Summit at Snoqualmie Tweaks Paid Parking Ahead of 2025-26 Season

In a change of course from last winter, the Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington, has announced that its paid parking program will only be in effect on weekends, not every day of the week.

Last winter, in an effort to control traffic, the ski area just outside Seattle imposed $55 daily fees for visitors who didn’t have a lift ticket, resulting in pushback from some local recreation groups. The Summit’s lots are used by backcountry skiers alongside resort skiers.

Non-season passholders (daily lift ticket purchasers and Ikon Pass holders), however, paid $5 per day last season after receiving a discount code. Summit explained the reasoning for implementing daily $55 feeds to users who weren’t planning on using the resort’s chairlifts in a social media post last year:

“More tourists, backcountry travelers, and general winter recreation visitors are utilizing our parking lots each year. While we love that more people are getting to enjoy the outdoors, unfortunately, the additional vehicles make it increasingly challenging for our guests to park and get to the slopes. The purpose of this permit program is to better manage our parking, helping ensure our valued guests can park in our lots and get to their preferred mountain area more easily.”

Now, all visitors, excluding Season Passholders, but including Ikon and day lift ticket holders, must pay a flat fee only on Saturdays and Sundays, starting November 29, 2025, through the end of the ski season. Monday through Friday parking rates have been removed for all user groups.  A few holidays, including a period between December 26 and January 2, are included, as well.

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The cost of parking at the Summit at Snoqualmie this winter depends on the lot. 

At Alpental, the Summit’s expert-skier-oriented mountain, parking is priced at $25 per vehicle. At the Summit West, Central, & East lots, parking is priced at $15 per vehicle. 

Those carpooling with three or more passengers can park for free in designated lots in both areas while spaces last or until 10 a.m., whichever comes first. “While we will strive to provide as much availability as possible for carpools, we do expect eligible lots to fill on peak days,” the resort noted. “Keep this in mind and plan your arrival time accordingly.”

Unchanged from last season is free parking for Summit Alpine and Nordic passholders, but parking is no longer included with the $40 uphill pass. Uphill passholders will pay $25 or $15, depending on where they park, and can’t use their uphill passes on specified blackout dates. That includes Saturdays and Sundays between January 3 and March 1.

Last winter, when the Summit imposed paid parking, it called the move a “first step” and explained that it planned to fine-tune it based on parking data and feedback.

This Fall, on a webpage detailing the new changes, the resort said that it had “learned a lot” from the previous season.

The Summit joins numerous resorts nationwide that have implemented, tweaked, and reimagined paid parking programs as the ski industry contends with crowds of visitors. 

For more information about the Summit’s parking program, click here.

Related: The Story of How Matt Sterbenz Started 4FRNT Skis (Video)