Is Stevens Pass or Crystal Mountain Better for You?

If you're in the Seattle area or are headed there to ski or snowboard, should you visit Crystal Mountain or Stevens Pass? Here are some factors to consider:

(1) Ski Pass - Stevens Pass honors Epic Pass and Crystal Mountain honors Ikon Pass. So if you have one of those passes, that may be a big factor.

(2) Distance from SEA-TAC Airport - Both resorts are just over 1.5 hours by car from the airport in good driving conditions. If you live in southern Seattle, Crystal will be closer to you. If you live in northern Seattle, Stevens will be closer to you.

(3) Skiable Terrain - Crystal Mountain has nearly twice the vertical drop and more than twice the skiable acreage of Stevens Pass. And both resorts claim an identical percentage of beginner, intermediate and expert terrain. So you can fairly view Crystal and Stevens multiplied by 2.

(4) Views - Both resorts are in the Cascades mountain range and are only 55 miles apart from each other. But while the views may be relatively similar, Crystal has a close-up view of Mount Rainier, which is tough to beat.

(5) Chairlift Lines - The lines are pretty similar at both resorts. There are significant lines in the mornings on the weekend, generally improving as the day progresses. The lines are pretty short on weekdays.

(6) Chairlifts - Both resorts have a mixture of high-speed detachable chairlifts and older, slower, fixed chairlifts. The older chairlifts tend to service the more advanced terrain. Unlike Stevens Pass, Crystal Mountain has a gondola. However, while you can enjoy being enclosed in the gondola on your way up the mountain, the line for the gondola is outdoors.

(7) Parking - If free parking is the most important perk to you, Stevens wins. Historically, it has had entirely free parking. The parking lots at Crystal that are closest to the base are paid parking. But the rest is free. Both resorts have had parking issues over the past several years, with the lots filling up early, particularly on weekends and good snow days. So the best bet is to check what the current parking policies are and to show up early, as in well before 9:00 am.

(8) Facilities - Currently, the base at Stevens seems a little larger than the base at Crystal. It has more restaurant and locker options. However, Crystal is undergoing a renovation project, including the construction of new facilities. This may eventually provide Crystal with an advantage by having a larger, more modern base. While Crystal currently seems to have some more interesting food options with its food trailers, both resorts generally have standard quality food for a ski resort.

(9) Accommodations - Crystal Mountain has a limited amount of old accommodations at the base. Many complain that they are outdated and overpriced. If you stay there, be aware that there are no outside restaurants in the immediate area. You will be limited to the restaurant at the lodge. The largest major town is Enumclaw, about a 50 minute drive away. But you can find plenty of house rentals about 20 minutes from the base. If you stay at a house rental, you may want to pick up groceries at Enumclaw, because there are limited options closer to Crystal. Steven has no accommodations at the base, and a limited amount of house rentals nearby. If you want to stay in a more populated are, one great option is Leavenworth, a Bavarian themed town. However, if you're driving from Seattle, you will have to drive past Stevens Pass to get there. So your overall driving time will be significantly more.