State has much to offer beyond the Cascades’ big ski hills
Come winter, most Washington skiers and snowboarders look no farther than the Cascade’s Big 6. However, the state has numerous other options worth exploring.
The state’s second-largest ski area is 49 Degrees North, north of Spokane. Loup Loup Ski Bowl near the Methow Valley had a descent snow season last year, at least better than many others around the Northwest. And outfits such as Cascade Powder Cats and North Cascade Heli offer epic backcountry experiences.
Here are the details on Washington’s other ski areas:
49 Degrees North
Chewelah
Lift tickets: $55.
Terrain: 82 trails, 2,325 acres, terrain park.
Lifts: Five double chairs, one quad, one surface lift.
Elevation: 5,774-foot highest lift, 3,923 base, 1,851 drop.
Annual snowfall: 301 inches.
Cross-country: 16 kilometers.
More info: ski49n.com.
Bluewood
Near Dayton
Lift tickets: $39.
Terrain: 24 trails, 350 acres.
Lifts: Two triple chairs, one pommel.
Elevation: 5,670-foot highest lift, 4,545 base, 1,125 drop.
Annual snowfall: 300 inches.
More info: bluewood.com.
Cascade Powder Cats
Stevens Pass
Lift tickets: $350-$395 per day.
Terrain: 2,000 acres.
Lifts: Four snowcats, two Mattracks.
Elevation: 6,000 feet summit, 3,000 base, 3,000 drop.
More info: cascadepowdercats.com.
Echo Valley
Near Chelan
Lift tickets: $25 includes access to tubing.
Terrain: 70 acres.
Lifts: Three rope tows, one poma.
Elevation: 3,000 feet summit, 2,100 base, 900 drop.
Annual snowfall: 72 inches.
More info: echovalley.org.
Hurricane Ridge
Olympic National Park
Lift tickets: $12-$35 depending on lifts used. A park entry fee of $20 per vehicle is charged at the park.
Terrain: 10 trails, 100 acres, terrain park.
Lifts: One poma, two rope tows.
Elevation: 5,500-foot highest lift, 4,700 base, 800 drop.
Annual snowfall: 400 inches.
Cross-country: Available in the area and other parts of the park.
More info: hurricaneridge.com.
Leavenworth Ski Hill
Leavenworth
Lift tickets: $18 to use either downhill or cross country trails or tubing hill. $32 to use all three facilities.
Terrain: 20 acres, including a small-scale ski jump.
Lifts: Two rope tows.
Elevation: 1,700-foot summit, 1,400 base, 300 drop.
Annual snowfall: 120 inches.
Cross-country: 7.5 kilometers, including 5 kilometers lit for night skiing.
More info: skileavenworth.com.
Loup Loup Ski Bowl
Between Twisp and Omak
Lift tickets: $42-$48.
Terrain: 10 trails, 550 acres.
Lifts: One quad, one platter pull and rope tow.
Elevation: 4,020-foot highest lift, 2,780 base, 1,240 drop.
Annual snowfall: 150 inches.
Cross-country: 25 kilometers.
More info: skitheloup.com.
Mount Spokane
North of Spokane
Lift tickets: $54 weekends, $39 midweek.
Terrain: 44 trails, 1,200 acres, terrain park.
Lifts: 5 double lifts.
Elevation: 5,889-foot highest lift, 4,200 base, 2,000 skiable drop.
Annual snowfall: 300 inches.
Cross-country: 25 kilometers.
More info: mtspokane.com.
North Cascade Heli Skiing
Mazama
Lift tickets: Starting at $500 for one day.
Terrain: Access to more than 300,000 acres.
Lifts: A helicopter is used to shuttle skiers and snowboarders to the top of their runs.
Elevation: Drop-offs as high as 8,900 feet with vertical drops as much 3,800 feet.
More info: heli-ski.com.
Sitzmark Lifts
17 miles northeast of Tonasket
Lift tickets: $35.
Terrain: 15 trails, 80 groomed acres.
Lifts: One double chair and one rope tow.
Elevation: 4,950-foot high point, 4,300 base, 650 drop.
Annual snowfall: 150 inches.
Cross-country: 3 kilometers.
More info: sitzmark.org.
Badger Mountain
Near East Wenatchee
Lift tickets: $10.
Terrain: Five trails, 20 acres.
Lifts: Two rope tows and one T-bar.
Elevation: 3,800 feet summit, 3,000 base, 800 drop.
Annual snowfall: 100 inches.
Cross-country: 5 kilometers.
More info: skibadgermt.com.
Meany Lodge
Stampede Pass
Lift tickets: $35 per day or $95-$110 including one or two nights lodging and meals. A Sno-Park ($20) is also required.
Terrain: 10 trails, 550 acres.
Lifts: Two rope tows.
Elevation: 4,020-foot highest lift, 2,780 base, 1,240 drop.
Annual snowfall: 150 inches.
Cross-country: 25 kilometers.
More info: meanylodge.org.
This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 6:24 PM with the headline "State has much to offer beyond the Cascades’ big ski hills."