Cover photo courtesy of Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park
It’s hard to name the one thing that makes Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park special. It’s the only ski area in a state park. The Mt. Spokane ski patrol, formed in 1938, is coming up on its 90th anniversary. And it’s the only area nonprofit ski hill, which positions it uniquely to cater toward what local skiers want. The magic that keeps generations coming back is less tangible to list.
Nearly as soon as it became a state park, the ski culture on Mount Spokane was born. The Spokane Ski Club formed in 1931 and created two rope tows, a small jump hill, a lighted hill for night skiing and a 100-meter jump hill. It was the spark of the community that was set to follow. Now offering 1,700 acres of skiable terrain, six lifts and 53 runs, Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park has become the de facto mountain for winter lovers to pop out of the city and get away from it all.
“Mt. Spokane only works because this community believes in it,” says Mt. Spokane marketing director Jodi Kayler, who is going into her seventh season on the mountain. The belief in Mt. Spokane is something passed down through generations. “You’ll see grandparents teaching grandchildren on the same slopes they made their first turns on decades ago. Kids who learned to ski here come back years later with families of their own. Volunteers give their time. So many people choose to support the mountain because they want future generations to have the same experiences they did.”
The deep roots within the community culture are one reason Mt. Spokane “feels like home” no matter your ski level. Mt. Spokane is a hill where beginners can build confidence, seasoned powder chasers can disappear into the trees, and everyone can meet back at the lodge.
“There’s something refreshingly genuine about Mt. Spokane. People help each other in the parking lot, cheer on beginners and catch up with friends in the lift line. It’s never felt like a place where you have to impress anyone. You just come as you are,” says Kayler.
With long-held community support and a nonprofit model, Kayler says every decision management makes is about creating opportunities for more people to enjoy the mountain. “At the end of the day, we’re not just selling lift tickets. We’re helping people make memories they’ll talk about for years.”
Kayler says when she can sneak away from the office for a quick lap during the season, she heads for Allison’s Way. On a powder day, she goes for Elbow. “It always seems to hold a secret stash. It still feels like one of those hidden corners of the mountain where you can take a deep breath and forget about the rest of the day.”
To experience the magic for yourself, take the drive up to Mt. Spokane when the first flakes start to fly and the lifts start spinning. “We’re so fortunate to have a mountain like this in our own backyard,” says Kayler. “Once you’re here, it feels like you’ve left everything behind. In less than an hour you can trade meetings, errands and traffic for fresh mountain air, quiet forests and incredible views. It really does feel like another world.”
If you’re considering your first season pass, buy early during the fall discount season. Kayler says a season pass will change the way you think about skiing. “Instead of planning one or two big trips each winter, skiing becomes part of your lifestyle. You can come up for an hour after work, take a few laps on a Saturday morning, enjoy a night-skiing session with friends or spend the whole day with family. There’s no pressure to make every visit an all-day event—you ski when you want to. Before long, the mountain starts to feel like a second home, and that’s when people really fall in love with the sport.”
Outside of a season ticket, Mt. Spokane also offers a discounted lift ticket pack and several Learn to Ski & Ride programs that can lead to a discounted season pass. Find more info at Mtspokane.com.
