Crystal Gears Up for the 2025–2026 Winter Season with Exciting Improvements Focused on Skiing and Riding Experience.
What's New At Crystal Mountain: 25/26 Winter Edition
What's New At Crystal Mountain: 25/26 Winter Edition
Crystal Gears Up for the 2025–2026 Winter Season with Exciting Improvements Focused on THE Skiing and Riding Experience.
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort looks forward to the 2025–2026 winter season with many exciting improvements for skiers and riders. With the addition of new infrastructure, digital platforms, improved access, and more, Crystal Mountain remains committed to investing in the mountain experience.
The New Rainier Express Chairlift
Crystal Mountain has replaced the original 1988 Rainier Express Chairlift (known as “REX”) with a high-speed detachable quad featuring key modernizations and covered parking chairs for smoother storm-day startups. Thank you to the teams from Leitner-Poma and Crystal who have worked tirelessly throughout the summer season. The construction timeline remains on track with an opening slated for December.
Night Skiing Extended
Crystal Mountain is extending night skiing to Thursdays through Sundays from December 26 to March 15, with additional week-long sessions over New Year's and Presidents Day. With 53 nights scheduled, Crystal is thrilled to offer nearly twice as many night ski nights as last year.
$62 Tuesdays Doubled
$62 Tuesdays are every 2nd and now 4th Tuesdays of each month. That doubles the days from last year.
Ikon App Upgraded
The newly upgraded Ikon mobile app has replaced the Crystal app. Enjoy all the favorite features from the old app, plus exciting new tools, including a 3D resort map. Login info and stats from previous seasons will carry over seamlessly.
Ride to Win
Crystal Mountain is introducing the Crystal Ride to Win program for the 2025–26 season, giving skiers and riders even more reason to hit the slopes. By tracking their days on the mountain through the upgraded Ikon App, participants will be entered for a chance to win one of five Ikon Passes for the 2026–27 season or one of twenty-five $50 Crystal gift cards. With simple registration and app-based tracking, the program makes every day on the mountain more rewarding while celebrating the passion of Crystal’s community.
Parking
A new waitlist feature has been added to the parking reservation system. If all spots are full, guests can join the waitlist to hold a place in line. When a spot becomes available, reservations will be confirmed automatically via email.
Download the SP+ carpool app (Android, iPhone) to organize carpools to the mountain. The Enumclaw Expo Center will remain the designated Crystal Mountain carpool lot.
One hundred carpool spots in C-Lot have been added, bringing the total to 175 for vehicles with four or more occupants.
Shuttle reservation cancellations are now required to ensure as many spots as possible are available.
For more information, visit our Parking and Shuttles page.
New Experiences
Crystal Mountain Reserve
The Crystal Mountain Reserve upgrade offers guests the best way to make the most of their time on the mountain. This access uses existing priority Ski and Ride School lift lanes and is available as a seasonal or daily add-on to season passes or day tickets, granting priority lift lines for quicker access.
Valid Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from early December through March 29. Available on all high-speed detachable lifts, including Chinook Express, Forest Queen Express, Green Valley Express, and Rainier Express, plus the Mount Rainier Gondola.
Crystal Mountain Guiding Service
Introducing a new way to experience the best that Crystal has to offer.Crystal Mountain Guiding Service gives guests the chance to spend a day with a seasoned local expert, uncovering powder stashes and exploring the Pacific Northwest's steepest, most rugged in-bounds terrain. Guides tailor the day to the group's goals.
With priority access on all lifts, the day will move seamlessly throughout the mountain. Enjoy perks like complimentary breakfast, reserved Summit House seating, A-Lot parking, and more.
Pro Tips (1-Hour Private Lesson)
Short on time but looking to improve. Sign up for a1-hour Pro Tips session at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2 p.m. Designed for intermediate to expert skiers and riders, these focused lessons deliver fast feedback and meaningful breakthroughs.
Events
Slushammer Ski Race
New this year. Join us in late spring for a skier-only banked slalom race in Green Valley. Enjoy the spring energy and compete with the fastest skiers on the mountain. Don’t miss the awards and the after-party at Mountain Commons.
Kraken Day
The Seattle Kraken takeover day returns February 7. Enjoy games, raffles, DJ parties, and special discounts for Kraken fans.
Food and Beverage
Glass panels have been added to the Mountain Commons Lodge upper porch to better protect tables from weather. The heaters have been lowered to provide a warmer outdoor environment.
The Food Hall on the upper floor of Mountain Commons Lodge will open at 7 a.m. with light breakfast options and seating at Bootpack Bar.
Rafters will offer hybrid counter service and will be open Thursday through Sunday into the evening for night skiers.
Fireside Cantina will return to Mexican-style offerings this winter with specialty margaritas, Friday through Tuesday.
Crystal has updated guidelines for brown bag areas, expanding them to include all outdoor spaces outside of venues and yurts. These areas now include the Fireside patio, both upstairs and downstairs patios at Mountain Commons Lodge, as well as inside Tower 16, Midway Yurt, and Rafters, (Monday through Wednesday when food is not being served.)
On the Mountain
Crystal Mountain continues to invest in big and small ways across the mountain to improve the guest experience, especially on the hill where it matters most.
Trail Crew Work
Chair 5 Chinook line: the classic line, revived with brush-cutting.
Old Chair 5 and old Chair 1 lift lines: new pitches and revived slots, plus a playful tree slot with fresh snow and improved access.
Rentals,Tune Shop and retail
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Crystal Gears Up for the 2025–2026 Winter Season with Exciting Improvements Focused on THE Skiing and Riding Experience.
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort looks forward to the 2025–2026 winter season with many exciting improvements for skiers and riders. With the addition of new infrastructure, digital platforms, improved access, and more, Crystal Mountain remains committed to investing in the mountain experience.
The New Rainier Express Chairlift
Crystal Mountain has replaced the original 1988 Rainier Express Chairlift (known as “REX”) with a high-speed detachable quad featuring key modernizations and covered parking chairs for smoother storm-day startups. Thank you to the teams from Leitner-Poma and Crystal who have worked tirelessly throughout the summer season. The construction timeline remains on track with an opening slated for December.
Night Skiing Extended
Crystal Mountain is extending night skiing to Thursdays through Sundays from December 26 to March 15, with additional week-long sessions over New Year's and Presidents Day. With 53 nights scheduled, Crystal is thrilled to offer nearly twice as many night ski nights as last year.
$62 Tuesdays Doubled
$62 Tuesdays are every 2nd and now 4th Tuesdays of each month. That doubles the days from last year.
Ikon App Upgraded
The newly upgraded Ikon mobile app has replaced the Crystal app. Enjoy all the favorite features from the old app, plus exciting new tools, including a 3D resort map. Login info and stats from previous seasons will carry over seamlessly.
Ride to Win
Crystal Mountain is introducing the Crystal Ride to Win program for the 2025–26 season, giving skiers and riders even more reason to hit the slopes. By tracking their days on the mountain through the upgraded Ikon App, participants will be entered for a chance to win one of five Ikon Passes for the 2026–27 season or one of twenty-five $50 Crystal gift cards. With simple registration and app-based tracking, the program makes every day on the mountain more rewarding while celebrating the passion of Crystal’s community.
Parking
A new waitlist feature has been added to the parking reservation system. If all spots are full, guests can join the waitlist to hold a place in line. When a spot becomes available, reservations will be confirmed automatically via email.
Download the SP+ carpool app (Android, iPhone) to organize carpools to the mountain. The Enumclaw Expo Center will remain the designated Crystal Mountain carpool lot.
One hundred carpool spots in C-Lot have been added, bringing the total to 175 for vehicles with four or more occupants.
Shuttle reservation cancellations are now required to ensure as many spots as possible are available.
For more information, visit our Parking and Shuttles page.
New Experiences
Crystal Mountain Reserve
The Crystal Mountain Reserve upgrade offers guests the best way to make the most of their time on the mountain. This access uses existing priority Ski and Ride School lift lanes and is available as a seasonal or daily add-on to season passes or day tickets, granting priority lift lines for quicker access.
Valid Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from early December through March 29. Available on all high-speed detachable lifts, including Chinook Express, Forest Queen Express, Green Valley Express, and Rainier Express, plus the Mount Rainier Gondola.
Crystal Mountain Guiding Service
Introducing a new way to experience the best that Crystal has to offer.Crystal Mountain Guiding Service gives guests the chance to spend a day with a seasoned local expert, uncovering powder stashes and exploring the Pacific Northwest's steepest, most rugged in-bounds terrain. Guides tailor the day to the group's goals.
With priority access on all lifts, the day will move seamlessly throughout the mountain. Enjoy perks like complimentary breakfast, reserved Summit House seating, A-Lot parking, and more.
Pro Tips (1-Hour Private Lesson)
Short on time but looking to improve. Sign up for a1-hour Pro Tips session at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2 p.m. Designed for intermediate to expert skiers and riders, these focused lessons deliver fast feedback and meaningful breakthroughs.
Events
Slushammer Ski Race
New this year. Join us in late spring for a skier-only banked slalom race in Green Valley. Enjoy the spring energy and compete with the fastest skiers on the mountain. Don’t miss the awards and the after-party at Mountain Commons.
Kraken Day
The Seattle Kraken takeover day returns February 7. Enjoy games, raffles, DJ parties, and special discounts for Kraken fans.
Food and Beverage
Glass panels have been added to the Mountain Commons Lodge upper porch to better protect tables from weather. The heaters have been lowered to provide a warmer outdoor environment.
The Food Hall on the upper floor of Mountain Commons Lodge will open at 7 a.m. with light breakfast options and seating at Bootpack Bar.
Rafters will offer hybrid counter service and will be open Thursday through Sunday into the evening for night skiers.
Fireside Cantina will return to Mexican-style offerings this winter with specialty margaritas, Friday through Tuesday.
Crystal has updated guidelines for brown bag areas, expanding them to include all outdoor spaces outside of venues and yurts. These areas now include the Fireside patio, both upstairs and downstairs patios at Mountain Commons Lodge, as well as inside Tower 16, Midway Yurt, and Rafters, (Monday through Wednesday when food is not being served.)
On the Mountain
Crystal Mountain continues to invest in big and small ways across the mountain to improve the guest experience, especially on the hill where it matters most.
- Modernized lift drives on Chinook Express and Green Valley Express
- Refurbished and overhauled the electric motor on Gold Hills lift
- Replaced the top bullwheel bearing on Chair 6
- Installed RFID gates at Quicksilver lift
- Added winch towers built from old Rainier Express towers at Bills Face, West Face, and Big Shot for more consistent grooming
- New night skiing lighting added to the meadow
Trail Crew Work
Chair 5 Chinook line: the classic line, revived with brush-cutting.
Old Chair 5 and old Chair 1 lift lines: new pitches and revived slots, plus a playful tree slot with fresh snow and improved access.
Rentals,Tune Shop and retail
- New performance-level snowboards featuring the Nitro Raw and Leaf boards
- SkiClicker technology is now in use for faster fittings
- Two additional boot fitting stations added to get guests on the hill faster
- New Wintersteiger Trim B Edger installed for precision edge sharpening
- All-new logo wear designed with guests in mind, showcasing guest favorites across the mountain like Powder Bowl and our PistenBully Snowcats
- Ski Patrol-inspired merchandise includes a 10% giveback to the Volunteer Patrol
- Cascade Mountain Rescue Dogs' merchandise proceeds go directly to the nonprofit organization
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