Mission Ridge
2,000 acres, 53 runs near Wenatchee. Washington's sunniest resort, dry powder, Indy Pass.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
4 Dec 2026
Closes
18 Apr 2027
Days open
135
Annual snow
200in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Mission Ridge's summit reaches 6,821 feet, dropping 2,254 vertical feet to a base at 4,567 feet across 53 runs spread over 2,000 acres near Wenatchee, Washington. Terrain splits 43 per cent intermediate, 36 per cent advanced, 13 per cent expert and 8 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 200 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass and Powder Alliance affiliation. Six lifts, including one quad chair and three triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside two t-bars.
Mission Ridge markets itself as Washington's sunniest ski area, with roughly 300 days of sunshine a year, a product of its location on the drier eastern side of the Cascades rather than the wetter, cloudier western slopes. This combination of reliable sun and light, dry powder has built a distinct identity relative to the state's Cascade-crest resorts. Its advanced-weighted terrain suits experienced skiers seeking varied, sun-drenched conditions.
The resort was established in 1966 and has operated for close to sixty years under a series of ownership arrangements, including periods marked by significant financial difficulty. Today, New Mission LLC operates the resort under special use permits from both the US Forest Service and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, reflecting the mixed public and private land the resort occupies.
In 2014, resort owner Larry Scrivanich purchased approximately 800 acres of private land adjacent to the existing ski area, positioning Mission Ridge for potential future expansion beyond its current 2,000-acre footprint of leased Forest Service and state wildlife land. Adult daily tickets run from 69 to 119 US dollars using dynamic pricing, with a season pass from 899 dollars.
2,251ft
Vertical
53
Runs
2,000 acres
Skiable
200in
Annual snow
Indy / Powder Alliance
Pass
The Terrain
53 runs across 2,000 acres skiable
Mission Ridge spreads across 2,000 acres (809 hectares) above Wenatchee on the dry east side of the Cascades, with 53 runs from a 4,570 ft (1,393 m) base to a 6,820 ft (2,079 m) summit. That makes a vertical of 2,250 ft (686 m). The difficulty split is 8% beginner, 43% intermediate, 36% advanced and 13% expert, which suits skiers who like steady blues and blacks. Six lifts handle the mountain, and Chair 2 alone serves more than half of the terrain, so most laps start from the same spot.
Bomber Bowl is the signature groomed cruiser, named after a 1944 B-24 training flight wreck. For something steeper, the Ka Wham Chutes and Squirrel Chute offer tree shots, while Sitkum, Chak Chak and Sunspot add further variety, and the Windy Saddle and Microwave Tower areas lead to bowl terrain. Intermediates can lap the fast chair all day, and advanced skiers have enough chutes and bowls to stay busy. It works well for a Seattle weekend or a central Washington local who prefers dry snow and open slopes.
Terrain split
53
runs
53 runs across 4 grades
Beginner4 runs · 8%
Intermediate23 runs · 43%
Advanced19 runs · 36%
Expert7 runs · 13%
Time it right
When to visit Mission Ridge
The 2025-26 season at Mission Ridge ran from 6 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 200 inches. This moderate snowfall total, combined with the resort's sunny, dry eastern Cascades climate, gives Mission Ridge a distinct character relative to the wetter, cloudier resorts on the Cascade crest. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the resort's advanced-weighted terrain. Night skiing extends the useful ski day for visitors from nearby Wenatchee. The resort's reputation for roughly 300 sunny days a year makes it a particular draw for skiers seeking clear-sky conditions relative to the Cascade crest's frequent cloud cover.
As an Indy Pass and Powder Alliance resort, Mission Ridge draws some visiting skiers holding those multi-resort passes in addition to its core central Washington base. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's mixed terrain offering. Weekend crowds draw primarily from Wenatchee and the broader central Washington region.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Owner Larry Scrivanich's 2014 land acquisition continues to shape longer-term planning for the resort, even as day-to-day operations remain focused on the existing terrain. Mission Ridge's identity as Washington's sunniest ski area remains its clearest point of seasonal distinction.
Season 2026 - 2027
4 Dec 2026
Opens
18 Apr 2027
Closes
135
Days open
200 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Mission Ridge
Daily snow reports at Mission Ridge go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
11 in
Snowiest day
12 Mar 2026
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
60 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Mission Ridge, and where to stay
Mission Ridge sits 12 miles from Wenatchee in central Washington, with a base elevation of 4,567 feet and a summit at 6,821 feet across a 2,254-foot vertical drop over 2,000 acres of leased US Forest Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife land. This eastern Cascades location gives the resort a notably drier, sunnier climate than resorts on the wetter western slopes.
Wenatchee, known as the Apple Capital of the World for its fruit-growing industry, provides the resort's main lodging, dining and services, along with the broader Columbia River valley's agricultural landscape. Seattle lies roughly two and a half hours to the west across the Cascades, making Mission Ridge a genuine day-trip option for some Puget Sound skiers despite the distance.
US Route 97 and local roads connect Wenatchee to the resort, climbing into the foothills above the Columbia River valley. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice, though the drier eastern Cascades climate generally means less severe conditions than the passes further west. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee offers limited commercial service, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport provides far more extensive flight options a few hours' drive away. Most Mission Ridge visitors are central Washington locals or Seattle-area skiers making the drive over the Cascades rather than flying in directly.
Where to stay
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Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Mission Ridge Lift System
Mission Ridge runs six lifts: one quad chair, three triple chairs and two t-bars, serving 53 runs across 2,000 acres near Wenatchee. The quad and triple chairs provide the primary uphill capacity across the resort's advanced-weighted terrain, while the t-bars serve additional zones.
The resort's lift network has developed over nearly sixty years of operation since its 1966 founding, through a series of ownership changes that included periods of significant financial difficulty. Current owner Larry Scrivanich's 2014 purchase of roughly 800 acres of adjacent private land signalled a shift toward potential future expansion, though this land sits separate from the current lift-served terrain.
The quad chair and three triple chairs distribute skiers across Mission Ridge's varied advanced and intermediate terrain, while the two t-bars provide additional access. There is no gondola or high-speed six-pack chair, consistent with the resort's mid-sized scale relative to Washington's larger destination resorts.
Specific recent lift replacement or expansion projects beyond the current six-lift network are not confirmed in available resort information, though the 2014 land purchase suggests longer-term expansion ambitions. New Mission LLC's operation under Forest Service and state wildlife permits continues to shape investment decisions. The resort's Indy Pass and Powder Alliance affiliations bring additional visiting skiers to a lift network built for sunny, dry-snow conditions.
6lifts across 3 types
1
Quad Chair
3
Triple Chairs
2
T-Bars
Mission Ridge lift system
Mission Ridge is served by 6 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Mission Ridge intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.