Alpental facts for kids
Alpental is a beautiful valley and a popular ski area in the Cascades mountains of Washington. Its name comes from a German word meaning alpine valley. Alpental is about 50 miles (80 km) east of Seattle, near Snoqualmie Pass. It's a great place for outdoor fun all year round! The ski area here is one of four areas that make up The Summit at Snoqualmie.
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What Alpental Looks Like
The Alpental valley stretches about 3 miles (5 km) from Snoqualmie Pass towards the north. It's like a big canyon with mountains on three sides. On the west side, you'll find peaks like Denny Mountain, The Tooth, and Chair Peak.
At the very top of the valley, there's a lake called Source Lake. This lake is where the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River begins. This river eventually flows into the famous Snoqualmie Falls near North Bend, Washington. On the east side of the valley, you can see Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Mountain.
Alpental is easy to get to! You can drive there from I-90 Exit 52 at Snoqualmie Pass using Alpental Road (Forest Service Road No. 9040). In the summer, you can also reach it by taking Denny Creek Road (Forest Service Road No. 58).
Fun Things to Do in Alpental
Alpental Valley is a super popular spot for outdoor activities in the Cascades, whether it's summer or winter.
Summer Adventures
In the summer, Alpental Valley is a starting point for people who love to hike and climb. The trails here lead into the amazing Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Many climbers have started their adventures right from the valley floor!
Winter Sports
When winter arrives, Alpental transforms into a challenging but fun place for downhill skiing and snowboarding. It's part of The Summit at Snoqualmie ski resort. The ski area has added cool features like gas fire pits and heated sidewalks to make visitors more comfortable.
Most of the mountain is great for intermediate and advanced skiers. However, some areas with cliffs are very difficult and only for very experienced skiers. The expert run called "International" is famous among skiers and snowboarders in the Puget Sound area, and they often call it "Nash."
The ski area has four chair lifts and a "magic carpet" (a moving conveyor belt for beginners) on the west side of the valley, under Denny Mountain. Beyond the groomed slopes, people also enjoy backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing in Alpental Valley. They often start from the upper parking lots, known as lots 3 and 4.
Did you know that Debbie Armstrong, who won an Olympic gold medal, learned to ski at Alpental? She grew up in Seattle, and now there's a ski run called "Debbie's Gold" and a chairlift called "Armstrong Express" named after her!
It's important to be careful in Alpental Valley because avalanches can happen here, and they can be dangerous.
Who Owns Alpental?
The land in Alpental Valley is a mix of public and private ownership. Most of the higher parts of the valley are public land, managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS). The Summit at Snoqualmie, which includes Alpental, is owned by CNL Income Properties and leased long-term to Boyne USA Resorts. The ski runs at Alpental Ski Area are on USFS land and are operated with a special permit.
There are also some private developments in the valley. These include two condo buildings in the upper valley and a few private homes in a Bavarian-themed neighborhood that started in 1968. In the lower valley, there are two lodges for outdoor clubs: The Washington Alpine Club and the Sahalie Ski Club. The Sahalie Ski Club even has two private rope tows above its lodge.
In 2022, Boyne Resorts announced a new plan for Alpental called the "Alpental Aspect." In 2023, they started working on it. Alpental closed early in April 2023, and some of its slopes were changed as part of this new plan.
Images for kids
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Alpental sign
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