Best Snow Activities Near Seattle

Finding fun wintertime activities isn’t difficult when it comes to the Seattle area, especially since there is always plenty of snow in the mountains and passes. A few locations just outside the city offer a day or weekend filled with enjoyment and exciting snowbound adventures that include sledding, tubing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, dog sledding and riding in a horse-drawn sleigh. Read on to learn all about the best snow-related activities near Seattle, which are sure to bring smiles and hours of fun to everyone in your family. 

Hyak Sno-Park
Exit 54, off I-90
Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
(509) 656-2230
www.parks.state.wa.us

About an hour east of Seattle, the Hyak Sno-Park lies within the glorious snow-filled hills of Snoqualmie Pass. The sledding, tubing and skiing terrain is groomed about five times a week, making it one of the best locations to try out all of your winter toys and gear. To gain access to this Washington park, you’ll need a Discovery Pass, and to pay a parking fee to gain access to the Sno-Park 150-space lot. You’ll also have to bring all of your own food, water and equipment such as sleds, tubes, skis and poles, snowshoes and snowboards. The park has heated bathrooms where you can warm up and dry off, as well.

Northwest Dogsled Adventures
Cle Elum, WA 98922
(206) 234-7291
www.northwestdogsledadventuresllc.com

Northwest Dogsled Adventures offers exhilarating adventures for you and your family to experience an authentic ride with a dog sledding team through the majestic Washington wildnerness. Located near Leavenworth, you can book a one to two-hour dog sledding tour by appointment only. These tours leave from the Fish Lake Sno-Park in Leavenworth and sleds are led by dog teams made up of Alaskan Malamutes, Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies and rescued dogs.

Paradise Visitor’s Center On Mt. Rainier
Mount Rainier National Park
55210 238th Ave. E.
Ashford, WA 98304
(360) 569-6575
www.nps.gov

Visiting Mount Rainier is a must for any state resident or visitor. It’s by far one of the most beautiful mountains in all of Washington and is always topped with a pristine white blanket of snow. Paradise Visitor’s Center offers an area where families and kids can go sledding, tubing and snowboarding. There are also paths for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and, if you’re up for the challenge, winter camping. A Discovery Park pass is required to gain access to Mount Rainier.

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Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd.
Enumclaw, WA 98022
(360) 663-2265
www.crystalmountainresort.com

Crystal Mountain is about two hours southeast of Seattle between Snoqualmie Pass and Mount Rainier National Park. This popular ski resort offers every kind of winter activity, including skiing and snowboarding lessons for beginners, snowshoe tours and scenic gondola rides up and down the mountain. For the experienced skier and snowboarder, there is also a terrain park which has more progressive features allowing you to do jumps, slides and to shred the mountain’s fresh powder.

Sleigh Rides In Leavenworth
Leavenworth, WA 98826
www.iciclevillage.com

Four companies in the Leavenworth area offer annual sleigh rides through parts of Washington’s amazing winter wonderland. You can choose from a daytime ride over freshly fallen snow, or an evening package that includes a steak dinner in front of a romantic fireplace made of river rock. Stay warm during your horse-drawn sleigh ride with warmed winter blankets. After your ride, you can also enjoy a mug of spiced cider, hot coffee or hot chocolate. Sleigh rides on average are about 30 minutes long.

Related:  Best Of Wintertime Indoor Adventures

Sue Gabel has been writing entertainment and travel-related articles in the greater Puget Sound/Seattle area since 1999. She writes about music, the Seattle scene and more. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.