North American Ski Resorts Uphill Travel Policies

Uphill travel at ski areas has become a popular form of exercise, meditation and lift-hacking. Many users prefer to earn their turns and relish the thrill of the endorphin high to go along with the adrenaline high of skiing downhill. Others say that it’s the early morning quiet of having a mountain to themselves that carries them up the hill. Still others would prefer to sweat it out than dish out the cash required for a lift ticket.

Whatever the reason, many resorts began implementing uphill travel policies in the last few years. Some have prohibited the practice while a few have embraced it with open arms. Most resorts fall somewhere in the middle and have implemented a variety of policies including designated routes, free permits, pay to play and restricted hours.

WinterReview has compiled the most extensive and up-to-date online list of uphill travel policies in North America. 

Linked to each ski resort name is the most relevant information we can find regarding their uphill travel policy. In some cases the information is not published and we have linked to the resort’s home page. This list is continually being updated so if you see something missing or incorrect just leave a comment and we’ll get the info you need.

Alaska Uphill Travel Policies

• Eaglecrest: Restricted routes during lift hours. Ski at your own risk after hours.

Arizona Uphill Travel Policies

• Arizona Snowbowl: Free permit. OFF hours only. Arm band must be worn.
• Elk Ridge: Permitted with valid pass during operating hours. Policy requested from resort.
• Sunrise Park Resort: Policy not posted online. Requested from resort. 

California Uphill Travel Policies

• Big Bear Mountain: Prohibited according to an email from resort. Policy not posted online.
• Heavenly: Policy not posted for this season.
• June Mountain: Prohibited according to an email from resort. Policy not posted.
• Kirkwood: Prohibited
• Mammoth Mountain: Prohibited.
• Mt High: Policy not posted. Requested from resort. 
• Snow Summit: Prohibited according to an email from resort.
• Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows: Prohibited. Policy not online, requested.
  • Email response from Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows: “We do not allow for skinning up our mountain. This is for the safety of our guests, as we run heavy machinery and snowmobiles up the mountains, as well as those skiing downhill, who have the right of way. I would not recommend attempting to travel uphill with the exception of riding on a lift/gondola.”
• Northstar – Prohibited.
• Sugar Bowl: Fee of $25/day or $150/season, OK during business hours.

Colorado Uphill Travel Policies

• General Summit County Ski Area Uphill Article
• Arapahoe Basin: Free Permit. Check Status page for daily updates and routes. 
• Aspen Highlands: OFF hours only.
• Aspen Mountain: OFF hours only. 
• Aspen Snowmass: OK during business hours.
• Beaver Creek: OK during business hours  DOGS OK during off hours!!
• Breckenridge: OFF hours only. Restricted routes. 
• Buttermilk: OK during business hours.
• Copper Mountain: Free Pass. OFF hours. Designated Routes.
• Crested Butte: Pay to play, $10/day.  Dogs OK (designated routes) OFF hours. Designated routes during operating hours. 
• Eldora Mountain Resort: ENCOURAGED! Pay to play, Racing Series and Cardio sessions. 
• Keystone: OFF hours.
• Loveland: Designated routes during operating hours. Dogs OK OFF hours. 
• Monarch Mountain: Pay to play, $15/season, free to season pass holders. Dogs OK OFF hours. 
• Purgatory: Prohibited
• Steamboat: YES, free pass, Dogs OK OFF hours. Fat tire bikes OK outside of operating hours. 
• Winter Park: YES during ski season. OK before, during or after operating hours. 
• Wolf Creek: Email response from Wolf Creek: Wolf Creek’s uphill policy is to allow skinning during lift operating hours.  Lifts are currently operating from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Vail: YES, designated during day, DOGS OK off hours.

Connecticut Uphill Travel Policies

• Mohawk Mountain: YES!!

Idaho Uphill Travel Policies

• Brundage: Policy not posted. Requested from resort. 
• Bald Mountain: Requested policy from ski area.
• Sun Valley: OFF hours.

Maine Uphill Travel Policies

• Camden Snow Bowl: Must have a day pass, Operating Hours Only.
• Mt Abram: According to email from resort: Check in at ticket office to sign waiver. Designated routes.
• Saddleback: Pay to play. Restricted during operational hours. OFF hours OK.
• Shawnee Peak: Requested policy from ski area. 
• Sugarloaf: Encouraged. Pay to play, $10/day. Daytime only.
• Sunday River: Pay to play. $10/day. Daytime only.

Massachusetts Uphill Travel Policies

• Jiminey Peak: OFF hours only.
• Wachusett: OFF hours only. Restricted trails.

Montana Uphill Travel Policies

• Big Sky: Must have lift ticket/season pass. Operating hours only.
• Bridger Bowl: Prohibited during operating season.
• Whitefish: Very Restricted Routes.

New Hampshire Uphill Travel Policies

• Bretton Woods: Pay to Play, Restricted routes during lift hours.
• Cannon: Pay to Play, $9/day, Lift hours only.
• Cranmore: Pay to play. $20/day. Open access during operating hours and restricted routes early AM. 
• Crotched Mountain: With lift ticket only.
• Dartmouth Skiway: Pay to play. $5 day use. Lift hours only.
• Gunstock Mountain: Uphill on Nordic trails only to access downhill trails. Lift hours only.
• King Pine: Pass required during operating hours. Dogs OK off hours.
• Loon Mountain: Pay to play. $20/day. 2 hours before and operating hours only.
• Pats Peak: Allowed on designated routes. 
• Ragged Mountain: Pay to play. $10/day. Lift hours only.
• Mount Sunapee: Pay to play. Restricted dates. 7a-9a. 4:30p-9p.
• Waterville Valley: Requested policy from ski area. 
• Whaleback Mountain: Free permit. Operating hours only.
• Wildcat Mountain: Pay to play. $10/day. Restricted routes. Lift hours only. 

New Mexico Uphill Travel Policies

• Sandia Peak: Welcomed. Dogs on leash.
• Ski Santa Fe: Welcomed. Dogs on leash.
• Taos: Not permitted during the ski season. Permitted after the ski season is officially over.  

New York Uphill Travel Policies

• Belleayre: Email from resort: “Unfortunately we do not allow uphill at our facility.” No policy found online
• Gore Mountain: According to email from resort: “We do not allow uphill travel on our alpine terrain.” There is a new Nordic facility that accommodates snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
• Whiteface Mountain: Pay to play. $25/season. Resricted routes. OFF hours only.
• Windham Mountain: Pay to play. $10/day. $25/season. Daylight only.

Nevada Uphill Travel Policies

• Diamond Peak: OFF hours only. Free pass must be worn.
• Mt Rose: Prohibited during ski season. Policy requested from ski area.

Oregon Uphill Travel Policies

• Mt Bachelor: Restricted routes.
• Mount Hood Meadows: There is a no uphill travel policy throughout the Winter. Check the uphill hiking policy for current hiking routes. Check the avalanche reduction page for restrictions. 
• Timberline (Mt Hood): Allowed from above Timberline Lodge on demarcated climber’s route along eastern periphery of ski area boundary.

Pennsylvania Uphill Travel Policies

• Elk Mountain: No official policy found, requested policy from ski area. 
• Liberty Mountain: not allowed after hours, no official policy during hours.
• Round Top: not allowed after hours, no official policy during hours.
• Seven Springs: Pay to play. $50/season $20 season pass holders. VERY restricted routes. 7a – 9a only.
• White Tail: not allowed after hours, no official policy during hours.

Utah Uphill Travel Policies

• Alta: No uphill traffic allowed during operating dates.  Allowed pre and post season except when marked by sign at the base.
• Beaver Mountain: Pre/Post Season OK. During season OFF hours OK. During season lift hours on designated routes.
• Brighton: Own risk Off Season. Designated routes during and outside of operating hours. Check Daily Status.
• Cherry Peak: Allowed.
• Deer Valley: No uphill traffic allowed.
• Nordic Valley (formerly Wolf Mountain): Uphill allowed on set runs with uphill pass – 
• Park City Mountain Resort: 6p – 8:30a Dec 15th to end of season.
• Snowbasin: Restricted routes outside of lift hours, One designated route during lift hours.
• Snowbird:  Prohibited unless with a Snowbird Guide.
• Solitude: Prohibited.

Vermont Uphill Travel Policies

• Bolton Valley: Lift/Trail pass required during operating hours. No charge during off hours. Restricted routes. No snowshoes.
• Bromley: Open during operating hours only.
• Burke Mountain: Encouraged. Free permit. Three designated routes.
• Jay Peak: Free permit. Operating hours only.
• Killington: $20/season permit. Free to season pass holders. Designated routes.
• Mad River Glen: Off hours only.
• Magic Mountain: No policy found online. Requested policy.
  • An excerpt from a 2013 article in Powder Magazine: “Magic is all about the sport of skiing and riding,” the resort says on its website. “We celebrate those who take it seriously, want to be challenged and are willing to test their limits. Those who climb our hill and ski down may not be providing direct revenue for us, but we also know that they are the type of folks who will probably stop in for a bevie at the bar. Maybe a bite to eat, and tell others what a good time they had at Magic.”
• Middlebury Snowbowl: Pay to play. $5/day, $20/season. Designated route.
• Mount Snow: Click on “More Info” at bottom of linked page. Pay to play. $10/day. $49/season. Dawn to Dusk only.
• Okemo: Lift hours, Beginner and Intermediate terrain only. Off hours not recommended but allowed.
• Pico Mountain: $20/season permit. Free to season pass holders. Designated routes.
• Smuggler’s Notch: Restricted hours. OFF hours only.
• Stowe: OFF hours only. Restricted routes.
• Stratton: “Recommended” routes and daytime hours.
• Sugarbush: Free permit. Prohibited during operating hours. Restricted routes during off hours.

Washington State Uphill Travel Policies

• Alpental: Advanced terrain ONLY. Check in with ski patrol before any skinning.
• Crystal Mountain: One designated route that is always open. OFF hours OK, check status for open routes. 
• Mission Ridge: Restricted pre-season routes. Season routes updated on policy page. Check status. 
• Mt Spokane: Designated routes. Designated AM times on business days and Designated times on off days. 
• Summit at Snoqualmie: Nothing official posted online. Policy requested from ski area. 
• Steven’s Pass: Check with Ski Patrol. Nearby Nordic Center “accommodates uphill traffic by design”.

Wyoming Uphill Travel Policies

• Grand Targhee: Allowed until 9AM in limited areas.
• Jackson Hole: Prohibited. You might get arrested.
• Snow King Resort: Free uphill travel pass. Restricted routes.
• Snowy Range Ski and Recration Area: Permitted. Check in with Information Officer for safety update.

Canadian Uphill Travel Policies

British Columbia Uphill Travel Policies

• Mount Timothy: Prohibited during ski season.
• Whistler Blackcomb: Prohibited.

We are working on adding additional ski areas to the list. If you have information about an area not listed or would like us to get information just leave a comment below.