Crystal Mountain is the largest ski area in Washington State, tucked beneath Mount Rainier in the northwest corner of the United States. Skiers have been coming here since 1962, and it’s grown into the region's big-mountain destination, with a devoted following and terrain that rewards anyone willing to explore it. Ride to the top on a clear day and Mount Rainier fills the western skyline, a 4,392m volcano with peak after peak stacked up around it. It's a view that stays with you long after you've gone home. This is an unpolished, ski-first mountain, where you’ll really get to enjoy the terrain and the setting.

There's terrain for every level here. Beginners get a gentle pocket of groomed runs by the base, while intermediates have acres of rolling, cruisy pistes higher up. Stronger skiers and riders have the steeps, tree runs, chutes, and wide bowls to go at, and Crystal is known for the ungroomed, lift-served terrain of its Northway area, where you get backcountry skiing without the long hike. A handful of terrain parks near the base add a freestyle element, with jumps, rails, and boxes that build up from beginner features. The snow comes in classic Cascade style, heavy and deep, and lays a durable base through a season that runs from early December into mid-April.

Off the snow, life here is low-key and centred on the mountain. You can ride the gondola up just for the views and have lunch at the Summit House, the highest restaurant in Washington. Guided snowshoe tours head out along the ridgelines, and Mount Rainier National Park sits right at the resort's edge if you fancy a walk and some scenery. With a relaxed choice of places to eat and drink around the base too, it makes for an unfussy, outdoorsy holiday where the setting and the skiing lead, and there's enough beyond the slopes to round out a longer stay.

Check out Crystal Mountain Resort ski deals to start planning your trip.