Stevens Pass Backtracks on New Parking Reservation Plan

Stevens Pass, Washington upset many passholders when they announced a new paid parking reservation system for the Winter 25/26 season on February 28, 2025.

The new system would require a $20 parking reservation on all weekends and holidays for nearly every vehicle. The only exceptions would be made for vehicles with four or more passengers, vehicles with a single adult and two children 12 and under, and guests using ADA parking.

The comments section of Stevens Pass' posts were flooded with words of disappointment, anger, and frustration. While the $20 parking fee is meant to encourage carpooling, and ultimately reduce the number of vehicles that arrive on the busiest day of the season, the move felt like a slap in the face to passholders who already shell out thousands of dollars to ski Steven Pass each season.

Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.

Stevens Pass is known for having a strong community presence, and their feedback was actually heard by the higher-ups at Vail Resorts, the owner and operator of Stevens Pass.

On April 5, 2025, Stevens Pass General Manager Ellen Galbraith penned a social media post announcing the reversal of the proposed paid parking plan, and the return of the hybrid free and paid parking plan the ski area utilized this season.

"We’ve decided to maintain the 2024/25 parking model for the 2025/26 winter season," writes Galbraith. "This means we’ll continue offering a mix of free and paid parking on weekends and during peak periods, with a focus on reservations and carpooling incentives. We will continue to reinvest all paid parking revenue into the parking and arrival experience."