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    Washington, Usa · Powder Alliance

    White Pass

    1,402 acres, 45 runs between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Family-friendly, locally owned.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    13 Dec 2025
    Closes
    13 Apr 2026
    Days open
    121
    Annual snow
    33ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    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.

    2,047ft
    Vertical
    45
    Runs
    1,402 acres
    Skiable
    33ft
    Annual snow
    Powder Alliance
    Pass
    The Terrain

    45 runs across 1,402 acres skiable

    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.

    Terrain split
    45
    runs
    45 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner9 runs · 20%
    Intermediate27 runs · 60%
    Advanced9 runs · 20%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit White Pass

    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.

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

    Getting to White Pass, and where to stay

    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.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near White Pass, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

    4 Sept 2026
    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

    2 Sept 2026
    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

    1 Sept 2026
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    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

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    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

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    28 Aug 2026
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    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

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    27 Aug 2026
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    26 Aug 2026
    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

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    26 Aug 2026

    White Pass Snow Report

    Snow Report
    Updated 3 Sept 2026
    6,549ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast38°F / 50°F · NW 9mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Total lifts7

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    13 Dec 2025 - 13 Apr 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 45 hours· Updated Sep 4, 2026 at 6:02 AM
    Fri9aNow11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pSat12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pSun12a1a2a3a4a5a
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
    4542
    4844
    5046
    5045
    4843
    5046
    4842
    4740
    4540
    4744
    4744
    4441
    4338
    4238
    4237
    4237
    4137
    4136
    4134
    4034
    4033
    4034
    4136
    4238
    4643
    4945
    5046
    4641
    4641
    4539
    4843
    4742
    4439
    4541
    4642
    4440
    4239
    4036
    4035
    3834
    3833
    3935
    4036
    3935
    4035
    Snowfallin
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0.5
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Precip chance%
    3%
    2%
    5%
    14%
    35%
    39%
    42%
    41%
    33%
    19%
    7%
    5%
    4%
    4%
    3%
    2%
    3%
    3%
    4%
    6%
    7%
    6%
    5%
    7%
    10%
    9%
    13%
    29%
    42%
    54%
    49%
    51%
    64%
    25%
    25%
    25%
    25%
    25%
    25%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    1%
    Precipin00000.00.0000.10000000000000000000.00.30.0000.0000000000000
    Wind / gustmph
    1G4
    3G6
    4G6
    5G8
    5G7
    5G9
    7G11
    9G11
    6G9
    4G7
    2G5
    1G5
    3G5
    3G4
    2G3
    1G3
    2G2
    3G3
    5G5
    5G5
    6G7
    6G6
    5G5
    2G2
    0G4
    3G5
    3G4
    8G9
    6G9
    10G13
    7G10
    7G10
    7G11
    5G6
    2G4
    4G6
    2G3
    2G3
    3G4
    4G3
    3G3
    3G3
    3G3
    3G3
    3G3

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    6,549 ftUpdated Sep 4, 2026 at 6:02 AMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.6"

    Days 8–14

    0.0"

    Unlock days 8–14

    Free account required

    Fri, Sept 4

    Snow
    Temp50° / 38°°F
    Snow0.1"(42%)
    Wind9 mph NW

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the White Pass snow report

    See what's happening on the mountain at White Pass right now — snowfall, snow depth, and weather data to help you plan your day in Washington.

    Snow measurements

    Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At White Pass, summit conditions (1996m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.

    Weather conditions

    Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between White Pass's base and summit.

    Data sources

    White Pass snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 7 lifts, including 3 quad chairlifts.

    When to check

    Conditions can change overnight, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to check back on White Pass.