Deva![](images/starg_3.png)
For Crystal Mountain Ski Resort: Crystal Mountain
Welp, first off, if you don’t have a smart phone you’re SOL because you have to scan a code to access the site to pay. It was a ghost town when I was there (Thursday afternoon)and not a single human to assist you. I emailed and received a prompt response because it was unclear where to park and what the charge was for dry camping/overnight parking. There is a lot of ominous signage about getting booted for “improper†parking. Initially got an email to “park beyond the meters,†then got another from the Big Kahuna Facility Manager Guru, stating I was to use a tent site, although I did spell out in my email I DID NOT NEED electric/H20. But, the Guru responded no worries, they wouldn’t “boot†me, haha, use a tent site. There were multiple indications (threats) that if you are “improperly†parked, your vehicle would get booted, requiring a $100 fee to un-boot it. So, the gist of it is: there is NO dry camping allowed. You have to be in either an RV site or a Tent site. Both have designated electric, with water spigots available. Don’t think you can actually put a tent in the tent sites! No, no, no! (Please notice his wording in the email I received and posted in the photo section of this review.) There is no place to pop a tent unless you plan on putting it right behind your vehicle on the gravel, in the parking lot. All the sites are in one long line of electric access posts with scattered water spigots at the edge of a large gravel parking lot. All are cheek by jowl, just like in a mall parking lot. If you have a slide, forget about it. The sites are not level and the entry to the parking area has impressive potholes. $25 for a “tent†site. I think it was $40 for an RV site, but I could be wrong. The kicker is, there is NO DIFFERENCE (other than 30/50 amp) between a tent site and an RV site. NONE. A single porta-potty for 50+ sites. No thanks, complete rip off IMO. The greed I’m seeing regarding camping in the last year and half is astounding. If you’re here in the winter for a week of skiing, it may be worth it to you to be this close to the slopes. And I did see a herd of elk which somewhat mollified my irritation of the cost. (I was under the impression prior to arrival that dry camping was allowed at a lesser rate. Hey, I’m willing to pay, but I don’t like being ripped off!) Otherwise, I’d give it a big skip. I came, I camped, I won’t be back. I posted the email I got from the big kahuna in the photos for veracity. Side note- I was planning on taking the gondola to the top of the mountain of Friday ($30), but the email interaction and cost of unneeded “tent†camping turned me off so much, I skipped it.
Posted Jun 14, 2021 by Deva from Florida . This is the subjective opinion of a traveler and not of AllStays LLC.
Chris![](images/starg_4.png)
For Crystal Mountain Ski Resort: Camped here in summer. Super-easy back in access in the ski resort’s parking lot. Electrical hookups only, but in summer months there are a few water working spigots behind every other spot. The hikes from the base area are all uphill. The super pricey gondola ride to the top leads to amazing views of all of Washington and the hiking at the top is amazing. Unlike nearby Mt. Rainier you can bring your dog.
Posted Jul 22, 2020 by Chris from Washington. This is the subjective opinion of a traveler and not of AllStays LLC.