Overview

White Pass Ski Area is located 12 miles southeast of Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington.  From Portland, it's about a three-hour trip. The resort offers 32 trails covering three different levels of skill—beginner, intermediate, advanced. 

With 1,500 of vertical, there is plenty of mountain to explore and plenty of terrain to cover, whether that entails aerial jumps, boarding through the trees, or beating your own time down the mountain. 

White Pass’ base elevation starts at 4,500 feet, climbing 6,000 feet to the summit where spectacular views await you on a sunny day with a clear sky.  With one quad, one triple, two doubles, and a surface lift, White Pass can accommodate up to 6,500 people per hour.

The Terrain

White Pass offers several different kinds of terrain to choose from if you don’t like staying on the "beaten path."  Some prefer the adrenaline pumping danger of going through dense trees, while others like the simple jumps and bumps to ride over and gain valuable aerial skill.  In any case, White Pass offers more than ample options for any taste in riding.

After first coming off the main lift to the top of the mountain, the Great White Express, there is the perfect opportunity to gain some excellent jumping experience and skill. 

Heading down to your left just before the map post, you can take a right and cut across to Holiday. The short 300-foot crossover offers some moguls, a few small jumps, and a large jump halfway through that promises big air at the right speeds.  A great start to the rest of the mountain!

Starting back up at the top and taking a left again before the map post, continue straight until you find the “Y” in the trail.  Taking the “Y” to the left, you’ll find yourself on Tucker.  Halfway down, there is a cutoff back to Holiday. 

Taking this will provide you with ample jumps and challenges as you try to make your way to Holiday with enough speed to carry you across the flat spots. 

Boarders should be aware of the fact that to get to the other side, you are going to need some serious momentum, and that will mean landing a few good jumps on your way down.  If no one else is in the middle of the trail, you have just experienced one of the most complex trails to get through on the mountain.

If the need for speed and air hasn’t hit the spot with your adrenal glands, tree skiing/boarding should do the trick. 

Once again at the top of the mountain, go straight of the lift to the right of the map post.  Take the trail to the right as you start down the run and follow it around the back of the mountain.  Rather than turning on one of the trails, continue straight until you can go no further and will be forced to go left.  But instead of going left, continue on the thin trails that lead straight into the trees. 

Once inside, you’ll find trails 100 to 200 feet off the main trail that offer you a perfect opportunity to work your skis or board around some tight spots.  Steep drops, stumps, chutes, and thick trees make this a treat for the experts who can maneuver fast.

At the end of the day, you’ll be happy to know that you were able to conquer some of the best boarding and skiing Washington has to offer. 

Whether you prefer moseying down the slopes, catching six feet of insane air on the jumps, or watching the trees fly by you, phenomenal terrain keeps both boarders and skiers returning to White Pass.

What to Know

Lift tickets at the mountain are $47 full day and $34 half day during holidays and weekends.  Please check the White Pass Web site for holiday times.  Regular midweek rates are $42 full day and $29 half day.

White Pass offers both long-term accommodations and dining services at their main lodge.  White Pass also offers its guests rental services, repair services, and child care.

Snowboard leashes are required and White Pass is very strict about their use.  Please be courteous to other riders by ensuring both your safety and theirs—wear a board leash!

How to Get There

From Portland

• Take I-5 north
• Take Hwy 12 eastbound
• Arrive at White Pass

From Seattle/Tacoma

• Take I-5 to Hwy. 7
• Turn left onto Hwy. 12 eastbound
• Arrive at White Pass

From Yakima

• Take Hwy. 12 westbound
• Arrive at White Pass

Justin Chen is the editor of Northwest Hiking.  An admirer of new sights and locations, his real passion is travel writing and blogging.  In his spare time, he enjoys downhill mountain biking and photography, and is a fanatical lover of the Pacific Northwest.