Snoqualmie Pass
- Not to be confused with the city of Snoqualmie or Snoqualmie Falls, 25 miles to the west.
Snoqualmie Pass is a ski resort in the Cascade Mountains, on the border of King County and Kittitas County in Washington State. It is the closest skiing area to Seattle, about an hour away.
Understand
[edit]At 3,015 feet, Snoqualmie Pass is Seattle's closest access to winter recreation. The Summit at Snoqualmie resort consists of four ski areas, originally created as separate resorts, but merged over the years into an interconnected group of bases.
The stretch of I-90 to and from Snoqualmie Pass is also known as the Mountains to Sound Greenway, the first interstate designated as a National Scenic Byway. In the summer, the pass is a hub for hikers and climbers.
Trails have existed over Snoqualmie Pass for centuries, as it was well-known to the Native Americans living in the Snoqualmie and Yakima valleys. In the 1850s, American settlers were looking for better ways to cross the Cascades into Puget Sound, and quickly identified the pass as the superior route for pack trains and wagons. The first road was constructed in 1867, and incrementally improved over the next century. When the interstate was built in 1969, crossing the pass became easy. Today, millions of vehicles go over the pass every year, making this route Seattle's most vital link to the rest of the country.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]
Interstate 90 (I-90) is the only road through the pass, connecting Seattle (55 miles west) to Ellensburg (50 miles east) and Spokane. Exit 52 is near Alpental and Summit West, Exit 53 is near Summit Central, and Exit 54 (Hyak) is near Summit East.
In the summer, traffic can be a problem during major holiday weekends.
In the winter months, heavy fog, rain, and snow are all commonplace. I-90 stays open during the winter, but sometimes closes during storms or for avalanche control. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation for winter travel information.
By bike
[edit]- Palouse to Cascades Trail. A popular gravel multi-use trail that starts just outside of North Bend, and follows a former railroad grade along the south side of I-90 east all the way to Idaho.
By foot
[edit]The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) extends along the west coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. Snoqualmie Pass is an important supply stop between two of the more remote sections of trail.
By ski bus
[edit]During ski season, several ski buses leave in the morning from Seattle, Bellevue, and North Bend, and return in the afternoon.
Get around
[edit]
During ski season, Summit at Snoqualmie runs the free Summit Shuttle between the main bases.
See
[edit]- 1 Keechelus Wildlife Overcrossing (between Lake Keechelus and Exit 62). This hulking overpass allows wildlife to cross the road. Tall fences along this stretch funnel animals to various underpasses, as well as this overpass, to allow safer movement and migration of both creatures and people.
Do
[edit]Winter sports
[edit]The Summit at Snoqualmie ski resort features slopes for all levels, beginner to advanced. Nights skiing is also available.
- 1 Summit West. Has the most beginner-friendly green runs.
- 2 Summit Central. Has a large terrain park and a halfpipe.
- 3 Summit East (previously known as Hyak). Has predominately moderate blue runs.
- 4 Alpental. Offers mostly expert-level black runs. The in-bounds area at Alpental contains a several-hundred foot tall cliff that's pretty great to ski off of, but check the landing for plenty of snow first, and do this only if you're an expert skier. Pay attention to, and believe the double black diamond signs. The Alpental out-of-bounds backcountry is impressive and readily accessible; make sure to obtain a Backcountry Pass from the Ski Patrol (at their Shack atop Chair 2) before exploring.
Washington State Parks maintains several Sno-Parks near Snoqualmie Pass, with cleared parking lots and groomed trails popular for winter hiking, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. These require a Sno-Park Permit. There are five permit types, largely based on how much plowing the state provides at the park.
Hiking
[edit]
The Snoqualmie Pass area is a gateway to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, containing a series of jagged peaks and small lakes. These peaks and lakes make for excellent climbing, hiking, and camping.
- Snow Lake (Exit 52. Turn north from the freeway onto Alpental Rd, follow to ski parking lot). 7.2 miles roundtrip, 1,800 feet elevation gain. A moderately strenuous hike, traversing through forest to an alpine lake. Stay and relax, consider a swim. Continue along the trail to Gem Lake, and beyond. A good hike from Jul to Oct, high avalanche danger in winter. Federal pass (NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass) required for vehicles.
- 10 PCT North (Kendall Katwalk) Trailhead (Exit 52. Turn north from the freeway onto Alpental Rd. Take the first right). The Pacific Crest Trail extends all the way to Canada and Mexico. Building the trail north of the pass required substantial blasting of the rock, creating the narrow Kendall Katwalk cut into the steep cliffs, about four miles down the trail (8 miles roundtrip, 2,600 feet elevation gain). Federal pass (NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass) required for vehicles.
- 11 Gold Creek Pond Trailhead (Exit 54. Go north of the freeway, turn right onto FR 4832, and drive east for 1 mile. Turn left on Gold Creek Rd (142). Turn left in 0.3 mile into the parking lot). 1 mile roundtrip, 10 feet elevation gain. A loop around a calm pond with views deep into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Federal pass (NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass) required for vehicles.
- 12 Palouse to Cascades State Park - Cascade Tunnel (previously Iron Horse State Park, John Wayne Trail) (Exit 54. Turn south from the freeway, then immediately turn left at the stop sign onto WA-906. In 0.5 miles, turn right at the sign). May–Oct. Multi-use trail extending from North Bend to Idaho. This entrance is near a repurposed railroad tunnel that cuts under the pass. The 2.3-mile tunnel rarely climbs over 50°F (10°C), making it a welcome respite from summer heat. Bring a headlamp (or two, just in case), as the tunnel is completely unlit. Discover Pass required for vehicles.
Some trailheads to the south are along the Palouse to Cascades State Park. State Parks require a pass to park at. The Discover Pass is $10 a day, or $30 a year. Order online, buy from an outdoors retailer, or pick up from a kiosk at the entrance to the more popular state parks.
Most other trailheads in the Cascades are regulated by the U.S. Forest Service. You're free to get out and look around for a few minutes, but if you plan to hike or camp, you need a federal parking pass on each vehicle. You can pick up a pass at any ranger station or National Park Service visitor center.
- United States Interagency Annual Pass ($80 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments for one year)
- Northwest Forest Pass ($30 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Forests in the states of Washington and Oregon for one year)
- National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($5 online and valid on one self-selected day only).
Buy
[edit]There are few shops and services other than the ski resort.
- 1 Lee's Summit Grocery, 741 WA-906. A convenience store that caters to the needs of outdoors enthusiasts.
Eat
[edit]- Pie For the People, 741 WA-906 (In Lee's Summit Grocery). Pizza by the slice.
- Summit Pancake House and Lounge, 603 WA-906 (In the Summit Lodge).
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]For a popular ski resort, there is surprisingly little lodging nearby. Most skiers come for the day from around Seattle. The nearest towns with hotels are North Bend, Cle Elum, and Roslyn. There are private cabins near Alpental and Hyak, some of which may be available as short-term rentals.
- 1 The Summit Lodge, 603 WA-906. At Summit at Snoqualmie. Walking distance to slopes (shuttle also available). Ski & Stay packages from $110-$220.
Stay safe
[edit]The Cascades see significant snow accumulation during the winter, which persists well into the summer. Avalanches trigger frequently, especially during warming periods. If you're venturing past the boundaries of the actively-maintained resort, refer to the Northwest Avalanche Center for current avalanche information.
The Cascades are habitat for black bears. There have been fewer than a dozen bear attacks in Washington in the last century, but hikers need to know about bear safety. Ask a park ranger for local advice.
Go next
[edit]- Seattle — the largest city in the Pacific Northwest
- North Bend — the nearest town to the west, made famous by Twin Peaks
- Cle Elum — the nearest town to the east
Make a loop back across the mountains:
- Blewett Pass (US-97) to Stevens Pass Highway (US-2) — the next pass to the north
- Chinook Pass (WA-410) through Mount Rainier National Park — the next pass to the south
Explore the other ski resorts in the Washington Cascades:
- Mount Baker — holder of the world record for most snowfall. Elevation 3,500–5,089 ft (1,067–1,551 m)
- Stevens Pass — the biggest terrain within two hours of Seattle. Elevation 3,500–5,089 ft (1,067–1,551 m)
- Mission Ridge — on the eastern slopes, with more sunshine than the other resorts. Elevation 4,570–6,820 ft (1,390–2,080 m)
- Crystal Mountain — just east of Mount Rainier, with close-up views of the big mountain. Elevation 4,400–7,012 ft (1,341–2,137 m)
- White Pass — a relaxed atmosphere for all abilities. Elevation 4,500–6,550 ft (1,370–2,000 m)
Snoqualmie Pass is on the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
| Routes through Snoqualmie Pass |
| Seattle ← North Bend ← | W  E |
→ Cle Elum → Ellensburg |