Uphill Travel Guide
Considering a Tour or Hike?
Before making plans, get an Uphill Travel Pass and read our resort-specific rules and restrictions for uphill travel to help keep all resort users safe. An Uphill Travel Pass is required (even for regular passholders) to access any ski area terrain.
Our policy was developed in partnership with the United States Forest Service.
Upcoming Changes
Be sure to familiarize yourself with upcoming changes to the Uphill Travel Pass coming Winter 2025-26.
Uphill travel is not permitted within the ski area boundary during the following blackout dates:
Uphill Travel Blackout Periods:
- Dec. 26, 2025 – Jan. 2, 2026
- Saturdays & Sundays from Jan. 3 through Mar. 1, 2026
- Jan. 19, 2026
- Feb. 16, 2026
Parking for Winter 2025-26 is no longer included in the price of an Uphill Travel Pass. However, paid parking dates will be reduced substantially next season - uphill travelers will be able to park for free midweek (non-holidays).
Paid parking will be in place on weekends and holidays, with fees of $15 at Summit areas and $25 at Alpental. A carpooling discount for those with 3+ in a vehicle will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Uphill Travel Passes are now available at a reduced price of $40! Plus, $5 from each pass sold will be donated to a chosen non-profit.
Uphill Travel Rules
Uphill Travel Pass Required
A Summit Uphill Travel Pass is required for anyone traveling uphill within ski area boundaries, at all times.
Use Designated Routes
Uphill travelers must use designated uphill travel routes at all times. This is for the safety of both uphill and downhill travelers. Scroll down to learn more.
Summit East Restrictions
The entire Summit East area is closed for winch grooming from 7pm-12am on Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights. This closure is for your safety, winch cables can cause serious injury or death.
Alpental Is Closed
Uphill travel is not permitted within the Alpental ski area boundary due to operations and lift construction projects. Scroll down to learn more about the boundaries and where it is allowed in the valley.
Summit West Restrictions
The entire Summit West area is closed 6am-2pm, Tuesday-Friday December 1st through February 28th. This closure is to protect your safety while widespread grooming and winch operations are in progress.
Uphill Travel Routes
Uphill Travelers must always use these designated routes.
Safety, Courtesy, & Respect
AVOID 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
Avalanche control work may be conducted at any time with the Alpental permit boundary. Ascending within the boundary can pose extreme danger. Stay out!
Winching in Progress
Winch cables are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Watch for flashing lights on signs at the bottom, or on the top of grooming machines. When winching is in progress, find a different place to hike or tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
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).
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.
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.
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.