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    Washington, Usa · Epic

    Stevens Pass

    1,125 acres, 53 runs two hours from Seattle. Epic Pass access, substantial Cascade snowfall.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    13 Dec 2025
    Closes
    13 Apr 2026
    Days open
    121
    Annual snow
    50ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Stevens Pass's summit reaches 5,843 feet, dropping 1,781 vertical feet to a base at 4,062 feet across 53 runs spread over 1,125 acres in the central Washington Cascades. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 28 per cent advanced, 19 per cent expert and 8 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 601 inches. The resort carries Epic Pass access. Twelve lifts, including five quad chairs, three triple chairs and two double chairs, serve the mountain alongside two surface lifts.

    Stevens Pass sits directly on Highway 2, one of the more accessible major Cascade passes, putting it within roughly two hours of Seattle and making it one of the closer Epic Pass destinations to a major West Coast city. Its substantial snowfall total supports extensive backcountry access alongside its lift-served terrain, and night skiing extends the ski day for the resort's large day-trip visitor base. The mountain's terrain parks and steep upper-mountain zones have built a strong following among younger Seattle-area skiers.

    The ski area opened in 1937, with its original lodge built that year, destroyed by fire in 1939 and rebuilt the following year by the Civilian Conservation Corps. By 1963, the resort had expanded to three chairlifts and twelve rope tows. After 35 years of ownership, Harbor Resorts sold Stevens Pass to CNL Lifestyle in 2011, with operations handed to the operator of Mountain High in California, before CNL sold the resort on to Och-Ziff Capital Management in 2016.

    Vail Resorts completed its acquisition of Stevens Pass on 15 August 2018 for a final purchase price of 64 million US dollars, subsequently investing in upgrades to the Daisy and Brooks chairs among other infrastructure. The transition to Vail ownership has not been without friction: staffing shortages and avalanche risk have at times limited operations to a fraction of the resort's lifts and terrain, prompting a widely signed online petition and complaints to the Washington Attorney General's office from frustrated pass holders. Adult daily tickets run from 120 to 159 US dollars, with the Epic Local Pass from 746 dollars.

    1,781ft
    Vertical
    53
    Runs
    1,125 acres
    Skiable
    50ft
    Annual snow
    Epic
    Pass
    The Terrain

    53 runs across 1,125 acres skiable

    Stevens Pass spreads 53 runs across 1,125 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 4 beginner runs to find your feet and 25 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    53
    runs
    53 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner4 runs · 8%
    Intermediate24 runs · 45%
    Advanced15 runs · 28%
    Expert10 runs · 19%
    Time it right

    When to visit Stevens Pass

    The 2025-26 season at Stevens Pass ran from 13 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 601 inches, among the highest totals of any resort covered here. This substantial snowfall supports extensive terrain access, though avalanche risk associated with such heavy snow loading has at times contributed to operational limitations in recent seasons.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the resort's varied terrain. As an Epic Pass destination within roughly two hours of Seattle, Stevens Pass draws substantial weekend and holiday traffic from the Puget Sound region, with crowding and lift-line length depending significantly on how many lifts are operating on a given day. Night skiing extends the useful ski day for day-trip visitors.

    Given the documented staffing and operational challenges under Vail Resorts ownership since 2018, visitors have reported variable experiences depending on the season and specific conditions, with some periods seeing reduced terrain and lift availability. School holiday periods and weekends typically bring the heaviest demand regardless of operational capacity on any given day.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's substantial snowfall and steep upper-mountain terrain remain significant draws despite the operational concerns raised by some pass holders in recent years. Stevens Pass's proximity to Seattle continues to make it one of the more heavily used Cascade resorts on the Epic Pass network.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    13 Dec 2025
    Opens
    13 Apr 2026
    Closes
    121
    Days open
    50 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Stevens Pass, and where to stay

    Stevens Pass sits directly on US Highway 2 in the central Washington Cascades, with a base elevation of 4,062 feet and a summit at 5,843 feet across a 1,781-foot vertical drop over 1,125 acres. This puts the resort roughly two hours from Seattle, making it one of the more accessible major Cascade ski areas from the Puget Sound region.

    The towns of Leavenworth and Skykomish sit on either side of the pass, offering lodging and dining options for visitors travelling from either direction. Seattle, Washington's largest city, supplies the majority of the resort's day-trip and weekend visitor base given the relatively direct highway access. The broader Cascade Range surrounding the pass offers extensive backcountry recreation beyond the resort's lift-served terrain.

    US Highway 2 provides direct access to Stevens Pass from both Seattle to the west and Leavenworth to the east. Winter driving conditions on this route can include heavy snow and occasional closures during storms, given the substantial snowfall the pass receives. There is no direct public transport service to the resort, though its highway location makes it a straightforward drive for day-trip visitors.

    Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the nearest airport with extensive commercial service, roughly two hours from the resort under normal driving conditions. This convenient distance from a major international airport supports Stevens Pass's role as one of the more accessible Epic Pass destinations on the West Coast.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Stevens Pass, powered by Stay22.

    Good to know

    Frequently asked

    When is Stevens Pass's ski season?+

    Stevens Pass's season typically runs from December 13 to April 13, roughly 121 days, weather and conditions permitting.

    How much skiable terrain does Stevens Pass have?+

    Stevens Pass has about 1,125 acres skiable across 53 runs.

    How many lifts does Stevens Pass have?+

    Stevens Pass operates 12 lifts in total.

    How much snow does Stevens Pass get?+

    Stevens Pass averages around 601 inches (50.1 feet) of snowfall per season.

    Where can I buy Stevens Pass lift tickets?+

    Lift tickets for Stevens Pass 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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