Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Seattle, Washington
Tel:
(206) 236-7277
Summit Central is one of the four bases at The Summit at Snoqualmie resort. Summit Central is definitely the snowboarding monarch of the four bases, with the majority of the man-made snowboarding terrain located here. It is the mid-intermediate mountain, so almost anyone, particularly those not ready to brave Alpental's treacherous steeps, can find a perfect run for their ski level here.
Originally opened in 1940, Summit Central became one of the Summit's four bases in the 1980s when the resort was conglomerated. Central has 350 skiable acres of lift serviced terrain, with a high speed quad to get you up the 1,040 feet of vertical that much faster. Central's terrain is the most varied of the group, with miles of groomed beginner terrain side-by-side with both intermediate and black diamond runs, to keep the more advanced skiers entertained. Unfortunately this varied terrain also makes Summit Central the most crowded of the four faces. Therefore you'd be best off putting in an effort to ski Central on weekdays.
Popular with skiers and snowboarders alike, Summit Central is the most snowboarder focused part of the entire Summit Resort. Considered by many to have the Puget Sound Region's best terrain parks and pipes, Summit Central is a snowboarder's heaven. Central Park, located on Summit Central, is filled with rails, boxes, table-tops, dropdowns, spines, and hips. The Summit is also the only resort in the Puget Sound area to have a Zaugg Pipe Monster.
Plenty of additional activities are available for those looking for a break from Summit Central's crowds. From snowshoeing and cross-country skiing over the 55km of groomed terrain to tubing down the mountain at the Summit Central tubing area. The Summit's proximity to Seattle makes it simple to take the day off to shop for non-mountain accessories. Take a drive into the city and enjoy the shopping malls, dining opportunities, and nightlife.
Summit Central's Lodge provides a selection of menus to suit every palate. Make sure to check out the Rodeo's BBQ at Summit Central for great BBQ treats. Also available are coffee treats and a well-stocked bar for those looking for a cool-down. As this is the most crowded side of the mountain, try and take your lunch break on off peak hours, (peak hours are between 12:00-1:30), to avoid in the cafeteria the same lines you've been facing at the lifts. Also available are the sister sites' lodges and their dining options.
Alpental, and the rest of the Summit Resort are located just 50 miles from Seattle, so one can always spend the day tearing up the mountain and still make it back on time for dinner reservations in the city. Seattle also provides an enormous variety of lodging options for those visiting from out of town. However, unless you're specifically interested in enjoying Seattle's amenities, you're probably better off making a reservation at one of the local lodgings. Amongst them are a selection of lodges, inns, private rentals, and chalets. Some of these are mountainside, while if you stray just a few miles away you can find many additional choices.