Ski Trails

• Lake Wenatchee State Park - My favorite! Not far from Leavenworth, there are miles of intersecting trails, from beginner to advanced. Most are groomed.  And the scenery is very nice. The downside is that the elevation is low -- about 2000 feet -- which makes for iffy snow conditions late and early in the season.
• Cabin Creek - This snow park is past Snoqualmie Pass at exit 63, and I like it very much.  The varied terrain (almost all groomed) coupled with a short drive from Seattle make it popular with lots of other people, too. Despite its popularity some of the farther reaches of the area are less visited. It's advisable to get here by 10 or 11am on a nice weekend day or have difficulty parking. A lesser used section is the small section from the back parking lot that comes out near the snow park entrance. See the map.
• Mt. Amabalis - If you go to the Cabin Creek Snow Park, there's a trail that branches off to the right of the main road as you head in.  Up that way leads to Amabalis, which under good conditions provides some of the best views for a short trip. The way is up and up and up, but it's now easier since they groom it much of the way. Near the top there's the potential to run into a few snowmobiles, but I haven't seen many in the past. (They're not allowed on most of the trail.) Best on a clear day after a fresh snowfall. The whole trail is 8 miles roundtrip.
• Iron Horse Trail (John Wayne Pioneer Trail) - Flat as a pancake, and usually well-groomed. (It's groomed every day except Tues and Thurs.) Nice for skate skis. Further on down there is minor avalanche danger. If conditions allow, you can ski it at the lower elevations of the trail near Cle Elum or Rattlesnake Lake. The tunnel at the Pass is closed from Nov. 1 - May 1, so don't expect to ski through!
• Mt. Catherine - You have to pay a trail fee at the Snoqualmie Nordic Center but the trail is nicely groomed (most of the time) and there are miles and miles and miles of trails! One of the most ambitious plans is to ski the full loop around Mt. Catherine and down. (20K)  Coming down is much easier if you ski the loop counterclockwise. You can also take a ski lift to the top and ski down. Nice warming hut and yurt - great places for quick meals.
• Erling Stordahl Trails (Trollhaugen) - This is my version of Walden Pond and it can be reached from Crystal Springs Snow Park. (A haven for snowmobiles -- just park to the left as you enter and walk down the road 1/8 mile to get away from the stinky beasts and to the trailhead.) The trails are groomed Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but it's unusual to see very many people here even though it's only a mile from Grand Central Station (ie Cabin Creek) at exit 62. I once saw a bobcat at Trollhaugen, and I always look for his tracks. Most of the area is flat but there is a pretty nice intermediate to advanced loop. See the Trollhaugen map I scanned in.
• Paradise - The trail to Reflection Lakes at Mt. Rainier is a definite keeper. Just watch out for the avalanche slopes! Taking the shortcut to the lakes is fun and avoids the avalanche slope but resembles a bobsled course on the way down the ridge.  A nice flat alternative is the Barn Flats -- it's not really that flat, though -- more like small rolling hills.  You might see wildlife like camprobbers (probable) or foxes (if you're lucky.)
• Deer Creek Road - A slowly ascending road off the Mountain Loop Highway. Not bad, though ungroomed. The snowmobiles you see at the end of the road are going up a different road so you won't have to deal with them. If you do follow the snowmobiles that road will take you to the Big Four Ice Caves. (You shouldn't go near the caves in the winter because of avalanche danger.) A Forest Pass may be required to park here. ($5 a day or $30/ year, available at ranger stations.)
• Lake Easton State Park - Groomed Tues, Sat and Sun. Another nice place for solitude. Once you get past the first 1/4 mile of the trail that is next to a snowmobile trail, you're not likely to see many other people. This is mainly because there aren't too many trails here - only 7K. But for what there is, it's not bad. Part of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail goes through here, though the bridge is closed in the winter at Frozen Toe Point so you can't connect to the rest of the trail.  Good for skate skis.  Regularly groomed.
• Gold Creek - The trails that lead up from the Snow Park (right near the highway interchange) can be fun, but unfortunately they're heavily used by snowshoers - which can make descents in the resulting trenches unnerving. There is some really nice scenery up there, but I only ski this road after a big snowfall.  Ungroomed.
• Mardi Lake - Further down the access road from Gold Creek there's another road that is less traveled, though still popular with snowshoers. Mardi Lake has quite a few small cabins in the area and some nice scenery. And if you head far enough north from here you can make it to the Alpine Wildnerness which is off-limits (ha ha!) to snowmobiles. This is a nice flat route with a few minor hills. It's really nice during a full moon when the snow sparkles in the moonlight!
• Mount Tahoma Trails Association - Some trails and hut-to-hut skiing.  I went here once the week after they closed and skied a bit.  When open, part of their 50 miles of trails is groomed.
• Smithbrook Road - One of the few good trails that doesn't require a snow park pass! Downside: It sometimes has snowmobiles or even a 4-wheel drive pickup on it! But later in the season this usually isn't a problem. To get there, head east on Highway 2 from Stevens Pass. At the turnoff to the Nordic Center, turn left and do a U-turn to head back west on Highway 2. Watch for some cars parked on the right within a couple miles. You'll need to ski or walk about 1/4 mile to the road junction on the right - the road crosses a bridge over a small creek and then heads up for miles of skiing.
• Stevens Nordic Center - Fee-based trails, most are loops off a main road. 28K in all.
• Mt. St. Helens - Some pretty nice, quiet trails - once you get past the snowmobiles in the parking lot, that is! Sasquatch Loop is a fun ungroomed trail. But you should check with the rangers since some of the trails (and snow parks) might be closed due to eruption danger.
• Near Crystal Mountain - A couple of miles before you arrive in the parking lot at Crystal Mountain there is a snow-covered road to the left that parallels the main road.  It brings you up near the resort, giving you a different view of things.  The way slowly ascends, with few other skiers (though you might see the tracks of a lost alpine skier now and then.)  We saw deer tracks along the trail.
• Old Cascade Highway - A nice lonely trail. Few ski it because there is very limited parking. The snowplow usually plows out just enough space to park 1 or 2 cars, just before the big hill leading up to Stevens Pass. The trail crosses over a footbridge and passes by distant avalanche chutes (don't worry, no danger!)
• Salmon La Sac - I've not been able to try this one, but I hope to soon.  I hear parking is limited.
• Mt. Hood - If you're down near Portland this is the place to go.
• Crater Lake, Oregon - It's quite a drive but a beautiful place to ski.

See links to more snow park locations on the Miscellaneous Ski Links Page