Washington — With crowding an issue at ski resorts near North American cities like Seattle, one method implemented has been parking reservations. It looks like another ski resort will officially require them, albeit at a less comprehensive level than other mountains.
Last week, Stevens Pass updated its parking plan for the 2026-27 season. On weekends and holidays, parking reservations will be required at Stevens Pass if you arrive before 10 a.m. With this reservation model will be paid and free parking. The paid parking spots will be available months in advance, while the free spots will be released a week in advance. For the months in advance option, most will cost money ($20), but you can avoid that by going as a family (couple and kids) or by having four or more people in your vehicle.
This move follows a similar announcement last year, which required a parking reservation. However, getting a free reservation was only possible if you carpooled with four or more people, were part of a family, or required ADA parking. They ended up changing the plan to just some parking lots requiring reservations for this winter, with the majority of spots remaining free.
The move unsurprisingly drew criticism, as this has been a tense season between passholders and management. Some dislike that it’s being done despite it being a relatively crowd-free season, while others dislike that it creates another hurdle for skiing.
Reservations At Other Washington Ski Resorts
The move follows other nearby areas that are now requiring parking reservations. Crystal Mountain requires parking reservations on weekends and holidays, which costs $10 for cars and $15 for RVs. The Summit at Snoqualmie also requires weekend reservations, but Summit (not Ikon) passholders get a free parking permit.
I do personally believe that this is a reasonable decision by Stevens Pass. While reservations add an extra step for guests, they help reduce road congestion. There’s also the reality that this is more lenient than other parking policies, since it’s only effective until 10 a.m. Parking is also free and without reservation on most days, which includes night skiing. While early birds may not like it, it’s a step in the right direction to reduce congestion.
Image Credits: Zoshua Colah, Stevens Pass
