White Pass Ski Area, WA, Will Open 2026-27 Season with New Base Camp Lodge

Skiers at Washington’s White Pass Ski Area will have a brand-new facility to enjoy this season. 

Over the past several months, White Pass has been working on the construction of its new multi-floor Base Camp Lodge on the west side of the resort’s base area. The resort recently took to its Facebook page with an update on the new lodge’s construction, and it excitedly announced that the lodge will be ready for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The Base Camp Lodge will serve as the home base for the resort’s beginner area. Sitting right at the base of a series of green runs, White Pass designed the lodge with families and beginner skiers in mind. It has a fully stocked rental center for guests who do not own skis, as well as a cafeteria serving warm food and hot cocoa — perfect for when little skiers get cold.

“From first steps to first turns, Base Camp is where Pacific Northwest families begin their mountain adventure,” White Pass writes.  

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Located in southern Washington, White Pass is an excellent ski area for beginners who want to lock down their first turns. About 30% of the resort’s 1,402 acres of skiable terrain is dedicated to beginners, featuring wide and long runs to help skiers learn.

The Base Camp area in particular is advantageous for new skiers. It is served by its own three-seater lift, called Far East, alongside three magic carpet surface lifts. Its three runs — Holiday, Near-Side, and Far-Side — are long enough to give beginners time to go through the turning motions, and wide enough to ensure there is plenty of room between skiers. A few laps on the Far East chair and some turn practice will have skiers ready to step up to some of the resort’s more challenging terrain. With progression in mind, many of White Pass’s blue runs are located right next to the Base Camp area. When skiers feel like they have mastered their turns and Base Camp’s green runs, they can take the same Far East lift to access the Poma Face run: the resort’s first blue run directly east of the beginner area.

However, White Pass is not only for beginners. When skiers reach expert level, they can find plenty of black diamond runs with steep pitches and technically demanding terrain.

With its bounty of beginner terrain alongside its focus on progression, White Pass has something for every ability level. 

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In addition to its wide variety of terrain, skiers at White Pass also enjoy smaller crowds than other Washington resorts. Some resorts, like Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain, sit right on the doorstep of the Seattle metro area. White Pass is situated at a strategic distance from the city. It sits much further south, and the driving distance leads many skiers to choose one of the Seattle-area resorts.

This distance is what makes the atmosphere at White Pass more beginner-friendly and laid-back. Guests are typically residents from Yakima, the South Sound, and Central Washington, giving the mountain a community feel, which is often less intimidating for beginner skiers.

With the new lodge, White Pass hopes to attract new skiers and families who find themselves looking for a family-friendly resort with plenty of beginner terrain. This season, White Pass will have a brand new facility to enjoy, and beginner skiers can come off the mountain for a warm cup of hot chocolate to celebrate those magical first turns.

Families who want to book lessons for their young skiers can do so on the White Pass Website.