Best of Washington
Best Ski Resorts in Washington 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in Washington are 49° North Mountain Resort (52 km), Three Summits (43 km) and Crystal Mountain (39 km). The highest is Crystal Mountain, with runs from 2,072 m (6,798 ft); the biggest vertical is at Crystal Mountain (728 m); and Mt. Spokane has the largest share of easy terrain (30%).
| Resort | Top elevation | Vertical | Mapped runs | Easy terrain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49° North Mountain Resort | 1,760 m | 570 m | 52 km | 29% | source |
| Three Summits | 1,385 m | 719 m | 43 km | 21% | source |
| Crystal Mountain | 2,072 m | 728 m | 39 km | 16% | source |
| Mt. Spokane | 1,783 m | 602 m | 36 km | 30% | source |
| White Pass Ski Area | 1,987 m | 620 m | 36 km | 30% | source |
| Mission Ridge | 2,066 m | 665 m | 33 km | 9% | source |
| Stevens Pass Ski Area | 1,727 m | 561 m | 30 km | 16% | source |
| Mt Baker | 1,556 m | 450 m | 23 km | 21% | source |
Highest ski resorts in Washington
Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in Washington.
Crystal Mountain: 2,072 m (6,798 ft) →Mission Ridge: 2,066 m (6,778 ft) →White Pass Ski Area: 1,987 m (6,519 ft) →Mt. Spokane: 1,783 m (5,850 ft) →49° North Mountain Resort: 1,760 m (5,774 ft) →Biggest vertical drop
Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.
Crystal Mountain: 728 m vertical →Three Summits: 719 m vertical →Mission Ridge: 665 m vertical →White Pass Ski Area: 620 m vertical →Mt. Spokane: 602 m vertical →Best for beginners (most easy terrain)
Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.
Mt. Spokane: 30% easy (36 km total) →White Pass Ski Area: 30% easy (36 km total) →49° North Mountain Resort: 29% easy (52 km total) →Three Summits: 21% easy (43 km total) →Mt Baker: 21% easy (23 km total) →How we chose
“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 8 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in Washington. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.
All ski resorts in Washington →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest ski resort in Washington?
By mapped runs, 49° North Mountain Resort, with about 52 km and 7 lifts.
What is the highest ski resort in Washington?
Crystal Mountain, with mapped runs starting at about 2,072 m (6,798 ft).
Which Washington ski resort is best for beginners?
By share of easy terrain, Mt. Spokane (30% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.
Official sources
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.