Home Uphill Travel Policy
Home Uphill Travel Policy

Uphill Travel

UPHILL TRAVEL PASS, RULES & RESTRICTIONS, & GUIDELINES

Considering touring or hiking at the ski area? Before making plans, read on to learn more about our Uphill Travel Pass, as well as resort specific rules and restrictions for uphill travel to help keep uphill and downhill travelers safe. This policy was developed in partnership with the United States Forest Service.

Uphill Travel Pass Update

An uphill travel pass is required to access ski area terrain starting December 7. Uphill Travel Passes are now available in our online store, scroll down for info and links. If you already have a regular season pass, you still need an Uphill Travel Pass specific for this activity. Read on to review current policies and pass information prior to making plans to tour or hike this season.

RULES & INFO FOR TOURING OR HIKING AT THE SUMMIT

Uphill Travel Policy Overview

  • Uphill Travel Pass Required
    A Summit Uphill Travel Pass is now required for anyone traveling uphill within ski area boundaries, at all times. More information below.
  • Designated Uphill Travel Routes
    Whenever lifts at Summit East, Summit Central, or Summit West are open, uphill travelers must use designated uphill travel routes. This is for the safety of both uphill and downhill travelers. Scroll down to learn more.
  • Open Travel When Select Areas Are Closed
    When lifts are NOT running (area is not open) at Summit East, Summit Central, or Summit West, designated uphill travel routes are recommended, but not required. Never duck ropes or travel in closed terrain.
  • Summit East Closed Fri-Sat Nights
    The entire Summit East area is closed 7pm-12am, Friday & Saturday nights. This closure is to protect your safety while winch grooming is in progress. Traveling in closed areas may result in loss of access and lift privileges.
  • Uphill Travel Not Permitted at Alpental
    During the operating season uphill travel is not permitted within the Alpental ski area boundary. Scroll down to learn more about the boundary and our operating season.
Dec. 11, 2022 | 4:00PM

Current Alpental Status

Uphill Travel Closure Active: Alpental operations and pro patrol teams are now actively working on the mountain and the "operating season" has begun. All terrain within the Alpental ski area permit boundary is closed to uphill travel for the duration of the 22/23 winter season starting Dec. 12, 2022. Thanks for your cooperation!

Avalanche Control Warning: Pro patrol will begin conducting avalanche control work at Alpental starting Tuesday, Dec. 13. For your safety, it's imperative to respect the closure and find an alternate route.

Uphill Travel Overview Information about uphill travel at The Summit
KEYS TO UPHILL TRAVEL

Safety, Courtesy, & Respect

  • AVOID ALL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
    Maintain at least 200ft of separation between yourself and groomers, never travel toward a groomer or follow a groomer. Do not attempt to climb lift towers or get on lifts.
  • BE AWARE & RESPECTFUL
    It's important to stay aware of your surroundings and be respectful of resort staff and property. Avoid the assuming mindset of "It's okay for me", be a positive member of the uphill and backcountry community.
  • YOU MAY BE HELD LIABLE
    If an uphill traveler is a contributory cause to a collision or incident, they may be held liable.
  • BE COURTEOUS
    Please be friendly to other skiers, snowboarders, and our staff. Our job is to help keep everyone safe, including you. Thanks for being part of our mountain community! We're all here to enjoy the mountains just like you.
  • Avalanche Control at Alpental Icon
    Avalanche Control at Alpental
    AVALANCHE CONTROL WORK MAY BE CONDUCTED AT ANYTIME WITHIN THE ALPENTAL PERMIT BOUNDARY. ASCENDING WITHIN THE BOUNDARY CAN POSE EXTREME DANGER.
  • Winching In Progress Icon
    Winching In Progress
    EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! WINCH CABLES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WATCH FOR FLASHING LIGHTS ON SIGNS OR ON THE TOP OF GROOMING MACHINES. WHEN WINCHING IS IN PROGRESS, FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO HIKE OR TOUR.
MORE INFORMATION

Designated Parking & Restrictions

On peak days, uphill travelers accessing ski area terrain via the designated routes can only park in lot W3 (West) or lot E2 (East). Backcountry travelers accessing the Alpental Valley (uphill travel within ski area not permitted) on a peak day can only park in lot A7. These parking lots will fill up on peak days, so be prepared to have alternate plans for recreating at an entirely different location off Snoqualmie Pass. If our parking lots are full, it is highly likely all other recreation parking lots around Snoqualmie Pass are full as well.

Have respect, be a responsible backcountry traveler, do not park in areas that are not designated for parking.

Parking lots at the ski area are either leased or privately owned for use by guests of The Summit & Alpental. Consider carpooling whenever possible and be sensitive and respectful to ski area guests, the ski area and their parking policies & signs.

  • Peak weekend days include weekends from January 1 through March 6, 2022.

    Peak Holiday periods  including:

    • December Holidays - December 18, 2021 - January 2, 2022
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 17, 2022
    • Presidents Day - February 21, 2022
Directions To Designated Parking On Peak Days
Summit East Lot Summit West Lot Alpental Lot
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Designated Uphill Travel Routes

Summit East Route Map
Hidden Valley Route Map
Summit West Route Map
Summit Central Route Map

Uphill Travelers are required to use the designated routes at the above areas whenever lifts are operating (when the area is open). When lifts are not open, the route is recommend, but not required.

WINTER 2022-23

Uphill Travel Pass

  • thumbs up
    Free For 22-23 Summit Passholders
  • price
    $49 For Non-Passholders & Ikon Passholders
  • info
    Required For Uphill Travel (at all times)
  • calendar
    Valid For The 2022-23 Season
  • check mark
    Required starting 12/7/2022

Ready to climb? To get access for the entire season, order an Uphill Travel Pass and sign the associated waiver in our online store. You must be able to provide digital or physical proof of your Uphill Travel Pass anytime you travel uphill within the ski area boundary.

  • If you already have a regular 22/23 Summit season pass, you still need an Uphill Travel Pass, but it's free. (Ikon does not qualify)
  • Passes are non-transferable and are season specific
  • Daily access passes are not available
  • This is a digital pass. You will not receive a physical card. Simply save your confirmation on your phone or print a copy to use for verification if asked by Summit staff.
Get Your Uphill Travel Pass Today
ORDER PASS

Summit Team Members can now order the "Passholder" option in our online store.

$10 of Each Uphill Travel Pass Sold Will Be Donated To NWAC.

  • Anyone found travelling uphill without an uphill pass or in areas where uphill traffic is prohibited, may lose access privileges.  The Summit reserves the right to file trespassing charges when necessary.

MORE INFORMATION

Uphill Travel In The Alpental Valley

  • Yes. However, keep in mind that the operating season begins well before we open the ski area and ends well after we close the ski area.

  • To help protect the safety of downhill skiers and snowboarders, uphill travelers, and our staff. With nearly all of the area within the special use permit boundary (shown in the map below) being subject to avalanche hazard and the avalanche mitigation activities required to operate the resort, uphill travel poses a significant risk. Users looking to recreate on Forest Service lands are welcome to travel in the areas outside of the special use permit. These restriction will not apply outside the operating season when resort operations are not underway (ok to hike then).

    alpental valley uphill travel restriction map

  • The operating season starts when there is sufficient snow cover for workers to begin winter activities, it is always prior to opening day. This is communicated via the posting of signs in base facilities, notification on social media, and noted below in the "Alpental Operating Status". The end of the season is communicated through the same means and is typically a week or more after closing day. The operating season in this case is the period in which our crews are active on the mountain, and not the period in which we are open for skiing/riding.

  • Backcountry travel is allowed anywhere outside the resort ski area permit boundary. The permit area includes the Back Bowls return trail and all terrain on the South side of the South Fork Snoqualmie River (south side of the valley) until Source Lake. Travel up the south side of the valley is permitted only once beyond Source Lake.

    alpental valley uphill travel restriction map

  • Backcountry travelers may use the groomed section of the return trail, but must travel single file and stay to the right. At first major intersection (the bottom of Trash Can), backcountry travelers must turn right, crossing the bridge and continuing up valley. Continuing to travel up valley via the return trail or on any slopes to the left is prohibited. It's extremely important to stay off ski area terrain as it is prone to avalanches and avalanche mitigation activities may be occurring at any time.

    alpental valley uphill travel restriction map

  • Yes. However, traveling left (as you ascend) over Draft Dodger Ridge and into the permit area of the ski area is not allowed. As a rule of thumb, traveling out of the Great Scott drainage to the East puts you back into ski area terrain.

    alpental valley uphill travel restriction map

Snoqualmie Mountain Control Warning

The southwest slopes of Snoqualmie Mountain (including The Phantom) can occasionally pose an avalanche threat to the road and parking areas during times of significant weather and snow pack events. Please be aware that those slopes are target zones for avalanche explosives delivered via artillery or helicopter. Avalanche control activities and the closure of those slopes are always communicated in advance. A map and sign in the main Alpental parking lot contains additional information.