Unique in the state, with about a half-mile of elevation drop. Newly expanded for this weekend's tourney to a full 18 holes, without sharing the lower course. Folks told me that will be a permanent expansion.
It's free. The gondola ride to the top (and 1st tee) is $22 for adults, but you can walk up for nothin'. I did that 2 weeks ago - took a hair over 1.5 hours.
Views! Critters!

Expect to lose disc(s), especially in the updraft we encountered today and two weeks earlier. (I lost 3 two weeks ago in a fairly strong wind, and found another, unmarked one. Today I lost 2, including the one I found before.) Difficult footing. Some of the patches of trees are very dense. If your knees or other joints are anything less than bombproof, bring whatever reinforcement you use for long, steep descents.

This ain't no city park. It's a mountain ski area, with steep runs that are mostly avalanche chutes with a few trails and steep gravel roads added. You'll be distracted by wild strawberries in early summer, then huckleberries later, but also ankle-twisting rocks hidden under the bushes.
Some of the shots are along the service road that winds past the ski lifts; others are long bombs down the steep meadows. I saw one today that curved way out to the right, over the treetops, left us in suspense, whether it would fall into the forested ravine right, or back into the the open, then faded left and kicked dust onto the basket pole, 800+ feet from the tee! Come to Crystal summit to (maybe) see shots like that, and almost certainly see others that go almost as far, but in entirely the wrong direction.
If you can't handle the risk and the marginal footing, this isn't your course.
Open in Summer only, of course. This year it will close after September 18.

Crystal Mountain Summit Course is located at the top of the mountain at 6,872 feet and is accessed by the Chinook and Rainier Express chairlifts. With striking views of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Range, the course is easily one of the more picturesque places in the entire northwest! The scenic chairlifts are only open weekends and are well worth the price. However, if the $20 is not in your budget or you are there on a weekday, then you can always hike the two hours to the summit.

This mammoth of a course is very similar to the back nine on the Base Course, with big air, distance, and plenty of danger, just much more scenic. Because the course is so high up, snow still remains on several of the holes. Many of the holes tuck up against the mountainside, doglegging to the left. Some of the holes are dead straight, with only a few which dogleg right. All of the holes are par 3 and use the same temporary Lightning DB-5 baskets as the lower course. Tee pads are all rugged dirt patches which were dug out of the side of the hill, and vary in size. Tee signs are metal stakes which stick out of the ground about 2 feet tall, with large black numbers placed on a white sign. Although difficult to spot at times, many can be found if you stick along the gravel road.

Elements on this course are extreme, with ice, wind, elevation, and the sun. It is imperative that players bring the proper supplies including suntan lotion, sun glasses, hat, long sleeve shirt, light pants, boots, snacks, and plenty of water! Prepare yourself for the hike, and plan on it taking at least 2-3 hours for the summit course alone. Add another 2-3 hours more if you are planning on playing the back nine and 4 hours if you are playing the entire lower 18.

This course is just as remarkable as the lower course, and is the perfect addition to Crystal Mountain. However, like the lower course, the tee signs and tee pads are in some serious need of improvements. The signs although temporary, need to be larger and brighter so they can be easily spotted from previous pin. More arrows directing players to the next tee would help as well. Some of the dirt tee pads are the proper size, but many are unlevel, small, and to be honest unsafe.

Baskets are well made, but are single chained and don't catch very well outside 30 feet. With strong winds and constant elevation changes, putts must be strong but chain outs are frequent. Watch out for roll aways too!

There are several ways now to play Crystal Mountain which makes this place even more of a destination area. Players can play the 27 which involves playing the Base Front 9, Summit 9, then the Base Back 9. Players could also do the Base Front 9 and Summit 9 then ride the express chair all the way down. Last, the Summit 9 and then the Base Back 9. However, hole 10 on the Summit Course differs from the Base Course hole 10, but both connect at the same basket so just be aware. Make sure you bring several overstable discs you don't mind losing, as it is likely that you will lose at least one.

NOTE: During the tournament this year they turned the course from 10 to 18 holes and it was incredible! Hopefully all 18 holes will be put back up again at the beginning of the season next year.

** New gondola up and running **

Disclaimer: If you are a novice or intermediate, or suffer from bad knees, this course most likely is not for you.
It will challenge players who have a good sense of throwing in wind and those who know how to use huge elevation changes to thier advantage. Mids such as a buzzz or roc are best on this course!