With a top elevation of 7012 feet (2137m) and a vertical drop of 3100 feet (940m), Crystal Mountain sits below Mount Rainier, which has a top elevation of 14,408 feet.

There is superb snowfall on Crystal Mountain between the months of November and April, when several feet of fresh powder can be relied upon to fall due to the cold Cascade storms common to this area and this makes a visit to this excellent Washington State ski area a wonderful treat.

Crystal Mountain provides stunning views of Mount Rainer which towers a further 7,000 feet into the sky above Crystal Mountain’s summit. With over 2,300 acres of prime skiing real estate you will find all types of skiing and with such a large expanse Crystal Mountain boasts the largest ski area in Washington State.

Of particular appeal to advanced and intermediate skiers who will enjoy 87% of all runs, there are some 7 runs for beginners which amounts to a generous variety for all levels. Intermediates are best catered for with 57% of all runs and of all the runs the very longest is called Northway and stretches for 2.5 miles or 4km.

There is a lift capacity of over 20,000 passengers per hour with 2 high speed six-passenger lifts, 2 high speed quads, 2 triple chairs, 4 double chairs and a child’s surface lift. This is challenging terrain and therefore there is less on offer for beginners as this area really caters for the more advanced skier. Despite this bias towards the more experienced skier, lessons are available and there is rental available for skis and other equipment.

There is a Kids Club that is open from 8am to 4pm each day for children aged four to eleven years old. They will be well looked after while the experts in the family explore the remainder of the resort and experience the thrill of skiing the black diamond runs. The Kids Club supervises skiing on the appropriate slopes for their charges and there is also snowboarding available for children aged 7 – 11 years old. Children will learn while having fun and being supervised on the slopes while the remainder of the party can enjoy the challenging terrain that this Washington ski resort offers.

Crystal Mountain has two back country areas in addition to the main areas of the resort and they can be reached only by hiking. The back country areas form extreme terrain and therefore the ski patrol has special restrictions and rules in place. North Backcountry does have some trails which have been cut through the trees although it is predominantly covered in woodland which in places is closely packed.

The season runs from the middle of November to the middle of April, when the best snow fall is experienced. There are many places to choose for lodging, meals and evening entertainment. After a day of skiing, you should definitely head over to East Peak Massage & Fitness to take advantage of the hot tub, sauna, showers and even the games room. Massages are available with a reservation. In the summer of 2004, Crystal built the Campbell Basin Lodge, a Cascade-style lodge serving pasta, pizza, soups, teriyaki, burgers, salads, Mexican food and more.

The whole family will be able to enjoy a great skiing vacation in Washington State. Although the slopes are more suited to skiers of intermediate and advanced abilities, beginners can still enjoy themselves providing care is taken to choose a trail which is not beyond their capabilities.

One of the very best reasons to visit Washington State during the winter months is to experience the sensational ski resort of Crystal Mountain. Poised below the imposing Mount Rainer which towers to over 14,000 feet, Crystal Mountain enjoys a top elevation of over 7,000 feet and a vertical drop over over 3000 feet.

There is superb snowfall on Crystal Mountain between the months of November and April, when several feet of fresh powder can be relied upon to fall due to the cold Cascade storms common to this area and this makes a visit to this excellent Washington State ski area a wonderful treat.

Crystal Mountain provides stunning views of Mount Rainer which towers a further 7,000 feet into the sky above Crystal Mountain’s summit. With over 2,300 acres of prime skiing real estate you will find all types of skiing and with such a large expanse Crystal Mountain boasts the largest ski area in Washington State.

Of particular appeal to advanced and intermediate skiers who will enjoy 87% of all runs, there are some 7 runs for beginners which amounts to a generous variety for all levels. Intermediates are best catered for with 57% of all runs and of all the runs the very longest is called Northway and stretches for 2.5 miles or 4km.

There is a lift capacity of over 20,000 passengers per hour with 2 high speed six-passenger lifts, 2 high speed quads, 2 triple chairs, 4 double chairs and a child’s surface lift. This is challenging terrain and therefore there is less on offer for beginners as this area really caters for the more advanced skier. Despite this bias towards the more experienced skier, lessons are available and there is rental available for skis and other equipment.

There is a Kids Club that is open from 8am to 4pm each day for children aged four to eleven years old. They will be well looked after while the experts in the family explore the remainder of the resort and experience the thrill of skiing the black diamond runs. The Kids Club supervises skiing on the appropriate slopes for their charges and there is also snowboarding available for children aged 7 – 11 years old. Children will learn while having fun and being supervised on the slopes while the remainder of the party can enjoy the challenging terrain that this Washington ski resort offers.

In addition to the main regions of the resort, Crystal has two back country areas which are accessible only by hiking. It is extreme terrain and the ski patrol has some rules and restrictions for these areas. North Backcountry is mostly covered with thick trees but some trails are cut through the trees.

Crystal Mountain is able to rely on the seasonal predictability of the snow cover which which lasts from the middle of November to the middle of April. With a wide variety of establishments offering meals, lodging and entertainment, the visitor is also able to enjoy saunas, hot tubs, showers and games rooms at East Peak Massage & Fitness. For a massage it is necessary to make a reservation. Those who enjoy burgers, Mexican food, pizza, pasta and salad should enjoy a visit to the Campbell Basin Lodge which was built in the summer of 2004.

Catering for all abilities, Crystal Mountain in Washington State undeniably offers the most to intermediate and advanced skiers. In spite of this, there are still numerous options for beginners. The most important requirement is that beginners take care not to stray onto trails that are beyond their capabilities as this area does aim to provide challenges to the more experienced skier.