7 Picks for Yakima Valley Winter Wonderland Fun

7 Picks for Yakima Valley Winter Wonderland Fun

January 8, 2020

Winter in our beautiful corner of the Pacific Northwest means it’s time to get outside for adventure and fun in the snow! Take a look at seven of our favorite ways to enjoy our Northwest winter wonderland.


Twilight Snowshoe Tour! Explore the groomed trails and majestic views of the stunning Cascade Crest by moonlight (or headlamp on snowy nights) with White Pass Ski Area Nordic Center guides. After your adventure, enjoy appetizers and a drink at the Nordic Café in the Nordic Center Yurt. Tours include snowshoes (feel free to bring your own) and headlamps if needed.  Reserve your spot for a Twilight Tour or even a Yoga Snowshoe Adventure. Book your stay at the White Pass Village Inn vacation rental condos for the perfect winter weekend escape or make an evening of it in Yakima and warm up in Valley tasting rooms and tap houses.


Private Ski Lessons with Andy and Shannon Mahre! Schedule a two-hour private lesson or lesson for two skiers with Andy or Shannon Mahre of  Mahre Athletic Development Experiences (MADE). This is for intermediate and advanced to expert skiers, focusing on moguls, steeps, crud, powder, pillows and trees, introduction to backcountry/side country and introduction to air (natural terrain).


Ski Clinics with MADE and Girls with Grit Interested in getting better at skiing powder, crud, bumps, trees and steeps? Well, this group clinic is for you! Join head coaches Andy & Shannon Mahre of MADE and Girls with Grit for a day of shredding, learning and tons of smiling too, of course! After the meet and greet, the ladies will head off with Shannon and the guys will head off with Andy for the morning ski workshop. Then, meet up together for lunch, ski as a group for a few runs, and then split up again until meeting at the lodge for après drinks, food and a raffle.


Fat Bikes! Fat biking is the fastest-growing winter sport of the last five years. White Pass Ski Area has several bikes available for rent or bring your own. Fat Bikes are allowed on the groomed trails in the snowshoe lane and on the snowshoe trails of White Pass Ski Area.


Winter Wagon Ride in Wine Country. This time of year the vineyards have a special kind of beauty. Enjoy winter wine tasting on a cozy ride taking you through the frosty vineyards to taste the wines of the Red Mountain AVA. Red Mountain Trails Wine Tasting Tour lasts four hours with lunch stop and snacks along the way.   Enjoy the wineries of Red Mountain with door-to-door service and a stylish, comfortable ride, visiting four to five wineries.


Stay in a Snug Cabin! Nestled among the pines of the Cascades you will find the rustic and cozy cabins of Elk Ridge Campground on Hwy 410, Chinook Pass. Situated next to the Naches River, it’s the perfect spot for enjoying cross country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling on the nearby trails, or just wanting to relax by the fire. Choose from nine cabins, all heated and equipped with full kitchens and fireplaces.  At the end of the day, after taking in the great outdoors, you can relax, work out aches and stress by enjoying a massage from the on-staff massage therapist. The Elk Ridge Spa offers a variety of massage types including hot stone, deep tissue and hot towel compress using only 100% natural products.


Go Snowmobiling in the Ahtanum State Forest. Prime groomed snowmobile trails are just a short drive off the freeway! Stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Union Gap, WA or the brand new Home2 Suites a Hilton Hotel for the shortest drive to the Ahtanum Sno-Park at Ahtanum Meadows in Ahtanum State Forest, the largest sno-park in the region. Home 2 Suites has multiple restaurants, coffee shops, shopping and a  grocery store nearby. Unload your rig to enjoy hundreds of miles of trails in the area, including 67 miles of groomed trails through pristine alpine meadows and awe-inspiring high country! Parking for your truck and machines is abundant and free at the hotels.

Categorized in: , ,