The Pacific Northwest boasts some of the best skiing and top destination ski resorts in North America. However, a ski trip to many of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest, most popular resorts isn’t very affordable unless you have a multi-resort pass or snag an early-season deal. Yet there’s still a lot of great skiing to be found if you’re traveling on a budget. We’ve got you covered with our guide of the most affordable ski resorts in the Pacific Northwest.
Before we jump into the list, note that when we say the Pacific Northwest, in this case we mean Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. For affordable ski resorts in Canada, see our article here. You can find more recommendations of affordable ski resorts in America in this article. After your trip, rate and review the ski areas you visited. When you leave a resort review on our website or post a firsthand report on our app during the month of January you’ll be entered into a giveaway for an Odlo Cocoon N-Thermic Light insulated jacket ($190 value).
Note: Ticket prices change with the time of the season, snow conditions, and during special promotions. As such, these prices may fluctuate during the season. Look for deals early in the ski season, late in the season, and on weekdays.
The Most Affordable Ski Resorts in the Pacific Northwest
Washington
Bluewood Resort
Located 20 miles east of Dayton, Washington, Bluewood Resort boasts amazing tree skiing and off-piste cat-accessible terrain. Advanced skiers and powder chasers will have no trouble finding plenty to love, while beginners and intermediates will also appreciate the fact that two of its lifts are easily accessible from the learning areas. Bluewood has 26 runs over nearly 400 acres of skiable terrain and receives 300″ of snowfall annually on average. Adult lift tickets start at just $66, while Bluewood also has a special deal for those who plan on skiing for more than one day with a three-day pack of tickets available for $169. Bluewood offers 20% off weekend lift tickets when you purchase them ahead of time online. Voted the no. 2 family-friendly resort in Washington by OnTheSnow readers, Bluewood is a great under-the-radar Washington ski area.
» View Bluewood Lodging Options
Mission Ridge
Built into a basin on the east side of the Cascade Mountains just outside of Wenatchee, Mission Ridge is about a three-hour drive from the Seattle area. The 2,000-acre resort has 70 runs and seven lifts, including two rope tows, while it features terrain that’s very versatile with chutes, bowls, and backcountry glades galore. It also has 500 acres of terrain to explore for night skiing. Weekends and holiday lift tickets are typically more than $100, however, mid-week you can find tickets as low as $89. Bonus: Mission Ridge enjoys 300 days of sunshine, plus a generous 200” of snowfall per year on average.
» View Mission Ridge Lodging Options
49 Degrees North
A hidden gem of the Pacific Northwest, 49 Degrees North has more than 2,300 acres of lift-accessed terrain. Yet considering its size, 49 Degrees North is very reasonably priced, with lift tickets available for as low as $47. Weekends are around $80, with discounts available for college students and military with a valid ID. It has 3 basins, 2 peaks, 7 lifts, 90 trails, multiple terrain parks, and 1,871’ of vertical. Additionally, 49 Degrees North is home to the longest high-speed lift in that state. The 7-minute ride brings guests up 1.25 miles from the base to one of the summits. The resort is conveniently located just over an hour away from Spokane International Airport.
» View 49 Degrees North Lodging Options
Summit at Snoqualmie
Located 45 minutes east of Seattle, the Summit at Snoqualmie is a 1,994-acre resort in the heart of the Mt.Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. The resort has three base areas, Summit West, East and Central, granting skiers and riders access to 65 runs of varying difficulty. Each base area has something unique to offer guests. Summit Central is the main hub of the resort, where you’ll find the most varied terrain, as well as shopping and dining options. Summit West, known for its convenient family-friendly zone, is the perfect place for beginners to get their ski legs under them. And Summit East is where you’ll find Snoqualmie’s 50 kilometers of Nordic trails and other varied alpine terrain.
Summit at Snoqualmie mid-week tickets typically cost around $70 to $90 depending on the time of year. Weekends are usually closer to $99, while closer to $120 on peak holidays. Night skiing tickets are just $40, while twilight tickets for afternoon and night skiing are available from 2 p.m. to close for $59.
» View Summit at Snoqualmie Lodging Options
Mt. Spokane
Mt. Spokane is a unique, community-owned, non-profit ski area that helps keep skiing and riding affordable. Located 25 miles from Spokane, the resort receive about 300” of dry snow annually on average. Mt. Spokane has 55 runs served by 8 lifts and a plentiful 1,704 acres of skiable terrain. Tickets can be as low as $55 during the week when purchased ahead of time online, while it’s just $5 more if you purchase them at the window. Prices are usually around $75 online over weekends. Mt. Spokane also has youth, senior, military and college discounts available both online and at the window. For those looking to save even more, skiing at Mt. Spokane on Mondays and Tuesdays is your best bet, as they have a special two-for-one deal (excluding holidays) for just $75.
» View Mt. Spokane Lodging Options
Oregon
Willamette Pass
Over in Oregon, Willamette Pass is a great mid-size resort, conveniently located just over an hour from both Bend and Eugene. Early season, you can score mid-week tickets for as little as $23, while even holiday weeks can see tickets available for under $60. Willamette Pass has a great program called “Shred it Credit,” in which guests who purchase a ticket online ahead of time, from opening day until March 14, will receive $10 in Shred Credit that can be redeemed at the Sport Shop and the Mountain Restaurant and Lounge on the day of their lift ticket. Willamette Pass implemented this program to thank its loyal customers and provide incentives for guests to buy early online.
All total Willamette Pass has 30 trails spread across 555 acres. It receives an impressive 430″ of snowfall annually on average. Advanced skiers will find a lot to love, including 8 challenging black runs and 1,563 feet of vertical. There’s plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain, too.
Mt. Ashland
Just north of the California border is Mt. Ashland, where locals claim that it “skis a lot bigger than it looks,” due to its elevation at 7,533′. Adventure seekers will appreciate the challenging cirque, a glacial bowl with plenty of steep, bumps, and demanding terrain. Mt. Ashland also has a great ski school and a lot of terrain for beginners and intermediates. Weekend adult day passes are $79 and $72 during the week. Discounts are available for youth, children, and senior skiers. They also offer timed brackets so you can ski for half the day (noon-4 p.m.) for $65 or at twilight (3 p.m.-9 p.m.) for just $28. Mt. Ashland is full of character, just like the town of Ashland, with runs and lifts named after Shakespeare plays and characters, including the Elizabethan Lodge and Balcony and Upper Balcony trails.
» View Mt. Ashland Lodging Options
Hoodoo Ski Area
Hoodoo Ski Area, located just an hour northwest of Bend atop Santiam Pass, features more than 800 acres of skiable terrain. Its 6 lifts bring skiers and riders to 36 runs that have everything from wide-open groomers on the frontside to playful powder stashes on the backside. Adult full-day tickets are $75, while half-day tickets are $65. At peak times prices jump to $85 and $75 respectively. They also offer night skiing Wednesday to Saturday from 4-9 p.m. Night skiing tickets range from $39 to $49. Hoodoo Ski Area also has Thrifty Thursdays, when guests can purchase all-day lift tickets for $35.
» View Hoodoo Ski Area Lodging Options
Anthony Lakes
We’ll end this section in Eastern Oregon at Anthony Lakes, a 1,000-acre ski area with three lifts, 21 runs, a terrain park full of features, and cat skiing through untracked powder. Adult tickets are $50, while there are discounts for students and military. Anthony Lakes’ best deal is on Thursday with $30 lift tickets. The ski resorts offers some fun programs, like the Save Our Sanity (SOS) promotion that’s designed specifically for families with non-skiing infants and toddlers. An SOS ticket can be used alternatively by one parent at any time so they can enjoy some ski time and save on one-day tickets. Staying at one of its lodging partners also gets guests 10% off a lift ticket.
Idaho
Bogus Basin
While Idaho is known for big-name resorts like Sun Valley and Schweitzer, Bogus Basin is a can’t-miss non-profit ski resort, featuring 2,600 acres of skiable terrain and more than 90 trails just outside of Boise. Adults can ski for $84, teens for $62, juniors for $37, and children 6 and under for $10. Note that Bogus Basin operates on an RFID card system, so ticket prices will incur a $5 new card charge fee. Keep your ticket and reload it to save on this fee. Bogus Basin also releases limited ticket quantities making it a very uncrowded place for skiers and riders to find fresh pow without waiting in long lift lines.
» View Bogus Basin Lodging Options
Pebble Creek
Last but not least is Pebble Creek, located on the northwestern slopes of Mont Bonneville within the Caribou National Forest. Pebble Creek is home to 1,100 acres of skiable terrain and 2,200 feet of vertical, featuring three chairs that serve 54 runs with a range of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain. Unique to the resort is a 1,098-meter USAA Giant Slalom run and a 565-meter USAA Slalom run. Adult day tickets for a full day are $76 and half-day tickets are $57. Night skiing and beginner-only lift access tickets are $32.
FAQs
Where is the most affordable Pacific Northwest ski resort?
Washington, Idaho, and Oregon all have affordable options for those looking to travel on a budget. The best bang for your buck can be found at Willamette Pass in Oregon if you can snag their midweek tickets that can be under $25. Many resorts, including Hoodoo Ski Area and Anthony Lakes in Oregon, have discounted mid-week riding promotions where guests can ride lifts for around $30. In Washington, 49 Degrees North has adult full-day tickets for under $50, which is a pretty solid deal for the amount of terrain.
The best way to save money at PNW resorts is to look for deals like these, ski mid-week, and buy tickets ahead of time online. Smaller, independent mountains are always going to be the best for saving money as opposed to the bigger resorts on one of the major passes.
How do you ski in the Pacific Northwest on a budget?
Buying discount lift tickets online is typically the best way to save if you don’t have a season pass. Mid-week, non-holiday tickets are usually cheaper and a better time to avoid crowds. In late fall and spring, many resorts offer beginning and end-of-season deals to entice people to head to the mountains. Families should check resort websites to see if kids ski free at some resorts. Alternatively, if you plan on skiing more than a few days this season, purchasing a season pass, either at one mountain or several, is the most cost-effective way to save. If you typically stick to independent ski areas, then check out the Indy Pass when it goes on sale. Additionally, you can often save by staying at a nearby boutique hotel or vacation rental rather than staying on property. Nevertheless, some ski areas offer discounted or free lift tickets when you stay at the ski area.
Finally, rather than purchasing ski gear from a major retailer, consider renting ski gear for your trip. Often, ski rentals are cheaper at an independent ski shop nearby than at the ski resort itself. Alternatively, if you do plan to purchase gear, then consider purchasing your gear before the season starts, or at the end of the season, when gear is often heavily discounted.
How do you find lodging deals in the Pacific Northwest?
Staying on the mountain can sometimes be more affordable than looking for lodging elsewhere. Many of the best budget ski resorts offer ski and stay bundles to help keep costs down. Check online websites of hotels and lodges with ski vacation packages. Sign up for ski resorts’ newsletters and follow them on social media, since that’s where they’ll often post special offers. Head to OnTheSnow’s Pacific Northwest page to see the latest lodging deals.
After your Pacific Northwest ski trip, leave a resort review and help other travelers plan their ski vacation.
February 04, 2025
