Winter Weekends
TomCat Schedule | SNO-PARK PERMIT | Directions
We offer whatever snow sport warms the cockles of your heart, including skiing (downhill, cross country, backcountry), snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, building snow forts, and making snowmen.
“On a powder day, you can get fresh tracks all day long!!”
Please bring skis and outdoor exploration gear. We have sleds and snow shoes available to borrow.
If you would like to sled, please bring helmets for all sledders (all ages must have helmets), and plan to have an adult at the top and bottom of the sled hill to ensure safety.
Please minimize the amount of gear you bring. Packing for Winter Weekends at Meany provides more information on what to bring and how to pack.
COvid Mitigation Plans
This information is current as of 12/26/2024:
For the Winter 2025 season we are NOT requiring COVID tests.
If any member of your guest party feels unwell in any way, we encourage you to email the lodge chair to cancel your reservation. The lodge chair will process a full refund for your stay.
If you begin to feel unwell during your lodge stay we will immediately transport you and your party back to the parking lot so that you can recover in the comfort of your own space and not risk sharing your potential illness with others.
We will look forward to seeing you again as soon as you are feeling good.
DAY USE: DECEMBER – MARCH
To visit Meany for a day, please register for a corresponding activity on our calendar - the cooks appreciate knowing how much food to buy!
We have resumed allowing drop-ins. If you haven't preregistered and paid, please see the Lodge Host when you arrive to pay the day-use fee.
GETTING TO MEANY - Safely
First time visitors- this page could save your life, or at least, your weekend. Please keep in mind the following:
- You will lose cell coverage when you leave I90.
- Mountain passes are dangerous. Travel with emergency supplies (blankets, food, etc) in your car in case you get stuck. Current pass conditions can be found on the WSDoT Snoqualmie Pass page.
- Bring tire chains (practice putting them on in your garage, it’s hard to do this for the first time in the cold).
- Purchase a sno-park permit and time your arrival to TomCat, our very own snow transport.
- Google Maps will get you to the Crystal Springs SnoPark, but see #’s 1, 2, 3 & 4 above. Written directions are also available.
SNO-PARK PERMITS (AKA YOUR PARKING PASS)
During winter months, the State closes the forest service road to Meany Lodge. Parking is at the Crystal Springs sno-park and requires a state-issued sno-park permit, which you can purchased before you arrive. It is also possible to purchase either single-day or season permits from the kiosk at the parking lot. More on that below.
We recommend you purchase permits online or from a vendor such as REI. Ask for the "Seasonal Non Motorized Permit/Special Groomed Sticker Combo" for which the price should be $120-$125. Please consider carpooling.
Which permit you should purchase depends on your expected usage, with many finding the annual pass most economical:
- 3 nights (4 days) or more, purchase both:
- $50 – Seasonal Non Motorized Permit
- $70 – Special Groomed Sticker
- Annual permit is license plate specific (but see below)
- Single day:
- $25 Day Use Sno-Park Pass
- A day pass covers from midnight to midnight, so if you are staying overnight you will need to buy two passes. One for your day of arrival and one for your day of departure.
As mentioned above, both of these permit options are available at the parking lot kiosk, and the prices are the same. Moreover, the annual permit issued at the kiosk does not seem to be license plate specific. The kiosk's season pass software does have a bug: It prints the correct purchase date, but shows an April 2024 expiration date. Those of us who are trying this approach don't expect this to be a problem.
Yes, this is confusing. Please take out your frustrations by writing letters to the state administrators who made it this complicated and not the poor TomCat driver who is trying to explain it.
TOMCAT SCHEDULE
When snow is present, the 3 miles of road to Meany are closed by the state and the only approach is on foot or via transportation on Meany's TomCat or snowmobiles.
Please arrive at the SnoPark 20 minutes before the departure time listed below, so you have time to move your gear from your car onto the TomCat.
The trip in to Meany and the trip out will take 30 - 60 minutes depending on conditions, but most people report it's a great deal of fun!
When packing your gear, assume you’re packing for a 3 mile hike with the possibility of getting a ride. See our beginners guide for packing for Meany, and remember to pack your stuff in a backpack or duffle bag – loose gear, paper / plastic bags, suitcases, crates or boxes are a recipe for disappointment and frustration.
Transportation Schedule (Departure Times January 5-March 18)
Driving DIRECTIONS
Winter and Spring driving directions (mid-November till May)
Summer and Fall driving directions (May till mid-November)