
White Pass
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.
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The 2025 - 2026 season at White Pass closed on Apr 13, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from US$55, with peak rates up to US$95.
Full day skiing at White Pass in the central Washington Cascades. Must purchase online in advance with RFID ticketing system. Features 47 trails and Indy Pass access.
Buy passYouth daily ticket for White Pass Ski Area. Online purchase required for guaranteed availability. Perfect for families exploring the Cascade Mountains between Seattle and Yakima.
Buy passChildren's lift ticket for White Pass. Advance online purchase required. Family-friendly terrain in the central Cascades with excellent beginner slopes and Nordic center.
Buy passFree skiing for children 6 and under at White Pass. Must have ticket for lift access. Located in central Washington Cascades with family-friendly terrain and Nordic skiing.
Buy passSenior lift ticket for White Pass Ski Area. Discounted access to central Cascade skiing with 47 trails and 8 lifts. Advanced online purchase required for availability.
Buy passSpecial military pricing for White Pass lift tickets. Must show military ID at ticket booth. Thank you for your service - enjoy discounted skiing in the Cascades.
Buy passHalf day ticket for White Pass starting around noon on weekends and holidays. Perfect for afternoon skiing in the central Washington Cascades with mountain views.
Buy passUnlimited access to Far East Triple and surface lifts at White Pass. Most affordable season pass option at just $299 for adults. Upgrade to full mountain access anytime.
Buy passUnlimited access to White Pass alpine and Nordic facilities. Includes Powder Alliance benefits and reciprocal deals. Ski any day without reservations in the central Cascades.
Buy passWhite Pass season pass with blackout date restrictions. Great value for flexible skiers who can avoid peak periods. Includes weekday and select weekend access.
Buy passMore White Pass intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.