Written by: Emma Brice
August on the mountain is our favorite time of the summer for wildflower viewing, hiking, and outdoor events. From our Mountain Music Series to disc golf, August is jam-packed with a wide variety of free activities for the whole family (dogs included!). Check off your summer bucket-list with these top things to do at Crystal this month.
MOUNTAIN MUSIC SERIES – FREE CONCERTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Mountain Music Series is coming to the base area meadow Sunday afternoons through the month of August! Presented by Elysian Brewing, these live music events feature some of our favorite local artists and are free for the whole family (dogs included)! Nothing says “summer” like listening to live music, and sipping a brew surrounded by mountain views. Bring the lawn chairs, blankets, sunscreen, and family for a festive summer activity. Check out the concert lineup and come support our local bands!
SUNSET TO MOONRISE EXCURSION
August 13th, join us for a sunset-to-moonrise experience at the summit after dark. Ride the scenic gondola up to the summit where live music and fun activities await! Walk along the ridgeline and enjoy marshmallow roasting, self-guided star tours, activity stations, and jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier as the moon rises over the Cascades. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and whole family for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and witness the beauty of the mountains under the light of the full moon. Registration is $55 and includes a scenic gondola ticket, a goodie bag filled with Crystal Mountain swag, and a raffle ticket for chance drawings to win prizes from our event sponsors. Summit Fest only happens once a season and is an excursion you won’t want to miss.
SUMMIT HOUSE SPECIALTY DINNERS
While the Summit House is open daily for lunch and endless views, we have a few special dinner events coming up in August. The Perseid Meteor Shower dinner will be hosted on August 13th during one of the brightest meteor showers of the year, offering a front row seat accompanied by breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier. Guests will ride the scenic gondola after the summit is closed to the public, ascending 2,400 feet to Washington’s highest elevation restaurant where a spectacular viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower and a gourmet dining experience await. Each dinner menu is crafted with locally sourced ingredients to highlight the fresh and unique flavors of the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to the Perseid Meteor Shower dinner, the Farm to Mountain dinner series will continue every Saturday through September 3rd. The Farm to Mountain dinners are designed to showcase the talents of our local farmers and ranchers, and the talents of our Crystal team to provide a unique experience worthy of the mountain for our guests. Featuring ingredients from local farmers and ranchers, the dinner menu is specially crafted each time to provide the freshest flavors for our guests. Don’t miss out on these tasty mountaintop dinner experiences and reserve your table today on the Crystal Mountain website!
DISC GOLF
Free to play and fun for all skill levels, disc golf is back at Crystal Mountain! Take a ride up the scenic gondola to the summit and challenge yourself by playing the upper course along the Crystal Mountain trail or stay at the base area to play the lower course in the Discovery Meadow. You can play up to 36 holes between the two courses. Enjoy the fresh alpine air, scenic views, and spend some time with friends and family trying out a new activity. Trail maps can be found online or picked up at guest services upon arrival. As a bonus, the wildflowers along the upper course are now in full bloom. Check out our wildflower identification guide and see how many you can find!
Whether you’re looking for a fun, leisurely activity with the kids or an exclusive mountaintop dining experience, Crystal Mountain has it all. Check out our August events calendar for more information.
