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Snowshoeing in the Mt. Rainier National Park Area

TRIP REPORTS | CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN | WHITE PASS
Snowshoeing Trip Reports

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Snowshoe Name Distance Time Gain Starting Point
Anderson Lake Snowshoe 6.8 miles, RT 5-6 hrs 2,000 ft Sno-Park for MTTA
Corral Pass Snowshoe 11.5 miles, RT 8 hrs 2,800 ft Corral Pass Road
Deer Lake 6 miles RT 4 hours 780 feet Yurt at Village Inn Condos
Goat Falls Snowshoe 2.5 miles, RT 2 hrs 500 ft Corral Pass Road
High Hut Showshoe 8.6 miles, RT 7-9 hrs 2,400 ft Sno-Park for MTTA
River Trail (Blue Diamond Trail) 3.2 miles RT 2 Hours 100 feet Silver Creek Sno-Park
Snow Bowl Hut Snowshoe 8.6 miles, RT 7-8 hrs 2,250 ft Sno-Park for MTTA
Twin Lakes Snowshoe 6.1 miles, RT 4-6 hrs 1,600 ft Carbon River Road
White Pass Nordic Center Snowshoe Trails 1.7 miles RT Lake Loop
4.0 miles RT Lake and Waterfall loops		 2 hours Lake Loop
4 hours Lake and Waterfall loops		 100 feet Lake Loop
300 feet Lake and waterfall loops
White River Trail up to 10.0 miles RT 2- to 7 hours 700 feet
Alpine Wilderness Snowshoe Tours at Crystal Mountain
Ski Area
  • Reservations are required: phone 1-360-663-3050,
    email guestservices@skicrystal.com, or sign up in the Rental Shop.
  • 3:15pm: Check in at the Rental Shop; 6:30pm: Return to Lodge for dinner.
  • Minimum age is 11. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • More info on snowshoe tours.

Join us every Saturday from mid-December to late-March for a 2.5 hr late afternoon snowshoe tour of the alpine wilderness. We begin our tour by taking a scenic ride on the Mt. Rainier Gondola to the summit of Crystal Mountain at 6872'. Once at the summit, we take in the beauty of the Cascade mountain range, strap on our snowshoes and head north along the ridgeline. We frolic out past Green Valley and Snorting Elk into our Northcountry where we hydrate and fuel up with a nutritious snack. We then depart the backcountry, head back up the ridge to the gondola and download to the base area lodge for an incredible cheese fondue dinner with a selection of vegetables, salad and homemade apple tarts for dessert. All abilities are welcome. Tours are available Friday nights by reservation only for groups of 10 or more. All tours are weather permitting.

COST:

  • $35 includes complimentary gondola ride, tour with cheese fondue dinner, steak bites, salad, and dessert.
  • $55 includes snowshoe rental, complimentary gondola ride, tour with cheese fondue dinner, steak bites, salad, and dessert.
Snowshoeing Touring at Crystal
Photo: Courtesy Crystal Mountain
Snowshoeing Touring at Crystal
Photo: Courtesy Crystal Mountain
White Pass Nordic Center
  • White Pass Nordic Center
  • The Nordic Track is open 8:30-4pm. Thursdays through Sundays
  • Trails are 2-3K, easy to difficult
  • For additional information, call us at: 509.672.3101

On the opposite side of Hwy. 12 from the downhill ski area at White Pass is the Pacific Northwest's most unique nordic trail -- an 18 kilometer cross country network for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Rental skis and snowshoes are available at the Yurt located at the Nordic Center Trail Head which sits just behind the Village Inn Condominiums. Lessons meet Thursday - Sunday at 10am and Noon at the Yurt.

"The staff at White Pass, especially Richard Brooks and Kathleen Goyette, gave my friends and I everything that we needed and made us feel like family. The whole time we were there, people were having fun in the snow all around us. Not just cross country skiing and snowshoeing but playing in the snow and sun as well." - Doug DeVany

WATCH VIDEO:
White Pass Nordic Center Activities
The White Pass Nordic Center
Photo: Doug DeVany