Overview
Summit West is one of the four Snoqualmie Summit Ski areas. It is the best location to learn to ski at Snoqualmie Pass, therefore its nickname “The Place to Learn”. There is a dedicated first timer program and most of the terrain is beginner and intermediate level. The summit is at 3765 ft and the base is at 3000 ft. This makes for a 765 ft vertical drop. Night skiing is available so come on up midweek after work or school.
For beginners, Summit West offers a Kid Club Lesson Package for kids. They also have a First Class Beginner Lesson Program in which you’ll learn how to ski or snowboard in just three visits.
There are four places to eat at Summit West Snoqualmie: the Timberwolf Bar and Grill, Stan’s Cafe, Webbs International Market, and Webb’s Mountain Grill. Slopestyles is onsite for shopping.
Summit West Snoqualmie Lifts and Trails
Summit West has 8 lifts: 3 beginner surface lifts, 2 double chairs (Dodge Ridge and Julies), 1 triple chair (Wildside) and 2 quad chairs (Little Thunder and Pacific Crest).
The 2018-2019 Summit West – Summit at Snoqualmie trail map below shows the lifts and runs on the mountain. Note that there are two paths to ski across from Summit Central to Summit West and one path to go from West to Central.
There are two beginner runs near the base area. The entire lower mountain as well as the upper middle accessed by Dodge Ridge and the left side off of Pacific Crest are intermediate. The top of Wildside and Pacific Crest off to the right are expert but not for long. It’s only 765 vertical feet elevation drop from top to lodge.
Ski and Snowboard Rentals
Summit West Snoqualmie has a ski and snowboard rental shop. It opens at 8am. Equipment is designed for beginner to intermediate skiiers and snowboarders. In 2018-2019, a full rental package was $45 for the day or $40 just for the evening.
Another option is to rent your equipment in North Bend from Pro Ski and Mountain Service.
Dining and Shopping at Summit West Snoqualmie
Timberwolf Bar and Grill
The Timberwolf Bar and Grill is open Wednesday through Sunday during the ski season. It serves beer, wine, spirits and standard bar food. Their nachos are huge! There is a great view of the mountain from the dining area.
Stan's Cafe
Stan’s Cafe is open Wednesday through Sunday during the ski season. It serves burgers, hot dogs, fries, other grilled items and an assortment of grab n go snacks. Drinks include hot cocoa and espresso.
Webb's International Market
Webb’s International Market is open weekends during the ski season. It features quick grab n go items. For example pizza, Thai dishes, and Poke bowls. You can purchase beer.
Webb's Mountain Grill
Webb’s Mountain Grill is located in the Alpenhaus Lodge at Summit West on the second floor. There is outdoor seating with great views of the Alpental Valley, Mount Snoqualmie, and Guye Peak. The Grill has a full service bar and features burgers, sandwiches, wings, quesadillas, and delicious salads.
It’s normally open winter and summer. However it’s closed in summer 2019.
Location, Parking, and Lift Tickets
Location
From North Bend, take I-90 East to Snoqualmie Pass and exit at Summit West (Exit 52). Turn right and the parking area for Summit West is immediately on your right hand side.
If you are driving westbound on I-90, there is no Exit 52. You’ll take Exit 53 (Yellowstone Trail) instead. Cross over the freeway and turn right on to Route 906. Summit West Snoqualmie will appear shortly on your left hand side.
Parking
Parking is free for all guests at the four Summit At Snoqualmie Ski Areas. There is more parking than at any other Washington ski resort. Plus there is a shuttle that runs through all the four areas, overflow parking, and the tubing center.
Summit West Snoqualmie’s main parking lot is just adjacent to I-90 Exit 52. The Little Thunder Lot behind the SnowSports School and Ski Patrol is restricted to carpools only in January and February. A carpool is 3 or more persons in a vehicle. In case the close in parking is full, there are overflow lots nearby the Tubing Park.
Lift Tickets
There are numerous options for lift tickets. Season passes for the following season go on sale during the summer at the Summit at Snoqualmie website. Daily lift tickets go on sale in Autumn as the season approaches.
Lift tickets ALWAYS cost less online even when you buy the day of the visit. The full price at the window for an adult in 2018-2019 was $89 for an adult. But prices are dynamic and sometimes there are significant deals online if you look in the right place and book well ahead. Half day tickets are not much less than a full day. Check various websites for the best deals. Weekends will likely cost a little more than weekdays. Most lift tickets are good at all four Summit at Snoqualmie areas.
Note that Summit West is generally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesday thru Friday it’s open 4pm – 10pm so you can catch first tracks after work or school. Saturday is open all day and Sunday all day except evening.