Located in Mount Rainier National Park, Crystal Mountain is a ski resort of incredible views, long runs and steep-and-deep terrain spread across challenging glades, chutes and bowls on the resort's back-country slopes. Crystal also has a terrain park for snowboarders comprising a 65-metre half-pipe, ridges and carving slopes.

The purpose-built resort of Crystal Mountain has an array of facilities and offers expert tuition (including classes for children) in skiing, snowboarding, telemarking and ski racing. Accommodation ranges from the modest to the luxurious and is mainly in condominiums; there are also three hotels and 21 hook-ups.

Crystal Mountain ski resort has 50 runs that are divided into 13 per cent for beginners, 57 per cent for intermediates and 30 per cent for experts; the real draw for thrill-seekers is the fantastic off-piste terrain. The longest run is four kilometres and the vertical is a respectable 990m; while 10 very efficient lifts can carry over 19,000 people per hour.

Other winter activities and facilities at Crystal Mountain include Alpine skiing and telemarking, and there is also a hot tub, sauna, showers and game room. There are a couple of restaurants and cafés, and après-ski is supplied by two lounges and a pub.

The best snow of the mid-November to mid-April ski season is from the end of January and in February, and night skiing is available from January 7 to February 5. Your most practical travel option is to fly to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and take one of the many shuttle bus transfers to Crystal Mountain.