With winter coming up, knowing the best spots to go ski, snowboard and snowshoe can get a little daunting, what with the thousands of trails and tracks throughout Washington’s national forests.
Thankfully though, the Forest Service has plenty of great recommendations for routes through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest’s winter recreation areas. Here are the highlights and what you can expect from each area!
Best winter activity spots in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie
Skiing & snowboarding locations
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
You’ll see this ski resort pop up a few times on this list, as it’s a popular spot for all sorts of winter activities. For now, though, we’ll focus on the skiing and snowboarding you can do here.
At just over 2,600 acres, Crystal Mountain is Washington’s largest ski resort and has a stunning view of all five of Washington’s active volcanoes from its summit. It’s got 11 lifts, 80 named runs and 400 inches of fresh pow each year, so it’s certainly one of the best skiing and snowboarding spots in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest!
Mt. Baker Ski Area
This National-Forest-run ski area is one of the most popular in the state and is known around the world for its abundant snowfall (as in, around 53 feet of snow each year!).
The ski area has over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain with trails for all levels of skiers and snowboarders., as well as an impressive collection of backcountry routes. There is no Nordic skiing or snowshoeing, though, so keep that in mind as you go.
Stevens Pass Ski Resort
Located at the crest of Stevens Pass and with stunning views of the Cascades, Stevens Pass Ski Resort has over 1,125 acres of skiable terrain for everyone from beginner to advanced skiers and snowboarders.
The Summit at Snoqualmie
The Summit at Snoqualmie is made up of four different ski areas: Summit Central, Summit West, Alpental and Snowshoe Ridge, all of which have their own unique character and terrain. Summit Central is the largest of the four areas and offers a variety of terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. It is also home to the majority of The Summit at Snoqualmie's amenities, including restaurants, bars, shops and lodging.
Summit West is known for its challenging terrain and steep drop-offs and is a popular destination for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Alpental is the home of The Summit at Snoqualmie's backcountry terrain and is popular with cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
Snowshoe Ridge is a smaller area that is perfect for beginners and families as it offers a variety of easy and intermediate trails as well as a snow play area.
Nordic skiing & snowshoeing locations
Ski resorts
Nearly all of the ski resorts in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest offers groomed Nordic trails and several snowshoeing routes in addition to their skiing and snowboarding trails. You can almost certainly find some fun trails at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort, Stevens Pass Ski Resort and The Summit at Snoqualmie!
Along Interstate 90
Kendall Peak Lakes Winter Sports Area
This 7.9-mile roundtrip route is best for snowshoers and Nordic skiiers who are experienced with traversing the backcountry, as there are a handful of steep sections and no groomed trails. The steep route follows Forest Service Road 9090 to three stunning lakes near Kendall Peak!
Lower Gold Creek Basin Winter Sports Area
At just under 7 miles roundtrip, this backcountry ungroomed route follows Gold Creek into a valley with Kendall Peak towering to the northwest.
Mount Margaret Winter Sports Area
Follow the Forest Service’s recommended route to the summit of Mount Margaret for some beautiful views of Lake Margaret below. This unmarked, unmaintained trail is popular with snowmobilers, too, so be mindful of their presence.
Huckleberry Creek Ski Route
This is a great trail for children and families who want a wide, groomed trail along relatively flat terrain following the gently ambling Huckleberry Creek with some great views of the surrounding hills. For more experienced snowshoers and skiers, follow the ungroomed trial after it crosses the creek to get to some higher elevations and better views.
Along U.S Highway 2
Barclay Lake Winter Sports Area
This unmarked winter trial is lightly used and therefore great for intermediate to advanced cross-country skiers and snowshoers looking for some solitude.
Foss/Tonga Winter Sports Area
Follow the main road through the forest or choose one of the many spur routes that lead further into the trees — choose your own adventure!
Miller River/Money Creek Winter Sports Area
The journey to Lake Elizabeth along Miller River is a stunning one, passing through old-growth forests, meadows, rock walls and old mining areas all along the route.
Necklace Valley Trail 1062
It’s a tricky route, certainly, but the string of jewel-named alpine lakes at the end of the 5-mile trail is completely worth it!
Stevens Pass Guard Station
For beginners looking for instruction or outdoor enthusiasts eager to learn from forest rangers, head to the Stevens Pass Guard Station for maps, information, guided snowshoes and more!
Along Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542)
Hannegan Pass Road 32
With groomed trails, flat routes and plenty of multi-use activity areas, this road is perfect for beginner skiers and snowshoers or families with kids who are looking for an easy route through the forest.
Salmon Ridge Sno-Park
With trails groomed weekly and stunning views of the North Fork Nooksack River right off the bat, it’s no wonder that people flock to this SnoPark all winter long!
White Salmon Road 3075
If you’re looking for open spaces with great views, this route is the route for you. The lightly-wooded area is more open and airy than most, granting broader views than most winter trails. Parking is limited here, though, so get there early if you want to avoid a parking fine!
Mount Baker Lake/ Middle Fork Nooksack area
Mt. Baker National Recreation Area
This extensive piece of forest truly has it all — hiking and equestrian trails in the summer and a stunning web of Nordic and snowshoeing trails in the winter! One of the popular routes in this area is the old railroad-turned-trail Railroad Grade Trail #603.1 that follows a gradual incline up the side of Mount Baker!
Shadow of the Sentinels Interpretive Site
This one is for the more experienced of winter sport enthusiasts, and you’ll need some backcountry experience to enjoy this area safely. The trailhead at the parking lot leads to a short loop through an old-growth forest with informative signs about the foliage, but skiers and snowshoers can continue to traverse the dense forest on backcountry routes of their own.
Mountain Loop Scenic Byway
Big Four Area Ski Route
This area is great for beginner to intermediate snowshoers and cross-country skiers who want to get some serious views with some moderate elevation over a 4.2-mile trail. Be prepared to share the area with snowmobilers at this popular site!
Deer Creek/Kelcema Lake Ski Route
At around 9.2 miles and with anywhere between 1,575-3,100 feet of elevation gain, this is definitely one of the more difficult routes out there for snowshoes and cross-country skiers, so make sure you’re prepared before undertaking this wintery adventure. The trailhead starts at the end of the forest road where the sledding area is, so get there early to snag parking and avoid the crowds. Thankfully, though, you won’t come across any snowmobiles as they’re not allowed.
Schweitzer Ski Route
This route covers 9 miles and takes around 6 to 8 hours to complete, not to mention it’s one of the more strenuous trails out there! If you’re up for it, though, you’ll get some stunning views and peaceful woods with very little crowds!
Snowmobiling locations
There are only a handful of snowmobile areas in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and most of their trails are not maintained by the National Forest Service. Parking is even more limited outside of the designated sno-parks, so plan your trip wisely and make sure that you’re not snowmobiling on any roads that are passable by highway vehicles! Remember, snowmobiles and regular vehicles do not mix well!
When you visit these Sno-Parks, be sure to bring your Sno-Park permits with you and make sure that there is at least 24 inches of snow on the ground before heading off-road.
- Anderson Creek Sno-Park
- Railroad Grade Trail 603.2
- Mount Margaret Winter Sports Area
- Segelson Creek Sno-Park
- Canyon Creek Sno-Park
- Glacier Creek Sno-Park
- Finney Creek Sno-Park
- Foss/Tonga Winter Sports Area
These are all pretty close to our luxury Seattle apartments, so they’re not more than a couple hours away! And if this isn’t enough information, then we don’t know where else to send you!
Just… go have fun!
Enjoy!
Pin it!
Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/Alexgan
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
View All Posts by Colleen Ford