Salmon Ridge SnoPark Trails

So where is the Salmon Ridge SnoPark? – click for details!

Distance table – check this out and find a ski of the appropriate length

1. Razorhone / Cougar Loop

The ‘main drag’ of our snopark is the Razorhone trail – a Forest Service road during the summer and a groomed ski trail in the winter. Add the Cougar Loop for extra scenery and excitement! See the separate page for a map and more details. The parking area is a Washington Ski Sno-Park and a permit is required to park.

2. Anderson Creek Road

  • Groomed ski trail with Backcountry extension
  • 1.8 miles round trip to the washout (this section is normally groomed and a very pleasant ski with gentle hills and corners.)
  • 8 miles round trip to the end of the ‘road’ (backcountry) This currently has a number of trees across it about 2.5 miles out. Check with Pete if you want an invite to the work party to cut a path through them this winter (Jan. 2023)
  • click link for a map and more details

The Anderson Creek Road cross country ski trail begins across State Highway 542 from the Salmon Ridge SnoPark. Take the left most route (the other leads to the Silver Fir Campground).  The trail climbs gently (for the most part) for the first 2 miles to the first switchback, then gets steeper with a rating of More Difficult. It is 4 miles to end of the trail. Beware of avalanche possibilities on some sections higher near the end of the trail. Parking on both sides of the highway is part of the Washington Ski Sno-Park and a permit is required to park.

3. White Salmon Road

The White Salmon Road cross country area is located at 3400 feet, to the north of and below the Mt. Baker Ski Area lower lodge. It has some great views of Shuksan, Sefrit, and Goat Mountains, and generally has snow both earlier and later than the Salmon Ridge area which is at the 2,000 level. The White Salmon area is occasionally machine groomed; it starts off level and easy, then a long gradual downhill, with a climb up to The Knob. Parking is very limited, but no SnoPark pass is required.

4. Silver Fir Campground Area

Silver Fir Campground Area is now occasionally groomed and tracked. It is a beautiful area with a completely flat ‘road’ that goes through the campsite. When groomed, it makes a great place to practice beginning skate skiing. With or without grooming, it is a pleasant glade to ski or snowshoe through some big trees. To find it, walk (look both ways) directly across the highway from the snopark parking lot and you are there.  If you are a beginning beginner, you might walk over the initial berm before you put your skis on.  Have fun! Note: you need a snopark pass to park along the main highway in front of the trail.

5. River Trail / Mom’s 

This loop makes a great, scenic introductory snowshoe/backcountry ski/Hok adventure. I recommend going out on the River Trail (0.9 miles long) that takes a level, twisty route through big trees and out onto the river shore. It ends at a T-junction with the main Razor Hone Trail. Turn and look to your left. One hundred yards up the trail, Mom’s takes off to the right with a smooth, 0.5 mile trip back to the parking lot.

5A. Gerbil Loop 

This loop is a delightful little addition to the groomed trail network. It’s a flat, twisty trail that make for a great skate ski zip around a bunch of corners. Classical skiers are welcome too, but oftentimes tracks aren’t set.

6. Huckleberry Trail 

Looking for something different rather than another loop around the River Trail and Mom’s? The Huckleberry Trail is a bit longer and has a few more hills and valleys than the River Trail, but makes a great snowshoe hike among some beautiful big trees. You can go out and back or combine it with Cougar to make a loop. It’s not groomed – good for snowshoes and backcountry skis. A great place to try your new Hoks! The report from 4 who saw it for the first time on 2/10 was “Such an amazing snowshoe experience. Not for the faint of heart though. There were no super tough or non-passible spots. There were a few spots we needed to jump over wet areas, or climb a small tree laying down. The marking [blue diamonds] was clear.”

7. Jerry Bourn Trail 

This is a short, scenic backcountry ski / snowshoe trail. It starts a short ways up the Hannegan Pass Road – look for a trailhead on the left, just past a high rock cliff.

8. Salamander Connector Trail 

This trail is a ‘work-in-progress’, but is available for the adventurous party. We’ve been out on it and have enjoyed the trips. See link for details.

9. Hannegan Road Trail

Hannegan Road Trail is on the other side of the river from the Razorhone area and has its own parking area. Turn off the highway 1/4 mile before reaching the main Sno-park. It is multi-use and is dog-friendly. Unfortunately, it is not frequently groomed.

10. Ridge Road

A pleasant, open trail between White Salmon trail and the lower Mt. Baker Downhill Ski Resort lodge. Unfortunately, it has a very steep section at either end! A good alternative if the parking area at White Salmon is full.

11. Heather Meadows

Going up to the end of the road takes you past the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Great back-country skiing at and above treeline, plus some late season skate-skiing when they have a practice trail for the Ski-to-Sea race in May.