Washington State — Backcountry Skiing
Backcountry Skiing
Washington State
Regional guides for Winthrop / Highway 20, Snoqualmie Pass, and Stevens Pass — tours, conditions, and avalanche resources.
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Overview
Washington State has some of the best accessible backcountry skiing in the lower 48, with major corridors along Highway 20, I-90, and Highway 2 putting serious terrain within reach of a day trip from Seattle. The North Cascades offer high-elevation north-facing lines that hold cold snow; the Snoqualmie corridor packs a high density of objectives close to the city; and Stevens Pass gives reliable snow at elevation on a schedule that suits both early-season and mid-winter tours.
Every region operates under NWAC avalanche forecasts and seasonal road and parking permit requirements. Use the regional guides below to plan — each one includes tour descriptions, conditions, and avalanche resources specific to that area.
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Washington Backcountry at a Glance
Best steep objective
Delancey Ridge near Winthrop — 3,000+ ft of fall-line skiing from the Silver Star Sno-Park
Most iconic line
Slot Couloir on Snoqualmie Mountain at Snoqualmie Pass — the signature Cascades backcountry descent
Best tree skiing
Yodelin at Stevens Pass — former ski area with mixed terrain, good on higher-hazard days
Best spring tour
Maple Pass near Winthrop — classic corn snow objective once Highway 20 opens in late April
Always check first
NWAC avalanche forecast for your zone before any backcountry tour in the Cascades
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Regions
North Cascades — Methow Valley
Winthrop / Highway 20
Highway 20 near Washington and Rainy Passes is the premier backcountry skiing corridor on the eastern slopes of the North Cascades. Delancey Ridge, Powder Cache, Blue Lake, and Maple Pass all sit within reach of the highway when the gate is open. Highway 20 closes mid-November through mid-April — gate location varies year to year and determines whether objectives are day tours or expedition-length approaches. The NWAC East Slopes North zone covers this terrain.
- 5 ski tours
- North Cascades
- NWAC East Slopes North
I-90 Corridor — 1 hour from Seattle
Snoqualmie Pass
Snoqualmie Pass sits at 3,022 ft along I-90, close enough to Seattle to draw a large backcountry crowd. The density of objectives is high relative to approach time — the Slot Couloir on Chair Peak, The Twins in the Kendall Adventure Zone, and Commonwealth Basin can all be reached in a day. The tradeoff is maritime snowpack: rain at pass level is common during storms, and avalanche conditions can be complex.
- 4 tour areas
- I-90 corridor
- NWAC Snoqualmie Pass zone
Highway 2 — 1.5 hours from Seattle
Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass sits at 4,061 ft along Highway 2, high enough to stay above the rain-snow line on most winter days. The main touring areas are Yodelin, a former ski area with mixed terrain about 1.7 miles east of the resort, and Skyline, a short accessible tour from the ski resort parking lot. Yodelin's more moderate terrain makes it a reliable choice on higher-hazard days when steeper objectives are off the table.
- 2 tour areas
- Highway 2 corridor
- NWAC West Slopes North zone
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