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    Washington, Usa

    Mt Spokane

    1,704 acres, 55 runs inside Mount Spokane State Park. Home of the world's first double chairlift.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    6 Dec 2025
    Closes
    5 Apr 2026
    Days open
    120
    Annual snow
    19ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Mt Spokane's summit reaches 5,889 feet, dropping 1,690 vertical feet to a base at 4,199 feet across 55 runs spread over 1,704 acres within Mount Spokane State Park, Washington. Terrain splits 42 per cent advanced, 33 per cent intermediate, 22 per cent beginner and 3 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 230 inches. The resort operates independently without major multi-resort pass affiliation. Seven lifts, including five double chairs and one quad chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.

    Mt Spokane sits within Washington's largest state park, a distinction that shapes both its operations and its identity as Spokane's hometown mountain. The ski area carries a genuine claim to lift history: a Riblet Tramway Company installation using a converted mining ore tramway in 1946 is cited as the birthplace of the world's first double chairlift. Extensive night skiing across the mountain's five distinct terrain areas remains central to its appeal for the nearby Spokane population.

    The mountain, previously known as Mount Baldy and Mount Carlton, took its current name in 1912 after businessman Francis H. Cook purchased the summit in 1909 and began building a road to the top. Mount Spokane State Park was officially dedicated in 1927 with 1,500 acres, becoming the first state park established east of the Cascades. The Spokane Ski Club formed in December 1931 under the leadership of Cheney Cowles, building a log clubhouse and installing rope tows, jump hills and night-skiing lights.

    Through the 1930s, the Spokane Ski Club, the Selkirk Ski Club and the Spokane Mountaineers together purchased more than 500 acres for lodges, tows and jump hills, while a Civilian Conservation Corps camp established in 1934 built trails, shelters and roads. The historic Vista House, built from native granite as an emergency relief project in 1933, still stands at the summit today. Adult daily tickets run from 55 to 75 US dollars, with a season pass at 479 dollars.

    1,690ft
    Vertical
    55
    Runs
    1,704 acres
    Skiable
    19ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    55 runs across 1,704 acres skiable

    Mt Spokane spreads 55 runs across 1,704 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 42%, with 12 beginner runs to find your feet and 25 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    55
    runs
    55 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner12 runs · 22%
    Intermediate18 runs · 33%
    Advanced23 runs · 42%
    Expert2 runs · 3%
    Time it right

    When to visit Mt Spokane

    The 2025-26 season at Mt Spokane ran from 6 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 230 inches. This snowfall total supports reliable conditions across the mountain's five distinct terrain areas throughout the season. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's advanced-weighted terrain. Night skiing is a defining seasonal feature, extending the useful ski day for Spokane-area residents well beyond daylight hours, consistent with the mountain's identity as the city's hometown ski area. Weekday evenings see strong local demand alongside typical weekend patterns.

    As an independently operated resort without major pass affiliation, Mt Spokane draws primarily from the Spokane metropolitan area and the broader Inland Northwest rather than national destination traffic. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's substantial beginner and intermediate terrain. The mountain's setting within Washington's largest state park adds a distinct four-season recreational dimension beyond winter skiing alone.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations and night skiing is not confirmed in available resort information. The historic Vista House, built in 1933, remains a fixture at the summit throughout the season, connecting today's skiers to the mountain's Depression-era development. Mt Spokane's century-long history as a community-built ski area continues to shape its accessible, locally focused character each winter.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    6 Dec 2025
    Opens
    5 Apr 2026
    Closes
    120
    Days open
    19 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Mt Spokane, and where to stay

    Mt Spokane sits within Mount Spokane State Park in eastern Washington, with a base elevation of 4,199 feet and a summit at 5,889 feet across a 1,690-foot vertical drop over 1,704 acres of skiable terrain within the park's much larger overall footprint. This makes the resort one of relatively few US ski areas operating inside a state park rather than on Forest Service or private land.

    Spokane, Washington's second-largest city, lies a short drive from the mountain and provides the resort's primary lodging, dining and visitor base, with the ski area functioning as the city's genuine local mountain. The broader Selkirk Mountains region offers additional recreation within the state park beyond winter sports, including extensive summer hiking and mountain biking.

    Local roads connect Spokane directly to Mount Spokane State Park, with the drive typically taking under an hour depending on the starting point within the metropolitan area. Winter driving conditions on the approach can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled route reflects the mountain's role as Spokane's primary local ski destination. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.

    Spokane International Airport is the nearest airport with substantial commercial service, making Mt Spokane one of the more accessible ski areas covered here for fly-in visitors. Most visitors, however, are Spokane-area locals driving up for day trips or evening night-skiing sessions rather than fly-in destination travellers.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Mt Spokane, powered by Stay22.

    Good to know

    Frequently asked

    When is Mt Spokane's ski season?+

    Mt Spokane's season typically runs from December 6 to April 5, roughly 120 days, weather and conditions permitting.

    How much skiable terrain does Mt Spokane have?+

    Mt Spokane has about 1,704 acres skiable across 55 runs.

    How many lifts does Mt Spokane have?+

    Mt Spokane operates 7 lifts in total.

    How much snow does Mt Spokane get?+

    Mt Spokane averages around 230 inches (19.2 feet) of snowfall per season.

    Where can I buy Mt Spokane lift tickets?+

    Lift tickets for Mt Spokane can be purchased directly from the resort online, or in person at the ticket office. See the full pricing breakdown on the lift tickets page.

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