Tucked deep within the wild heart of the Cascade Mountains, at the end of the road, ski pioneers built the Crystal community in a newly found winter paradise. Since 1962, generations of families and adventurous newcomers alike have come here to discover a love of winter sports and develop a deeper connection to the mountains we call home.
Today, Crystal Mountain stands as Washington’s premier resort destination, offering the most acreage, the most vertical, and the highest elevation of any resort in the state. With some of the most rugged and varied alpine terrain in the Pacific Northwest, legend has it, "if you can ski Crystal, you can ski anywhere in the world."
Come find out for yourself.
The premier ski destination in the pacific northwest
About Crystal Mountain
This is Crystal
The Mountain Built by Skiers, for Skiers
2,600 Acres of Terrain with More than 2,400 vertical feet to explore
Perched on the northeast edge of Mt. Rainier National Park with groomers, steep off-piste, and horizon-wide Cascade views, all five of Washington’s volcanoes line up on Crystal's summit every clear day. Remote yet remarkably easy to reach from SEA, from B-Lot tailgates and first light powder laps to family cruiser sessions and slow scenic rides, Crystal is pure Pacific Northwest. It's an escape, an adventure, and a mountain that feels like home the moment you drop in.
Six Decades of History, From a Two-Chair Start in 1962
Today, it stands as Washington’s largest ski resort with 11 lifts, 2,600 acres, more than 80 named runs, and over 400 inches of annual snowfall. Defined by steep lines, powerful PNW storms, and terrain that tests experts while still welcoming beginners, Crystal has grown from a small operation into a true mountain destination. From its early roots to the expansion plans ahead, here’s how it all came to be.
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Built by Skiers for Skiers
Looking up at the slopes of modern-day Powder Bowl and Lucky Shot, the peaks of Silver Basin offered protected slopes and the variety of terrain early explorers sought.
Recreational interest in the area originated in the 1940s. Mary Lea Griggs, a civic leader from Tacoma, knew the region well. She led ski excursions to Corral Pass—just north of today’s Crystal Mountain—where U.S. Army ski troops trained during World War II. Working alongside Seattle University Professor Reverend Leo Gaffney and others, she helped build momentum for the development of a new ski area.A Community Builds a Mountain
Ski-pioneer Mary Lea Griggs led many of the first surveying trips into the region.
A board of directors was formed, led by Donald H. Amick, a former member of the U.S. Olympic Ski Team. A public fundraising campaign followed, and by summer 1959, 824 families from 36 Washington communities had invested. No single person held more than 1.5 percent of the stock, making Crystal a genuine “mountain co-op.”
The original day lodge was the first of many additions to the base area in the 1960s.
The final hurdle was the access road connecting Highway 410 to the mountain. The cost threatened the entire project, but Governor Albert D. Rosellini saw its potential. After a narrow re-election—supported by Puget Sound skiers—funding was approved. On November 14, Rosellini presided over the official dedication.Opening Day
On December 8, 1962, Crystal Mountain opened with two double chairs, seven rope tows, a T-bar on Gold Hills, and the Day Lodge—marking the start of a new era for skiing in the Pacific Northwest. rich-text, responsive-table
Despite an unlucky snow year during Crystal’s first season, visitation was still impressive. Mountain managers moved forward with a new lift serving Green Valley and the Elk Springs drainage, where high elevations and north-facing slopes held snow well. Construction began the following summer on the Green Valley Double.
GROWING WITH PURPOSE
The Green Valley double was added in 1963, servicing more high-elevation slopes after the first year of operation.
National champion and former Olympian Jack Nagel was selected to run the ski school, what would later become the Crystal Mountain Alpine Club (CMAC). Nagel brought a wealth of experience and used video analysis to improve athlete performance. Crystal quickly became a training hub for ski racing.
Night skiing lights illuminated Quicksilver in the late 1960s, one of the longest night-skiing runs in the world at the time.
The base area continued to grow with the addition of the Silver Skis Chalet and Alpine Inn, including the legendary Snorting Elk Cellar, in 1964. The Summit House was added that year as well. Crystal drew national attention when it hosted the National Alpine Championships in 1965.
Some of the Sunnyside Sliders showed off their signature look in the 1970s, known for their playful freeride style.
Crystal’s infrastructure steadily expanded over the decades. Night skiing was added to Quicksilver in 1967. Freestyle skiing surged in the 1970s. In 1970, the Campbell Basin double chairlift opened, followed by the High Campbell lift in 1980. In 1988, Crystal introduced Washington’s first high-speed detachable quad, the iconic Rainier Express.
The original Rainier Express opened in 1988 as the first high-speed detachable quad in Washington State.
rich-text, responsive-tableVISIONARY EXPANSION
In March 1997, Crystal Mountain entered a new era when it was acquired by Boyne Resorts USA, a pioneering family-owned ski resort company. The family-owned company had long admired the mountain’s potential and committed to significant investment. Boyne pledged over $15 million in capital improvements, ushering in a period of modernization and growth. The Crystal Mountain Founders Club was created to maintain and facilitate early shareholders’ lift access.
The base area continued to expand with John Kircher's leadership through the turn of the century.
John Kircher, a Seattle-based member of the Boyne family, had ambitious plans for the mountain. During his tenure, Crystal added two high-speed six-passenger chairlifts (Chinook Express and Forest Queen Express), one high-speed quad (Green Valley), and the Campbell Basin Lodge—a 12,500-square-foot mid-mountain restaurant featuring artwork from Warren Miller. In 2007, the Northway Double chair was built, offering lift access to more than 1,000 acres of terrain. In 2011, Crystal made history with the installation of the Mount Rainier Gondola—the first and only gondola in Washington State for alpine skiing—reinforcing its aim to evolve into a year-round destination.
Warren Miller, pictured center, attended the inauguration of the Campbell Basin Lodge in 2004.
In March 2014, after heavy February snowfall, routine avalanche mitigation work in Campbell Basin triggered a large slide that destroyed the Campbell Basin double chair while the mountain was closed. The lift was replaced the following summer, and modernization continued.
Kim and John Kircher marked the opening day of the Mount Rainier Gondola, the first gondola built for alpine skiing in Washington State.
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Passing On StewardshipIn October 2018, John Kircher guided Crystal Mountain into Alterra Mountain Company ownership, marking its inauguration into the Alterra family. Alterra Mountain Company is a collection of iconic year-round destinations across the U.S. and Canada, each with its own unique character.
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Expanding Crystal Mountain’s year-round offerings, the Flying Raven Adventure Course debuted in 2023, with more summer activities to follow. In 2024, the Mountain Commons Lodge opened to the public in the base area. The following spring, the original Rainier Express was retired, and a new chairlift was constructed in 2025.
Rooted in the beauty and awe of the Pacific Northwest landscape, Crystal Mountain looks ahead with deep respect for its alpine legacy—and a commitment to unforgettable mountain experiences for generations to come. -
Shaping the Future of Mountain Adventure
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Alterra Mountain Company is rooted in the spirit of the mountains and united by a passion for outdoor adventure. Alterra brings together all its family of destinations—and many additional partners—under the Ikon Pass. Along with Crystal Mountain, Alterra’s network of diverse playgrounds spans across the U.S. and Canada.
Colorado: Steamboat, Winter Park Resort, Arapahoe Basin
California: Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Big Bear Mountain Resort
Vermont: Stratton, Sugarbush
West Virginia: Snowshoe
Utah: Deer Valley Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort
Idaho: Schweitzer
Washington: Crystal Mountain
British Columbia: CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures, Mike Wiegele Heli-Skiing
Quebec: Tremblant
Ontario: Blue Mountain
Alterra Mountain Company honors each destination’s unique character and authenticity, celebrating the adventures and memories they create for guests everywhere. For more information, visit www.alterramtnco.com. rich-text, responsive-table -
Crystal's Lineage
● 1950
Mary Lea Griggs finalized a proposal to the U.S. Forest Service to develop a ski area at Corral Pass. ● 1955
Attention shifted from Corral Pass to Silver Creek Basin due to better snow conditions. ● 1956
Corral Pass Inc. officially changed its name to Crystal Mountain Inc. ● 1962
Crystal Mountain opened on December 8 with Miners Basin double (C-1), Iceberg Ridge double (C-2), seven rope tows, a T-bar, and the Day Lodge. ● 1963
The Green Valley double (C-3) came online in December. ● 1964
Summit House, Silver Skis Chalet, Alpine Inn, and the Snorting Elk Cellar opened in the base area. ● 1965
The Quicksilver double (C-4) was constructed; Crystal hosted the National Alpine Championships. ● 1966
The Chapel and Crystal House (now Quicksilver Lodge) were built. ● 1967
Night skiing debuted on Quicksilver, one of the longest illuminated runs in the world at that time. ● 1968
Crystal hosted the National Alpine Championships and the 15th P-I Silver Skis Downhill. ● 1971
The Campbell Basin Chair opened, linking the base to Campbell Basin. ● 1972
Crystal hosted the Rainier World Cup. ● 1974
The Bullion Basin triple (C-6) was built on the east side of the valley. ● 1976
The High Campbell chair was added, becoming the highest-elevation chair at Crystal. ● 1979
Construction began on the High Campbell Basin double; it opened in early 1980. ● 1983
The Bullion Basin triple (now C-7) was relocated, replacing the T-bar. ● 1984
The Discovery triple (C-8) replaced the meadow rope tow; the Rendezvous triple (C-9) was built. ● 1987
Crystal celebrated its 25th anniversary. ● 1988
The Rainier Express debuted as Washington’s first high-speed quad; the Midway Shuttle quad (C-11) was added. ● 1997
Boyne purchased Crystal Mountain; the Founders Club was formed; Forest Queen Express replaced the fixed-grip quad. ● 1998
The Chinook Express detachable 6-pack replaced the Rendezvous triple. ● 2000
The Green Valley detachable quad was added. ● 2004
Campbell Basin Lodge opened as the first full-service mid-mountain lodge. ● 2007
The Northway Lift debuted; Summit House was remodeled. ● 2011
The Mount Rainier Gondola opened; the RDL Test Center launched; East Peak Plaza was completed. ● 2012
Crystal celebrated its 50th anniversary and added three new PistenBully snowcats. .● 2013
The Fireside Café opened; the Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed; Gazex controls installed; two PB600 E+ snowcats added. ● 2014
Chair 6 was replaced after an avalanche destroyed it; Phase 1 snowmaking was completed. ● 2017
John Kircher took full ownership of Crystal Mountain. ● 2018
Crystal Mountain Resort was sold to Alterra Mountain Company. ● 2022
Alterra began construction on the Mountain Commons. ● 2023
The Flying Raven Adventure Course opened. ● 2024
Mountain Commons Lodge opened, debuting Brew 62 Café, Bootpack Bar, and Crystal Mountain Outfitters. ● 2025
The original Rainier Express was decommissioned, and work began on its modern replacement rich-text, responsive-table
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