The Forest Queen Express gives skiers access to a diverse variety of runs, ranging from fast groomers to convoluted, treed chutes, and is a good area to know the ins and outs of during windy storms, when the rest of the upper mountain could be on wind hold. We’ll separate this section into on-map runs and off-map runs.

On The Map 

Queen’s Run | Quality: 8/10 | The beginner run off Forest Queen Express, accessed by skiing straight off the chair.  There’s lots of fun to be had in the trees on both sides of the run for beginners and experts alike. This is the most difficult beginner run on the mountain–one section, known affectionately to the locals as Toilet Bowl, has the approximate slope of an intermediate run for a short distance.

Considerations: Beginner, Groomed, Crowded, Easily Accessible, Accesses Chair 6.

Snow Garden | Quality: 6/10 | An offshoot of the lower half of Queen’s Run with more fun beginner tree skiing off to the sides. Also connects to near the top of the Quicksilver chair, but ultimately loops back to the base of Forest Queen.

Considerations: Beginner, Groomed, Easily Accessible, Accesses Quicksilver Chair.

Downhill | Rating: 9/10 | The run was used as the middle section of the downhill course when crystal hosted the 1972 Skiing World Cup. Accessed by skiing to the right off the chair–the run can also access Rainier Express by connecting up with Rolling Knolls.  Fun and fast!

Considerations: Intermediate, Groomed, Crowded, Easily Accessible. 

Chappelle’s (CMAC) | Quality: 5/10 | Originally named after a major ski racing program at Crystal Mountain, CMAC.  The run is split into two sections:

The upper (unsigned) section is accessed by immediately turning right, under the chair, after plunging into Downhill, and is a fast, concave, groomer running parallel to, and eventually merging with, Queen’s Run.

The second (signed) half diverges from Queen’s Run right before the famed Toilet Bowl.  This part can be quite icy, and is only groomed occasionally. It eventually follows the lift line back to the bottom of the chair.

Considerations: Intermediate, Groomed (occasionally), Easily Accessible, Icy (bottom section), Moguls (bottom section).

Sasquatch Jib Park (Mr. Magoo) | Quality: 7/10 (Terrain Park: 4/10) | A gentle, rolling groomer that generally follows the Forest Queen lift line; accessible by skiing the first pitch on Downhill then taking a hard right into the jib park gate.  Since 2010, a medium-sized jib park has existed on most of the run–watch out for flying snowboarders and deviously placed rails.  The run abruptly ends with a quick traverse to the left onto Downhill.

Considerations: Intermediate, Groomed, Crowded, Terrain Park, Easily Accessible.

Little Magoo | Quality: 6/10 | A short continuation of Mr. Magoo: instead of heading left towards Downhill at the end, one can continue straight ahead down a moderately steep face which quickly connects with Lower Chappelle’s Run.

Considerations: Intermediate, Ungroomed.

Rolling Knolls | Quality: 5/10 | A fairly steep (and, depending on how far right you go, extremely steep) connector run from Downhill to the base of Rainier Express.  The title refers to plural “knolls” and makes it sound fun, but this is just one big boring slope.  Possibly the hardest intermediate run on the mountain.

Considerations: Intermediate, Groomed, Steep, Easily Accessible, Accesses Rainier Express

Bear Pits (Forest Queen Entrance) | Quality: 6/10 | Accessed by a long traverse from behind the Campbell Basin Lodge, this lesser-known entrance to the large area of Bear Pits is steeper, harder, and needs much more snow coverage than its northern counterpart.  This side was completely unaffected when a major avalanche hit Bear Pits in 2011, leaving it still with plenty of obstacles.  Narrow chutes lead to a wide-open face.  A traverse next to a creek at the bottom brings you to Rainier Express.

Considerations: Expert, Steep, Low Coverage, Narrow, Rocks, Glades, Difficult Access (traversing required), Accesses Rainier Express.

 

Off Map

Magoo Face | Quality: 6/10 | At the very top of downhill, instead of turning left with the run, go straight up the hump and through the gate (also an official entrance to the terrain park). Decently steep, in low coverage, rocks are exposed at the top. 

Considerations: Advanced, Steep, Under Chair (easy to embarrass yourself),

TLC | Quality: 3/10 | Accessed from the top of Toilet Bowl, on Queen’s Run, this traverse to sharp skier’s right takes you to the now otherwise inaccessible top portion of the Quicksilver run, which also gives access to a new section of Boondoggle. The run itself is awful, icy, and needs lots of coverage not to be a creek. However, the idea behind it is kind of cool. Your enjoyment of it is directly proportional to how small your skis are.

Considerations: Advanced, Icy, Traverse, Glades, Low Coverage, Difficult Access (hard to spot, a traverse).

Gunbarrel | Quality: 7/10 | Accessed from the bottom of Toilet Bowl, this creek bed, with good coverage, can be extremely fun. Recently, a tree has fallen in the lower half of the run, blocking the run. However, it isn’t too difficult to avoid. This run can also be accessed from the Lower Chappelle’s side when  an ungroomed part of the run dips to the right halfway down the face. Overall, this can be an extremely fun, fast run. Note, however, that this run should not be taken in periods of low snow coverage–when there’s not enough snow, it’s a creek.

Considerations: Advanced, Narrow, Glades, Low, Coverage, Difficult Access (creek, fallen trees).

Little Big Cliff | Quality: 6/10 | A nice little rock for aspiring cliff-jumpers. Accessed by turning left off of Forest Queen Express, then going through the thin layer of trees on the skier’s left of the ski patrol hut.

Considerations: Advanced, Cliffs, Steep.

Scotty’s Run | Quality: 9/10 | From just outside the Magoo Face gate, turn right and ski some lightly gladed awesomeness. You can exit the run by either turning left to the Sasquatch Jib park or right to Upper Chappelle’s. A small traverse out may be necessary.

Considerations: Advanced, Powder, Glades, Small Cliffs.

Queen’s Trees | Quality: 7/10 | Although technically part of the Southback area, this sub-section of the Damn Fine Forest can easily be accessed by a short traverse past the gate behind the bottom of Chair 6. When you reach the first cut through the trees, turn left and start skiing! It eventually drops down a steeper face to Elizabeth Lake, where you have to traverse back out to Queen’s.

Considerations: Advanced, Southback, Powder, Glades, Difficult Access (traversing required).

K2 Face | Quality: 5/10 | Accessed through the rarely-open and hard to locate first gate on the left side of Downhill. It can also be accessed by traversing down the left side of the rope line after entering Bear Pits. Extremely steep, it follows the line of the former Rendezvous Chair. The top tends to have sketchy coverage, due to the extreme pitch of the run, but as the lower section flattens out, the run can contain some powder stashes (on a good day).

Considerations: Expert, Steep, Narrow, Low Coverage, Difficult Access (hard to spot, potential traversing required).

Frisco | Quality: 9/10 | Accessed through the second, easily seen gate to the left of Downhill–keep your eyes out for it.  This narrow, treed chute can provide hidden stashes of powder, or wide swaths of dirt depending on coverage.  More often than not, the run will be great.  A surprisingly enjoyable traverse at the bottom leads to Rainier Express.

Considerations: Expert, Steep, Narrow, Glades, Difficult Access (hard to spot), Powder, Accesses Rainier Express.

Little Frisco | Quality: 8/10 | When the rope line down the slope from the Frisco gate ends, dive into the forest and you will fine yourself in another Frisco-like chute, only this one is narrower and harder.

Considerations: Expert, Steep, Narrow, Glades, Difficult Access (hard to spot), Powder, Accesses Rainier Express.

 

Statistics: Runs: 17 | On Map: 47% | Off Map: 53%

11% Beginner | 30% Intermediate | 35% Advanced | 24% Expert