Stevens Pass is one of the most popular ski resorts in WA state. Located about 2 hours east of Seattle and about 45 minutes west of Leavenworth, the resort attracts tens of thousands or people every year. Stevens has 10 different lifts and is a great place to ski. It was acquired by Vail Resorts in 2018, so if you buy the Epic Pass, you’ll be able to ski in many spectacular locations, such as Utah, Colorado or around Lake Tahoe. Here is a simple guide for intermediate skiers to skiing at Stevens Pass with ideas on how to best explore and enjoy the ski resort.
A Simple Guide for Intermediate Skiers to Skiing at Stevens Pass
1. Best lifts for intermediate skiers
Skyline, Brooks, and Hogsback, all high-speed quads, offer access to predominately blue runs. They are basically next to each other on the front side of the mountain, so you can choose which one to take depending on the lines (map). Some of my favorite runs are Waterfall off of Brooks as well as Barrier Ridge and Skyline off of Skyline. To be truthful, I don’t ski Hogsback a lot because the lines are always the longest there. If you’re at Stevens when it’s not crowded, check out Hog Heaven and Hagen Hill. They are both nice long runs with pretty views. My favorite part of the mountain, however, and my favorite run, Skid Road, are off of the Tye Mill chair. In order to get there, you’ll have to take the Hogsback lift. The Skid Road run is beautiful and typically not busy, which is nice. There is one more chair, Kehr’s (previously Big Chief), which I recommend checking out. The Showcase run is the only blue run off this chair. It is a bit steeper than the other blue runs on the mountain but it offers really nice views. The lift itself is old, fixed-grip two person chair but don’t let that discourage you.
2. The back side
The back side gives you access to the Mill Valley area and a steeper terrain. For those who like to ski black diamonds, this is the place to go. Since I only ski blue runs, I typically stick to the front side of the mountain. However, on a nice day, it is really pretty to do a couple of runs on the back side. I think the Gemini run is gorgeous and really long. It’s slightly steep in places but not bad. Aquarius, another blue run is steeper at the top and then gets gradually easier. Overall, both runs are fun, so if the back side is open, give it a try.
Night skiing
Stevens Pass offers great night skiing, perhaps some of the best night skiing in the country. Depending on the season, night skiing is open up to 5 times a week. This means, you can put in a day of work, drive to the resort, and ski till 10 pm. Night skiing also means the resort is less crowded. Check the website for details, especially late in the season to make sure they’re open at night.
Tips and suggestions
Parking: Stevens Pass fills up, especially on weekends and during holidays, so parking may be challenging. If you park in the north parking lot, across the street from the resort, you can walk using the overpass and won’t need to climb the stairs.
Avoiding the tow rope: If you want to avoid riding a tow rope, end your day on the Kehr’s chair. We typically start on Brooks or Skyline, work our way to Tye Mill, and eventually finish the day at Kehr’s. If you reverse the order, you will need to take the tow rope or hike up to access the parking lots.
