Crystal Mountain Is Finally Opening, but Parking Reservations Are Going Fast

After a memorably messy introduction to winter—featuring pouring rain and damaged highways—Crystal Mountain, Washington, is making a comeback, perhaps faster than anyone expected.

Thanks to colder temperatures and new snow, the ski resort popular among Seattle area skiers has confirmed a new opening date, with a caveat: Crystal Mountain has capped the number of parking reservations available, and they’re required seven days a week. 

Given the pent-up demand, the allotted parking reservations are filling up quickly. 

For Saturday, December 20, 2025, when Crystal Mountain plans to open, reservations are already sold out. The reservations are free if bought within a seven-day window. Skiers who want to reserve some beyond the seven-day mark pay $10.

The parking reservations, called an “interim solution” by Crystal Mountain, resulted from collaboration between the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the ski resort. Keep reading for more details.

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State Route 410, the access road to Crystal Mountain, was heavily damaged during the recent rains and flooding in Washington.

According to the ski resort, WSDOT needs to limit traffic to ensure travellers stay safe and the road holds up. The agency is now running the highway with a single-lane gravel shoulder, controlled by a traffic light, where Boise Creek cut under it.

That’s where the seven-day-a-week parking reservations come in, which Crystal Mountain expects will last through the end of January, at least.

“Guests should not attempt to visit Crystal Mountain without a parking reservation,” the ski resort noted in a press release. “Guests without a parking reservation will be turned around, in addition to creating unneeded stress on the interim plan.”

The week hasn’t only brought good news about the highway reopening to Crystal Mountain. Just a few days ago, the ski resort, like many others in Washington, was barren after being pummeled by rain. But the temperatures have dropped, bringing snow. 

“We’re so excited to get the season rolling,” said Peter Dale, senior director of mountain operations at Crystal Mountain. “While it has certainly been a rocky start with this unprecedented weather, Pacific Northwest skiers are well aware of how much this lifestyle hinges on the unpredictability of the weather.”

Dale also expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Greenwater Fire Department and WSDOT, which he called “tireless.”

Elsewhere in Washington, other mountains impacted by the atmospheric rivers remain in limbo, even as snow stacks up on their slopes.

Mt. Baker Ski Area is still waiting for its access road to reopen to the public, but hopes to first spin its lifts on Saturday, December 20, for a passholder day, followed by general public opening on Sunday. That, of course, hinges on the status of the road.

Highway 2, which connects Stevens Pass to the broader world, also remains closed between Skykomish and Leavenworth because of “several miles of washouts and mudslides,” according to WSDOT. Earlier this week, Governor Bob Ferguson said that the closure could last “for months.”

“There are major, major issues on that roadway,” he said.

WSDOT later announced that it started emergency repairs on Highway 2, but there is no estimated time for reopening. 

This is a developing story. Check the social media page of your local mountain for the latest updates.

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