Snorting Elk

Worst nachos ever… so remarkably bad that I’m certain I could make better nachos, blindfolded, using only ingredients foraged from my cat’s litter box.
The pepperoni pizza was sour, which is scary, because pepperoni pizza shouldn’t be sour.
Get the bacon cheddar burger and the crocodile cookie — which were delicious.

The Snorting Elk is such an awesome pub, I look forward to it every year. Charming and cozy with a warming fireplace. I usually have a local draft brew or a specialty hot toddy. Personable fun staff, yummy food and awesome music (live or Dj).
Best vibe on the mountain.

We really enjoyed this spot! Friendly service, ski lodge décor, and surprisingly great food (huge portions too!). It was a cozy spot to spend a few hours. The only downside was that the drink selection was pretty minimal, I guess since we came in the off-​season (mid-​September). I would definitely come back!

I have skied almost every mountain on my bucket list and drank till closing in more ski bars than I would like to admit. I’m here to tell you… The Snorking Elk is one of, if not the finest, Apre destinations the US has to offer.
Within her four dimly lit Bavarian walls she has heard it all … The one about the perfect blue bird pow day, the blown ACLs, stories about iconic chairlifts lost, the one about the cutest ski bunny he ever saw, toasts to friends lost, avalanches, the marriage proposals, long falls down Bear pits, funerals, and every story in between.
I’ve sat in her high back wooden booths with a whiskey and watched the snow pile up outside concocting my «get out of work story.» I’ve seen the weary faces on search and rescue walking through her doors empty handed. I’ve watched locals and visitors dance on tables until the wee hours of the morning.
It’s events like these that give brick and mortar a soul. The Elk is more than just a ski bar… to many of us it sometimes feels more like home than home.
If you haven’t been, I highly recommend stopping by after a day on the hill. Do what the locals do… Grab a Landjager, a beer and some Nachos and tell a story or two about how you only made two turns down Pin Ball. If you’re already a local, just sit back and enjoy the fact that your bar… Is the best damn ski bar in America!

Great drinks, food and staff. The band was fun the other patrons were great, we had an amazing time.

Me and my family came here and let me say, we were disappointed.
The crab cakes didn’t taste fresh, the salmon was undercooked, and the cheese on my pasta dish was cold and mushy.
My family also waited for our waiter for 15minutes till we were able to get our drinks and menus.
Plus, we politely asked him to shut the door-​since our table was next to it-​and he forgot to do it each time we asked.
Will NOT be returning.

Snorting Elk Enumclaw, Washington. Located in the «cellar» of the Alpine Inn, this place is a combination pub meets small ski lodge. .
Pro’s
· Amazing Scenery (You can watch the skiers ski by as you sip a beer)
· Great soup and sandwiches from the adjacent deli
· Décor-​ambiance was just cool
· Small but stocked bar
· European feel
· Sports on the televisions in the bar area
· Awesome bartenders
· Alcohol prices were comparable to bars and taverns anywhere else
· Has a rustic charm to it
· Large fireplace to warm skiers
Con’s
· Food was pricey
· Baked goods were dry
· Food was mediocre
· Since the bar is small and seating is limited, it gets loud when full
Summary–
This pub/​bar is really amazing. It was so much fun to sit at the rustic German looking booth and sip a beer and watch the skiers pass by. The longer we sat there, the more the bar filled up, the louder it got, however when it was just about dark, most of the skiers went back out to get their gear and head out.
We were so taken in by the scenery and the ambiance of not just the bar, but the entire experience that we stayed as long as we could, even giving thought to staying the evening at the Alpine Inn. We were actually one of the last ones to leave.
I will return, the price for dinner (2 sandwiches, a beer, a cola, chips, a cookie and a brownie was about $ 32.50 and the gondola ride was $ 40.00, it was so worth it. Just as I would recommend Crystal Mountain, I would recommend wrapping up the evening with a trip to the Snorting Elk. It made the day one of the most perfect, if not the most perfect we have had since being here.

Disappointed. This place reminded me of the basement at LUV in Colorado from the pics. Unfortunately, the only friendly local seeming guy was the bartender. There are rules to follow — you can’t take your beverages out the bar and up onto the nice patio with fire pit. The deli is very small, the food yucky, and the girl working acted annoyed to be there. I wanted one of their stickers, she said she had them, and instead of telling me they cost money, tacked it onto my bill. We ordered nachos ($ 20!!) bc they were out of nearly everything else on the menu. Now I have had $ 20 nachos at Breckenridge, but they make them worth $ 20. This was canned, processed, stale chips, grease, and a massive amt of onions. No meat, guacamole, sour cream, or even slightly red tomatoes, and this is May 30. Really limited beer selection. 2 on tap, the rest in cans.

Great casual, slightly divey atmosphere.
I stopped in today after a long day of skiing at Crystal. What surprised me most was that no one had written a review! My boyfriend and his dad recalled drinking here for the last 12 or so years after hitting the slopes together. And better yet, my boyfriend even remembered not being old enough to drink here and was left to hit up the deli next door whole his dad grabbed a quick post-​ski beer. That must’ve been 20+ years ago! This place looks and feels like it’s been around forever.
We had Coffee Nudges before our nearly 2 hour drive home. The TVs around the. At were playing awesome 80s ski videos, the food and drinks were solid, and the space felt cozy and aged — in a homey way.
The stools around the room are worn and unique. Each looked like it was made 30+ years ago. The fireplace had a big fire crackling in it, and if you were in a big group there were plenty of large booths and tables around the room for people to choose from.
Definitely a spot I’ll stop at every time I visit. I loved that you could literally ski right to the front door too!

The nachos alone are worth going to the Snorting Elk. They’re huge!
Aside from the nachos, this place has such a neat and cozy vibe, great beer on tap, and tasty sandwiches and pizza. We ate here both nights we were in the area and were not disappointed.

In a maze of cookie cutter sports bars, Starbucks clones and all so trendy, edgey cool places the Snorting Elk Deli rises above the rest. Authentic by action not design. The folks who work here are mountain people, cat drivers, rangers, riders and skiers. Food is fantastic, wholesome, tasty and localvore. The Elk is the locals hang out for apre for good reasons, stroll across the bridge, check the attitude at the door and prepare to be welcomed

This is my happy place! Always have to make a stop into Snorting Elk after shredding the slopes! Great beer selection! Love the mountain atmosphere, laid back feel and Bavarian theme.

Exclusive beer selection from Elysian Brewers? WOO-​HOO!
Isolated bavarian themed pub at a ski resort? WOW!
Normally ski resorts are ultra modern or very run down and grimy. Not here. They like it classic with the bavarian architecture and old school ski paraphernalia on used as décor on the wall.
The best part about this place is how it maintains a «well-​kept secret» feel to it. Because it is off to the side behind a row of trees you feel special for discovering it. This comes with the added benefit of not being over crowded or filled with loud children.
Also, it comes with its own Elysian brewed beer named after the establishment and sold exclusively here and no where else. Smooth soft tasting beer with a bit of a kick to warm you up.
The Pub is also next to a deli where you can get some amazing quick bites to eat before you head out for a run. I really enjoyed the veggie sandwich which served avocado, carrots, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. More quality than I expected from a pub up in the mountains!
Next time, I will spend the night at the Inn above the pub to get the full experience.

15 Beers on tap… not too shabby for a small pub in the cellar under a hotel.

A few weeks ago, we got a very early start (small miracle) and caught first chair. We skied hard through lunch, but by about 2pm, the snow was softening up and our legs were begging for a rest. We decided to call it an early day and a few folks we met on the chair suggested we head down to Snorting Elk for a beer.
Best Decision Ever! At 2:30, there were still seats open and we snagged a big booth right by the window. There are no waiters — you order beer from the bar, and food from the family-​friendly deli around the corner. There are only a few taps for draft beer but the selection included several quality local microbrews. Our BLT sandwich was top-​notch and the peanut butter cookie was maybe the best cookie I’ve had in years. We were totally fortified for our drive back to Seattle. By the time we left at 3:30, the small bar area was starting to fill up — I imagine this place is hopping after the lifts close.
I love the rustic ski lodge feel and the massive tables. My only small gripe is that I wish they had a few more hooks around for wet jackets and gear. If you’re looking for a cozier, more laid-​back spot to relax after a good ski day, check this out as an alternative to the bustling Bull Wheel. You can ski straight to the back door, too — just cut left above the gondola terminal. The front entrance is just a short walk down the hill from the base lodge.

This place had wonderful ambience, very cozy, real fire. You go up to the bar to order your drink, lots of yummy beers on tap and a few wines as well. If they have it when you’re there DO try the Vanilla Stout — yummy! There’s a deli around the corner, I saw some people had brought the meals (I think it was taco night) into the pub and it all looked delicious!

Welcome to Crystal Mountain! On our 8-​hour family trip from hell, (it was fun, but certain family members needed to be dropped off along the hwy).
My uncle decided that visiting Mt. Rainier was not enough; he wanted to go exploring the other mountain. After more twist and turns (and me wishing I took my Dramamine and pondering why I was sitting in the way back of the minivan) I was happy to see a clear opening.
A bunch of us Acosta’s were getting hungry and some were thirsty (alcohol). We found this restaurant just across a small bridge.
To describe this place (I like fellow Unilocaler Jeff S. take on this place): dark wood, 1960 faux-​Bavarian themes. A little creepy if you ask me, but the reviews were good and I took my cousin whenever I went to use the restroom.
Service was great, and they were able to set up two tables outside for us without any problems. Menu’s are simple and printed out brochure style.
We all started out with water, and then ordered a round of beers and mixed drinks. Impressed with their selection of beers on tap (always a good sign) their mixed drinks were eh.
Our server was great, he got everyone’s orders right the first time (there were eight of us all ordering different things).
I ordered a Turkey BLT: Turkey, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Mayo. On a sourdough severed with their own homemade Pasta Salad.
The sammie was tasty. At first sight, the pasta salad was sketchy looking, but one taste and wow it was delish, first time I ever seen mushroom involved in a pasta salad.
Word to the wise if you are planning to come here: It starts getting really busy around 4:00pm.

You will find this small place across the bridge from the Crystal Mt. parking lot. If you are a Crystal Mt. season pass holder you can get 10% off your food order.
This is a great space for lunch because they have very yummy food. I love the Snortin’ Elk Italian. Perfectly toasted on a very yummy bread roll.
After skiing or boarding you can go in for a pizza and drinks.
But this place gets PACKED! I don’t really care to be there when it’s so full that you can’t move so get there early if you want a seat.

This place is pretty close to heaven… heaven being my family’s cabin east of here of 410 along the American River. It is on the north east side of Mt. Rainier at the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort.
We stayed over night at the Alpine Inn and grabbed dinner at the Snorting Elk with our kids as it was connected to where our room was. We ate outside on the patio, the weather was fabulous and the surrounding area was simply gorgeous.
We ordered appetizers and had a few pints followed by a great dinner salad. The kids were catered to like royalty. This is the kind of place you immediately start planning return trip to… even before you get back home.
Our only disappointment with our visit… no snorting Elk were spotted! Maybe next visit!