Skiers will have plenty to look forward to at Snoqualmie Pass in the future as the park has announced it will have new chairlifts, night lighting on 25 new runs, almost 10 acres of additional parking and a mountain-top restaurant at Summit East. Construction may start as early as next spring.

The master development plan for the Summit-at-Snoqualmie has been approved by the Forest Service, the final step in the National Environmental Policy Act process that began with an initial public comment period on a master plan proposed by the ski area.

“We are excited that this is complete,” said winter sports specialist Sean Wetterberg of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualimie National Forest. “This will improve the skiing experience at Snoqualmie Pass, one of the most-visited ski areas in the Pacific Northwest.”

Wildlife habitat concerns, crowding, transportation and skier distribution were some of the issues identified in the public comment period on the master plan. Those issues drove a range of alternatives that were analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement, including the ski area donating 390 acres to the Forest Service to improve wildlife habitat.

The public can view and download the plan at www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/.