Stevens Pass

• Stevens Pass Nordic Center 

  • Just east of Stevens Pass

  • Around 15 miles of groomed trails

Snoqualmie Pass

• The Summit at Snoqualmie

  • 50km of groomed trails, access to upper trails via chairlift

  • Great views on Mt. Catherine Loop

• Hyak Sno-Park

  • Snoqualmie Pass

  • Flat beginner trails, connect to Crystal Springs

  • Crowded weekends

  • Heated restrooms

  • Need Seasonal Sno-Park permit with the special grooming sticker, or a day pass.  

• Crystal Springs Sno-Park 

  • Snoqualmie Pass

  • Groomed for skiers/snowshoers

  • Some dog-sled trails (no tracks)

  • Need Seasonal Sno-Park permit with the special grooming sticker, or a day pass.  

• Cabin Creek 

  • Near Easton

  • 8 miles of easy groomed trails

  • Varied terrain

  • Used for races

  • Need Seasonal Sno-Park permit with the special grooming sticker, or a day pass.  

• Lake Easton Sno-Park

  • Offers trails

  • Need Seasonal Sno-Park permit with the special grooming sticker, or a day pass.  

Mount Baker

• Razor Hone Base Area

  • Trail at Salmon Ridge Sno-Park 

  • Around 15 miles of groomed trails

  • Track skiing and a skate deck

Chelan-Leavenworth

• Echo Ridge Nordic Area 

  • 25 miles of groomed trails

  • Operated by the Chelan Ranger District with the Lake Chelan Nordic Ski Club

  • Sno-Park permits and NW Forest Passes are not honored here

  • Lake Chelan Winterfest

  • Lake Chelan Nordic Club 

• Plain Valley Nordic Trails

  • Near Leavenworth

  • Around 16 miles of groomed ski trails

  • Stay at Lake Wenatchee State Park

• Local Sno Parks:

  • Antilon Lake Sno-Park

  • Black Canyon Sno-Park

  • Chiwawa Sno-Park

    • 15 miles of non-motorized trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

    • Groomed Ski Routes 

      • 7.6k See and Ski loop 

      • 3.5k Squirrel Run

    • Ungroomed Ski Routesoutes 

      • 10k Flying Loop

    • Snowshoe Trails

      • 3 miles of designated trails

  • Eagle Creek Sno-Park

  • Echo Valley Sno-Park

  • Entiat River Sno-Park

  • Fish Lake Sno-Park

  • Lake Wenatchee Airstrip Sno-Park

  • Lake Wenatchee Sno-Park

    • Camp and ski here 

  • Mad River Sno-Park

  • Nason Ridge Sno-Park

    • 20 miles total of groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

      • 12 miles machine-groomed for both classic and skate skiing

      • over 4 miles of designated Snowshoe Trails

    • Rolling terrain at Lower Nason 

    • More challenging ridge-top views at Upper Nason

    • Connects to Lake Wenatchee trails 

  • South Fork Gold Creek Sno-Park

  • Stemilt Sno-Park

  • Twenty-five Mile Creek Sno-Park

Methow Valley

• Methow Trails

  • Mecca for Nordic skiers

    • Great groomed trails

    • Warming Huts

    • Pizza Cafes to stop at

    • High end touristy area in Winthrop 

    • Many lodging options - including high end hostel in Winthrop

  • Four Main Ski Areas

    • Methow Valley Community Trail system (30 km)

    • Sun Mountain trail system (54 km)

    • Mazama Trails (33 km) 

    • Rendezvous Trails (48 km)

  • Local ski events 

    • Backyard Ski Day late January

    • Race of the Methow after Backyard Ski Day

    • Ski to the Sun in February 

South Cascades

• Koshko Sno-Park & Old Man Sno-Park

  • Part of a large, connected system with around 40 miles of Nordic trails

  • great for both classic and skate skiing.

• McClellan Meadows Sno-Park

  • Near Koshko & Old Man Sno-Parks

  • The smallest of the three linked parks

  • More gentle terrain for Nordic skiing

• Wakepish Sno-Park

  • 33 miles of trails for skiing and snowshoeing

• Marble Mountain Sno-Park

  • 36 miles of trails

  • Trails are shared with motorized users

• Governmental Mineral Springs Sno-Park

  • 154 miles of trails for both snowmobiles and skiers

Greenwater-Yakima

• Mount Tahoma Trails Association

  • 44 km of groomed trails 

  • Three backcountry huts and a yurt

    • Bunks are available at only $15 per night 

      • Reserve ahead of time

      • Bring a sleeping bag and food 

      • Plan to share space with others

Spokane

• Spokane Nordic Ski Association

  • 23 miles of doubletrack with a skating deck

  • Langlauf 10km classic ski race in February

Avalanche Training

Avalanche Training is manditory for members interested in Backcountry Skiing, Splitboarding, Climbing and other Adventures in Avalanche areas. 

Avalanche Rescue Training

Snowpit Analysis

Backcountry Nordic Skiing

Backcountry skiing allows you to go on more challenging adventures on fresh snow and potentially remote areas you can only get to on skis or snow shoes.  

These adventures require special gear, including wider skis, ski touring boots, skins and potentially crampons.  Avalanche training is also required for these types of outings and even though the risk of being caught in an avalanche can be greatly reduced with proper training and planning, many of these trips will take you into avalanche areas.  Backcountry skiing is NOT a risk-free adventure. 

These types of adventures are only suitable for select Scouts and properly trained and experienced Adult Leads.

Stevens Pass

• Tonga Ridge

  • Mostly above treeline

  • Parking depends on how close you can drive to trailhead

  • Gentle Slopes

• Grace Lakes

  • Near treeline

  • Open if you follow trails

  • Arrive early to park at the upper ski resort lots

• Skyline Lake

  • Out of trees if you stay on road

  • Arrive early to park at the upper ski resort lots

  • Can get to Tye Peak

• Smithbrook

  • Some trees

  • Low Angle

  • Park on Highway 2 at pullout area

  • Explore Mount McCausland or Nason Ridge 

• Yodelin

  • Some trees

  • Low angle area

  • Park at lower lot of ski resort

Snoqualmie Pass

• Source Lake, Pineapple Pass, Snow Lake

  • Some steep areas

  • Lots of open terrain

  • Parking al lower Alpental lot

  • Beware of avalanche risk 

  • Steep trailhead

• Kendall Knob

  • Trees

  • Park by Snoqualmie Summit West lot

  • Many route options

    • Approach and descend south side

    • Consider taking the Commonwealth Basin luge track out

    • Longer tour - Kendall Lakes 

• Silver Peak

  • A late season option

  • Minimal trees to worry about

  • Park as far as you can on FS 9070, ideally after the road is clear of snow

Roaring Ridge

• • Park at Hyak Ski Resort or pay to park at Hyak Sno-Park. 

  • "Christmas Tree Bowl"?

• Gold Creek Ridge

  • Low angle terrain

  • Park at Gold Creek Sno-Park 

  • You will have to navigate above high angle overhead hazards and around trees

• Mount Margaret

  • Old growth forest up high is more open

  • Lower forest is dense

  • Drive as far as you can to avoid dense trees past Gold Creek Pond

• Keechelus

  • Park at Crystal Springs Sno-Park 

• Amabilis

  • Park at Cabin Creek Sno-Park

  • Groomed Nordic ski trail

Mount Baker

• Artist Point

  • Above treeline

  • Park at Heather Meadows

  • Possible to avoid avalanche terrain if planned appropriately

• Bagley Basin

  • Above treeline

  • Park at Heather Meadows

  • Can explore Herman Pass or travel around Table Mountain

  • Lower angle and open terrain

  • Note overhead hazards

Cle Elum

• Hex Mountain

  • Park at Trailhead

  • Snowshoe trail

  • Open if you stay on trail

• Red Mountain

  • Park near bridge

  • Choose carefully to avoid thicker trails

• Salmon La Sac Creek

  • Low tree density 

  • Park at the Salmon La Sac Sno-Park

Blewett Pass

• Diamond Head 

  • Open Terrain

  • Park at Blewett Sno-Park 

• Tronsen Ridge

  • Open Terrain

  • Park at Tronsen Ridge by NF-7230

Mount Rainier

• Paradise

  • A lot of low angle terrain without trees on approach to Camp Muir

  • Park at Paradise

  • National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass

  • Consider:

    • Edith Creek 

    • Skyline Trail

  • Several avalanche areas

• Camp Muir

  • Muir Snowfield Option

    • 8.8-mile round-trip backcountry skiing and hiking route

    • Notoriously dangerous due to sudden whiteout conditions

      • Must have solid navigation skills

    • Very popular area for skiing

    • Almost no trees

    • May be tons of people heading up to ski

    • Park at Paradise or by bridge at bottom

  • Nisqually Chutes option

    • MUCH Steeper option down through avalanche terrain

    • NOT for beginner skiers 

    • See https://caltopo.com/m/JFKM 

  • National Park Pass or America the Beautiful pass required

• The Castle in the Tatoosh Range

  • Park at Narada Falls parking lot

  • Steep north-facing chutes 

  • Exceptional views of Mount Rainier

  • Reflection Lakes Option

    • Light trees

    • Use road to reflections lake

      • Be aware of avalanche areas

    • Take the trail to the Pinnacle-Plummer saddle

      • May requier crampons or ice tools to summit 

  • Other Tatoosh Range options

    • Different terrain with peaks

      • Pinnacle and Plummer

  • National Park Pass or America the Beautiful pass required

• Crystal Mountain

  • Some uphill routes for backcountry skiing

    • Norse, East, and Platinum Peak 

      • Beginner trails

      • Few trees

      • Watch out for snowshoers in lower tracks

  • Parking at Crystal Mountain Resort

    • Check parking conditions (due to road access)

    • May need to carpool for free parking or just get a ski pass

South Cascades

• Mount St Helens

  • Start at Marble Mountain Sno-Park

  • Trees at end

  • Requires climbing permit in warmer months recreation.gov/permits/4675309 

• Mount Adams

  • Difficult climb

  • Southwest Chutes Option

    • More Exciting

    • Some uphill to get back to cars

    • Requires climbing permit in warmer months recreation.gov/activitypass/4280e9ae-d010-11ea-8e82-82c0c22bed90 

Olympics

• Hurricane Ridge

  • Several short options

  • Road Start Option

    • Start at road and head downhil to avoid trees

  • Mt Angeles option

    • Up from road into trees

  • National Park Pass or America the Beautiful pass required