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
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Banff Sunshine Village - Nine Metres of Snow and a Season That Runs Until May
Banff Sunshine Village sits at 1,660m base and receives 9.27m of snow annually. Inside Banff National Park, it offers a six-month season and terrain split that skews heavily advanced - though the crowds and lift infrastructure tell their own story.
18 July 2026
Live webcams
3 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Mission Ridge's live webcams
Check live conditions across Mission Ridge with 3 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Sunspot Cam6,699ft
- Experience commanding summit perspectives through this Mission Ridge webcam positioned at the Sunspot location at 2042 meters elevation. This Mission Ridge live cam captures sweeping views across Central Washington's Cascade foothills and the Columbia Basin below. Perfect for assessing visibility and weather conditions, this live snow cam provides essential real-time updates for planning your day at this sunny east-side ski destination, showcasing the blue-sky powder days that make this Mission Ridge web cam essential viewing before exploring Washington's driest ski area.
- Mimi Cam - Chair 46,299ft
- Monitor upper mountain terrain through this strategic Mission Ridge webcam at the Mimi Cam location on Chair 4 at 1920 meters elevation. This Mission Ridge live cam provides real-time views of advanced terrain and lift operations in the resort's expert zones. Essential for assessing trail conditions and snow quality, this live snow cam helps skiers plan their route through Central Washington's challenging upper mountain, offering instant visibility into powder conditions at this crucial Mission Ridge web cam location above Wenatchee.
- Midway Cam5,499ft
- Discover mid-mountain activity through this centrally positioned Mission Ridge webcam at the Midway location at 1676 meters elevation. This Mission Ridge live cam captures the convergence of multiple trail networks and intermediate terrain. Perfect for families assessing slope conditions and traffic flow, this live snow cam provides real-time updates in the heart of Washington's sunniest ski area, helping guests navigate efficiently through this strategic Mission Ridge web cam location where diverse terrain options meet spectacular Cascade views.
Mission Ridge snow cams FAQ
How often do Mission Ridge snow cams update?
All Mission Ridge snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Mission Ridge.
Which Mission Ridge webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Sunspot Cam webcam at 2,042m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Mission Ridge webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Mission Ridge lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Mission Ridge snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Mission Ridge snow cams?
Check Mission Ridge webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Mission Ridge lift tickets?
Use our Mission Ridge webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Mission Ridge webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Mission Ridge snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Mission Ridge intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.