
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 sits on the Cascade crest along US Highway 12, between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, with 1,402 acres (567 hectares) and 45 runs. The base is at 4,500 ft (1,372 m) and the top at 6,550 ft (1,996 m), a vertical of 2,050 ft (624 m). Intermediate terrain dominates at 60%, with 20% beginner and 20% advanced, and no expert runs listed. Seven lifts, three of them quads, serve the mountain, so the mountain handles a typical weekend without much fuss and lift rides stay short.
The main mountain is Pigtail Peak, reached by the Great White Express high-speed quad, with more terrain on Hogback Mountain to the west. Paradise Basin opened in December 2010, adding 13 runs, two quad chairlifts and a lodge at 6,000 ft, and the Couloir Express carries skiers to about 6,500 ft near the top of Hogback. Most of that terrain is intermediate cruising and glades, with fine powder skiing after a storm. Families and intermediates will enjoy the cruising, while experts after steeper challenges should look elsewhere in the state.
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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Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 20, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at White Pass typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Our lift ticket pricing was last updated on Sep 26, 2026.
Day passes start from US$69, with peak rates up to US$119.
Full-day access to White Pass's 47 trails in the central Washington Cascades for the 2026/27 season, with value pricing available every day and rates increasing as inventory sells - buy early to lock in the lowest rate. Weekday (Mon-Thu, non-holiday) rates start at $69, capped at $99. Peak rates (Fri-Sun and holidays) start at $89, capped at $119. Must be purchased online in advance; child and super-senior tickets may be purchased at the booth.
Buy passWhite Pass's most affordable 2026/27 season pass, offering unlimited access to the Far East Triple and surface lifts only. Fall Sale rate; no reciprocal or Powder Alliance benefits, but upgradeable to any other season pass at any time.
Buy passWhite Pass's Lower Area Season Pass for Juniors 9-16 for 2026/27, with unlimited access to the Far East Triple and surface lifts only. Fall Sale rate; no reciprocal or Powder Alliance benefits.
Buy passUnlimited weekday (Monday-Friday, non-holiday) access at White Pass for 2026/27, with full daily access unlocked from March 15, 2027 through season end. Fall Sale rate; blackout dates apply Nov 26-29, Dec 19-Jan 3, Jan 18 and Feb 15; no reciprocal or Powder Alliance benefits.
Buy passWhite Pass's Off-Peak Season Pass for Juniors 9-16 for 2026/27, with unlimited weekday (non-holiday) access and full daily access unlocked from March 15, 2027. Fall Sale rate; blackout dates apply.
Buy passUnlimited, unrestricted alpine and Nordic access at White Pass for the 2026/27 season, valid every day of operation with no blackout dates. Fall Sale rate; includes Powder Alliance access and reciprocal on-mountain discounts.
Buy passWhite Pass's Unrestricted Season Pass for Juniors 9-16 for 2026/27, with unlimited unrestricted alpine and Nordic access every day of operation. Fall Sale rate; includes Powder Alliance and reciprocal benefits.
Buy passWhite Pass's Unrestricted Season Pass for children 8 and under for 2026/27 - a nominal processing-fee rate (no sales tax applies) for unlimited unrestricted alpine and Nordic access every day of operation.
Buy passWhite Pass's Unrestricted Season Pass for seniors 73 and over for 2026/27 - a nominal processing-fee rate (no sales tax applies) for unlimited unrestricted alpine and Nordic access every day of operation.
Buy passWhite Pass's Military Rate season pass for eligible military families for 2026/27, offering the same unlimited unrestricted alpine and Nordic access, Powder Alliance access and reciprocal benefits as the standard Unrestricted Season Pass. Eligibility review required.
Buy passWhite Pass's Military Rate season pass for eligible military family Juniors 9-16 for 2026/27, offering the same unlimited unrestricted alpine and Nordic access as the standard Unrestricted Season Pass. Eligibility review required.
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