
1,402 acres, 45 runs between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Family-friendly, locally owned.
White Pass's summit reaches 6,549 feet, dropping 2,048 vertical feet to a base at 4,501 feet across 45 runs spread over 1,402 acres at the crest of the Washington Cascades, between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Terrain splits 60 per cent intermediate, 20 per cent advanced and 20 per cent beginner, with no expert-rated runs, and average annual snowfall of roughly 400 inches. The resort carries Powder Alliance affiliation. Seven lifts, including three quad chairs and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one double chair and two surface lifts.
White Pass's position between two of the Cascades' most famous volcanic peaks gives it a distinctive scenic backdrop uncommon among Washington resorts. Its intermediate-weighted, expert-free terrain has built a reputation as a genuinely family-friendly mountain relative to some of the state's steeper Cascade areas. The resort's continued local ownership, unusual among Pacific Northwest ski areas of its size, has kept its focus on serving the Yakima Valley community directly.
The ski area was founded by the Yakima Valley Ski Club on US Forest Service land. In 1952, founders Bob Smith, Bob Vaa and Lars Holmberg formed the club and secured Forest Service permission to clear more than 600 acres for the resort, which officially opened on 11 January 1953, the same period a new road through the pass was being built into what would become US Highway 12.
In 1956, the Smiths sold their share of the ski area to a group of investors, the same year the resort's first chairlift was installed. White Pass has maintained local ownership through most of its history, and in December 2022 a Yakima-based partnership of Andrew Sundquist, David Severn, Dan Plath, Adam Dolsen and Patrick Smith acquired 100 per cent of White Pass Co. Inc.'s stock, keeping the resort in local hands after the previous owners had spent several years seeking a new generation of local investment. Adult daily tickets run from 75 to 95 US dollars, with season passes from 299 dollars.
White Pass spreads 45 runs across 1,402 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 60%, with 9 beginner runs to find your feet and 9 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
The 2025-26 season at White Pass ran from 13 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 400 inches. This substantial snowfall total, given the resort's position at the crest of the Cascades, supports reliable conditions across its intermediate-weighted terrain 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 resort's family-friendly terrain. Given White Pass's continued local ownership and community focus, the resort draws primarily from the Yakima Valley and broader south-central Washington region rather than national destination traffic. Weekend crowds are generally heavier than weekdays.
As a Powder Alliance resort, White Pass draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass in addition to its core regional base. With no expert-rated terrain, the resort's seasonal programming leans toward family and ski school offerings rather than advanced-terrain-focused events. School holiday periods bring particularly strong family visitation given the resort's approachable terrain mix.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The December 2022 ownership transition to a new local partnership has continued the resort's decades-long tradition of Yakima Valley-based ownership rather than corporate consolidation. White Pass's scenic position between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens remains a defining backdrop through the season.
White Pass sits at the crest of the Washington Cascades between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, with a base elevation of 4,501 feet and a summit at 6,549 feet across a 2,048-foot vertical drop over 1,402 acres. This central Cascades location places the resort along a scenic corridor between two of the range's most recognisable volcanic peaks.
The city of Yakima, source of the resort's founding Yakima Valley Ski Club and its current ownership group, lies to the east and provides the resort's primary lodging, dining and visitor base. Packwood, a smaller community, offers closer services on the western approach to the pass. The broader south-central Washington region combines the resort with agricultural and wine country tourism beyond winter sports.
US Highway 12 provides direct access to White Pass, a route whose construction through the pass in the early 1950s coincided with the resort's founding. Winter driving conditions on this highway can include snow and ice, and the road is well maintained given its role as a major east-west Cascades crossing. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Yakima Air Terminal offers limited commercial service to the east, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a few hours' drive to the west, provides far more extensive flight options. Most White Pass visitors are Yakima Valley locals or regional Washington skiers driving to the pass rather than fly-in destination travellers, consistent with the resort's continued local ownership.
Hotels and lodges near White Pass, powered by Stay22.

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White Pass's 2025 - 2026 season typically runs from December 13 through April 13. That window is roughly 121 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Washington, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
White Pass lists about 1,402 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 45 named runs (567 hectares alongside 1,402 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
Trail grading at White Pass breaks down roughly as 20% beginner, 60% intermediate, 20% advanced. The mix is balanced enough for mixed-ability groups, so learners can stay on marked green/blue (Green/Blue) terrain while stronger skiers peel off to steeper pitches.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
White Pass operates 7 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 3 quad chairs, 2 surface lifts, 1 triple chair, and 1 double chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
Base elevation at White Pass is about 4,501 ft (1,372 m), with the summit around 6,549 ft (1,996 m), giving roughly 2,047 ft (624 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
White Pass averages about 400 inches (1,016 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
White Pass is affiliated with the Powder Alliance. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Powder Alliance, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$55 to US$95, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
SnowStash pulls together 5 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for White Pass so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for White Pass. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
White Pass sits in Washington, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.