Travel to Crystal Mountain with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Crystal Mountain’s superb location in Mount Rainier’s breathtaking natural environment is a far cry from the bustle of city life, and immediately puts visitors at ease. The ski resort is purpose-built, and has all the conveniences to make your holiday as stress-free as possible, as well as a full range of onsite accommodation.

Crystal Mountain has 50 runs, of which only 13 per cent cater for beginners; these are in novice areas set apart from the more advanced slopes, offering smooth riding for the upper levels with no disruption from inexperienced skiers. Intermediates have 57 per cent of the slopes at their disposal, and advanced/expert skiers have 30 per cent, as well as testing off-piste trails guaranteed to get the adrenalin flowing.

The ski resort has an impressive system of 10 lifts, with an uplift capacity of 19,000 people per hour. The longest downhill run at Crystal Mountain resort is four kilometres, and the vertical is almost 1,000m.

Accommodation offered by the ski resort is comprised of 96 condos, three hotels and 21 hook-ups in the overnight parking area. Crystal Mountain’s range of amenities is made up of a post office, grocery store, first-aid services, a sports shop and a rental/repair shop. For after-hours entertainment, there are a number of restaurants, cafés, lounges, two bars and a pub. Other off-slope activities include swimming, saunas and telemarking.

Crystal Mountain’s ski season runs from mid-November to mid-April, with optimal snow conditions in February and discount rates for children under the age of 11. The most convenient method of getting to the resort is by flying to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and taking a bus transfer to Crystal Mountain.

Skiing in Crystal Mountain

Located in gorgeous Mount Rainier National Park, southeast of Seattle, Crystal Mountain is Washington’s sole true ski resort and offers incomparable vistas, fabulous snow coverage, plus skiing and snowboarding on lengthy downhill and challenging off-piste trails. Additionally, the resort’s great terrain park is sure to thrill visitors with its slopes, ridges and 65-metre half-pipe.

Crystal Mountain ski resort offers skiing for everyone, but is particularly popular with advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders for its tight runs and hard-core off-piste terrain. Ten modern lifts are able to transport as many as 19,000 visitors per hour to the slopes.

Of the 50 slopes at the resort, 13 per cent are reserved for beginners and are located in separate novice areas, 57 per cent cater to intermediates and 30 per cent are for advanced/expert riders. Crystal features a longest run of four kilometres.

Skiing is offered in Crystal Mountain from mid-November to mid-April, with night skiing available from January 7 to February 5. The best snow conditions are in the month of February, and lower rates are offered for children under 11 years of age. The easiest method of transportation to the resort is to fly into Seattle and take a bus the rest of the way.

Après-ski in Crystal Mountain

Alternative winter activities offered by Crystal Mountain are telemarking, saunas and swimming, and a lively après-ski scene is to be had in a variety of eateries, bars, lounges and cafés encompassed by the resort.

Onsite lodging is provided by three hotels and 96 condominiums; additionally, 21 hook-ups are provided in the overnight parking area. Facilities include a sports shop, post office, grocery store, first-aid room, and a rental and repair shop, but there is no childcare provided for non-skiers. However, ski classes are available at Crystal Mountain for 4- to 11-year-olds, and snowboard classes for 7- to 11-year-olds.

There are many attractive options for excursions from the ski resort, including the exciting city of Seattle, located southeast of Crystal Mountain and famous for its beautiful views and thriving nightlife. Closer to the slopes, the nearby town of Enumclaw is rustic and inviting, and offers visitors a glimpse into traditional small-town life.

Transportation in Crystal Mountain

Crystal Mountain ski resort is situated in Mount Rainier National Park, 150kms southeast of Seattle, and is most easily accessed by flying to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and taking a shuttle bus the rest of the way. Other travel options include self-drive and rail transportation.

The main highways leading to Seattle are I-5, which runs north-south, and I-90, coming from the east. If you are driving from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, take I-5 south and exit on to highway 18 leading to Auburn. Turn right on to highway 164 (Auburn Way) to Enumclaw, from where highway 410 leads to Crystal Mountain.

Amtrak trains run to Seattle from San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Coast Starlight route, and from Spokane and points east on the Empire Builder route. Amtrak also provides services from Vancouver (British Columbia) and from Portland (Oregon) to Seattle. The train takes about four hours from Vancouver to Seattle, and three to four hours from Portland.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the closest airport to the resort and receives frequent flights coming from all over the United States and major cities across the globe. Shuttle buses provide transportation from the airport to Crystal Mountain. A helicopter service also travels from Victoria and Vancouver in Canada to Seattles Boeing Field Airport, and shuttles provide transportation from there to central Seattle.

Greyhound buses run to Seattle from all over the US, and are a more affordable, but less comfortable, means of transportation to the city.

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