Washington, Usa · Indy / Powder Alliance
Mission Ridge
2,000 acres, 53 runs near Wenatchee. Washington's sunniest resort, dry powder, Indy Pass.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
6 Dec 2025
Closes
5 Apr 2026
Days open
120
Annual snow
17ft
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
17ft
Annual snow
Indy / Powder Alliance
Pass
The Terrain
53 runs across 2,000 acres skiable
Mission Ridge spreads 53 runs across 2,000 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 43%, with 4 beginner runs to find your feet and 26 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
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 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
5 Apr 2026
Closes
120
Days open
17 ft
Annual snow
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
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Mission Ridge, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
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28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
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26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business
Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.
25 Aug 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.