Photo of Backcountry Skiing Routes in Crystal Mountain

The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Crystal Mountain

Explore Backcountry Skiing Routes

Located on the Northeast corner of Mt. Rainier National Park less than two hours from Seattle or Bellevue.

Located on the Northeast corner of Mt. Rainier National Park less than two hours from Seattle or Bellevue, Washington, Crystal Mountain’s breathtaking views include Mount Rainier – the 14,400-foot volcano. Within the resorts 2,600 acres of accessible terrain, skiers and riders will find everything from gentle groomers for beginners to challenging chutes, steeps, glades, and bowls for the advanced. Expansive backcountry parallels the open boundary policy for experts and the adventurous - skiers/riders beware - hazard and safety preparedness training recommended. 10 lifts and a gondola service Crystal Mountains 486 inches of annual snowfall and expansive terrain.

Top 128 backcountry skiing routes in Crystal Mountain

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Faith's Right

This broad, relatively easy face is a good run for non-experts wanting to challenge themselves on High Campbell. This run can be accessed from the top of Chair 6 either by taking the front traverse to OO Left or by following the Powder Bowl ridge until you reach the opening in the trees, then proceeding towards Chair 6....

Berry Patch

This fun run is really three separate slots through the trees. Thanks to a large avalanche on Rock Face in 2013, many of the trees on the right side of Berry Patch were destroyed....

Powder Alley

A hidden glade through the trees, Powder Alley can be found on the skiers left of the Rock Face rope line. Note that Rock Face is permanently closed. Powder Alley is a narrow opening along the upper ridge....

East Peak and Cement Basin

This trip is quite similar to East Peak but it gives you some East facing slopes which usually get a bit more snow then East Peak itself. That being said this area is one big terrain trap and has had some disastrous results from people riding it in dangerous conditions....

Pickhandle Point West and the Stormtrooper

Linking up both Pickhandle Point West slope and the Storm Trooper is the perfect ski tour if you don’t want to commit your whole day. This trip can be done in a few hours as it is quite close to the ski resort with a clear view from the ski lifts....

Dogleg Peak Camping Mission

The whole Dogleg Peak area has been one of my go to areas for years as you just can’t beat both the terrain and access. This area offers it all with wide open low angle bowls, steep tree skiing and a real nice chute on the North side as well as some open trees on its south slope....

Pickhandle Peak and Crown Point

The North Swaths of Pickhandle Point is a great area that sees far less crowds compared to the surround area. While most places get tracked out the day after a storm this area usually holds snow days after the last storm....

Bullion Peak

Bullion peak is one of if not the easiest way to get into the high country within the Crystal Mountain area. Having a summer trail all the way to the summit, this route is straight foreword and offers some great North facing gullies to descend....

Crown Point Area

Crown Point was one of those ski tours that we had to ourselves for years but with the popularity of ski touring this area seems to get more and more traffic....

East Peak

If you asked me what is my favourite line to quickly get into the Crystal Mountain Backcountry, it is without a doubt East Peak. With almost 3,000 feet of vert this line give you the best bang for you buck and a fast ski tourer can be at the summit in less then 2 hours (as long as the snow isn’t waist deep) Starting at the Crystal Mountain base you can make your way up a groomer trail on the lookers left of Gold Hills....

Norse Peak and Lake Basin

Norse Peak is the crown of Norse Peak Wilderness and the highest point within the Crystal Mountain Valley. Looking Northeast from the ski hill it is the high point within a long extending ridge that goes all the way down to 410....

Big Crow Basin and Norse Peak

This trip is all about timing as the trip is insanely long but if you are willing to go the extra few miles it is almost guaranteed that you will have this place to yourself....

Gunbarrel

Gunbarrel is one of those slopes that is as direct as it gets being unobstructed the whole way and a north facing gully. This area gets wind loaded and can easily have some of the best snow around....

Crystal Lakes Basin Loop

The Crystal Lakes Basin has some great ski touring potential just outside of the ski resort and within Mount Rainier National Park. Being that the main outflow of this area is to the North it offers a handful of great powder slopes if you know where to look....

Morse Creek Chutes

The Morse Creek Chutes are a handful of nice north facing lines within Morse Creek Basin and Just beyond the ski resort. Standing on top of the King you can see this lines but without ski touring gear there is no way to access them....

Morse Creek North Bowl

The Beyond Southback Loop is one of my favourite ski tours south of the resort which offers 4 ski descents with 3 of them being quite nice. This is a great way to see what the terrain offers and the main run of the trip will hold snow much longer than most areas in the surrounding area....

Watch Out For Livestock (aka Livestock)

The name Watch our for Livestock refers to the size of chunks in the avalanche debris. This slope is not as popular as its neighbors, due in part to tricky route finding and the steep, unforgiving rock and tree band that cross it mid-slope....

Water Wings

A short open face on the far skiers left of Powder Bowl, Water Wings offers 400-500 feet of vertical to the cat track below. Watch the transition to the cat track, as it can be a large drop off here....

Lower Bear Pits

Numerous spines, chutes and glades that open to a wide basin, Lower Bear Pits is accessed by either Shot 1 gate or the two gates along the Signline Right ropeline. Once inside the gates, there are no hazard markings....

Appliance Store

This is an aesthetically pleasing, classic couloir wide enough to link turns. The name Appliance Store refers to the size of the avalanche debris that can sometimes be found at the base of the chute....

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A view of the area