Mountain Safety

For emergencies during the winter operational season, Ski Patrol can be reached at (802) 464-4005 from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekends/holidays and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekdays. For assistance outside of these hours, please contact 911.

Responsibility Code
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1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
6. Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Winter sports involve risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions and actions contribute to your safety and that of others. If you need help understanding the Code, please ask any ski area employee.

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Go With The Flow

Always be aware of the people and features around you - and adjust your skiing or riding to ensure you are going with the flow.

Mount Snow has a few spots dedicated to slow zones which you’ll see on our trail map highlighted in yellow. If you’re a beginner, these places are probably the best place to start. If you are an advanced skier and rider, please be respectful of these zones. We want everyone, of all abilities to feel comfortable while on the slopes.

Skier & Rider Safety Awarenes

At Mount Snow, we are committed to promoting skier and rider safety awareness to ensure the best possible guest experience on the mountain. As a resort, we use industry standard safety guidelines provided by the National Ski Areas Association that are geared towards all alpine activities allowed on our trails including alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing, and monoskiing. We recommend staying on terrain that is within your ability level and following Your Responsibility Code, which is listed below.

Go With The Flow Tips

  • Pay attention to signage and lift attendants when loading/unloading lifts.
  • Merging on the hill is just like merging in traffic.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • If you need to traverse across a trail, look uphill and proceed with caution when clear.
  • Take a break in a visible spot on the side of the trail to allow skiers to pass you safely.
  • When in doubt, ask for help. Look for our Mountain Ambassadors.
  • Our Ski & Snowboard School is a great way to learn. Take a lesson.

Carinthia Terrain Parks

Carinthia at Mount Snow adheres to the guidance, logos, and signage developed through the Park Smart Freestyle Safety Program. All of Carinthia Parks and Safety Signage are designated by an orange color.

Almost all terrain at Carinthia may contain jumps, hits, ramps, banks, fun boxes, jibs, rails, half pipes, quarter pipes, and other constructed or natural terrain features.

For more information about Park Smart, please visit http://www.terrainparksafety.org/. For more information about Carinthia Parks, please visit our terrain parks page.

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Park Smart

Start Small Make a Plan Always Look Respect Take it Easy
Work your way up. Build your Skills Every Feature. Every Time. Before you drop. The features and other users.  Know your limits. Land on your feet.

Tree Terrain

Tree skiing/snowboarding areas are not maintained or regularly checked by ski area personnel. Ski or ride at your own risk. All tree terrain is considered most difficult and is recommended for advanced skiers/snowboarders only—use extra caution.

Unmarked obstacles and other natural hazards exist throughout. Never ski/ride alone. It is your responsibility to access and depart from tree terrain using open designated trails.

Aerial Chairlift Safety

Mount Snow has 15 aerial chairlifts ranging from double chairs to a six passenger bubble chair. Please watch the videos below for proper loading and unloading procedures of aerial chairlifts.

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Ski Bikes & Trikkes

Mount Snow welcomes the use of Ski Bikes and Trikkes fitting the following parameters:

  • All ski bikes/Trikkes must have no more than three (3) skis.
  • All ski bikes/Trikkes must have metal edges on skis.
  • All ski bikes/Trikkes must have only one (1) rider per bike.
  • All ski bikes/Trikkes must be loaded within envelope of the chair and the bike shall count as a rider on the lift.
  • All ski bikes/Trikkes must fit through loading gate and safely (un)load chairlift.
  • No homemade devices.
  • All ski bike/Trikke users must wear leash at all times (on lift & on slope).
  • All ski bikes/Trikkes must have a braking device to stop runaway equipment.
  • Ski bikes/Trikkes may be restricted in certain areas and lifts for safety concerns.
  • All ski bike/Trikke users must possess a valid season pass or day ticket and, if accessing terrain by foot, they must have a valid Uphill Travel Pass or Uphill Travel Ticket.
  • As with all guests enjoying snow sports at Mount Snow, adherence to “Your Responsibility Code” and “Park Smart” is appreciated.

Mount Snow and its management team reserve the right to rescind the use of ski bikes/trikkes on its lifts, trails, slopes, terrain parks, and any portion of its owned or leased property at any time.

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Unmanned Aerial Systems Policy

Out of safety concerns for guests, employees, and resort property, Mount Snow Ltd. (“Resort”) prohibits the operation or use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or aerial drones, by the general public, including recreational users and hobbyists, without prior written authorization from the Resort.

This prohibition includes drones for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating over all Resort properties. This prohibition on drone operations or use extends to any drones launched or operated from Resort property, as well as drones launched from private property outside of the Resort boundaries. Any authorized operation of aerial drones may be governed by Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations, local law enforcement, and/or U.S.

Forest Service rules, as well as those policies separately established by our Resort, which may include certification, training, insurance coverages, indemnification requirements, and waivers or releases of liability.

Any violation of this policy may involve suspension of your skiing privileges, or the revocation of your season pass, as well as confiscation of any equipment, and may subject violators to any damages, including but not limited to, damages for violations of privacy and/or physical or personal injuries, or regulatory fines and legal fees.

Smoking Policy

In order to provide our guests with the best experience possible, we ask that you not smoke or vape in areas where there is a large concentration of people. The following locations are SMOKE FREE zones:

  • Ticket Queues
  • Lift Lines
  • Chair Lifts
  • 25 ft surrounding any building
  • All decks

Cigarette Genies are positioned around the resort and we ask that you dispose of your cigarettes properly.

Dog Policy

We are excited to welcome dogs. Please follow these rules to allow us to keep the resort dog friendly:

·       All chairlifts, buildings, special events will remain pet-free.

·       Dogs must be leashed and physically controlled by owner at all times.

·       Dog owners must pick up after their dogs.

·       Slopes are pet-free during winter operations.

·       Mount Snow Golf Club is pet-free.

·       Mount Snow reserves the right to ask you and your dog to leave at any time.

·       Mount Snow reserves the right to amend these rules at any time without notice.

Additional Precautions

Mount Snow Resort, the State of Vermont and the United States Forest Service encourage outdoor recreation and the use of public lands. One manner in which the public may enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains is by skinning or hiking. While enjoying these permitted lands, you much abide by Mount Snow Resort and USFS rules, restrictions and recommendations, including those summarized below.


Uphill activities may present a high danger of personal injury. Uphill users of Mount Snow assume all risks. The ski area is not maintained for uphill access and trails are not patrolled outside of normal ski area operating hours. Motorized vehicles, snowmaking and other ski area operations may be encountered.

Early and late season operations to prepare/maintain the slopes and trails make it unsafe for the public and even impassable at times for skiers or hikers. For safety reasons, public uphill access is restricted or will not be allowed during mountain preparation/early season snowmaking, and after Mount Snow closes in the spring due to inconsistent and potentially unstable conditions. Mount Snow will open the trails designated for uphill access when seasonal operations are complete and the trails have been opened to the public. When closures are in place, only authorized personnel are permitted in the area.

The designated route for travel both uphill and downhill is Canyon to High Traverse to Cascade, which extends from the base of the Canyon Express (Lift 9) to the summit. Other than these trails, all trails are closed and inaccessible to uphill travel. When winch work is to be performed on Cascade pitch, route will be altered to Lower Exhibition to Lodge only at night. Uphill night travel needs to reference our information hotline for nighttime snow cat operations.

Uphill travel is currently OPEN, except on Saturdays and holidays, when uphill travel will be prohibited during opening hours. Uphill travelers should call the uphill hotline at 802-339-8474 or check the latest Snow & Weather Report to confirm the designated route. 

When uphill travel is open, it will be inside and outside of operating hours, but only on the designated route, day and night. 

Following are a few guidelines for uphill travel:

  • Uphill travelling must not impede or obstruct ski area operations at any time.
  • Uphill access may be restricted on certain days at the discretion of Mount Snow leadership.
  • Pets are not authorized to travel with uphill users at Mount Snow.
  • Guests accessing the mountain are prohibited from loading any lift on the mountain without a valid pass or lift ticket.
  • Ascend the skier's right side of the trail (skinner's left). When more than one person is ascending, proceed single file.
  • It is the uphill traveler responsibility to make themselves visible to other traffic on the hill. Wear reflective clothing and consider wearing a headlamp when it’s dark or twilight.
  • Follow Your Responsibility Code.
  • Obey all signage and closures.
  • Guests engaging in uphill travel are responsible for knowing locations of closed terrain and trails, snowmaking, events or other operations in progress by reading the daily Snow Report on Mountsnow.com.
  • In the event of an emergency outside operating hours, call 911.
  • Prior to heading uphill, call the hotline to confirm uphill travel is permitted: 802-339-8474.

Failure to abide by these terms may result in the loss of your pass privileges and/or additional consequences.

Parking

Uphill Access parking is in any available lot and is subject to parking policies and applicable fees. Parking is free in all lots after 1 p.m.

The program is subject to change based on operational changes and needs. Sledding and mountain bikes are not permitted on Mount Snow alpine trails at any time.


For any information about skinning or hiking, or for trail recommendations, please call 802-339-8474.

1. SVMC Mountain Medical Campus, at the base of Mount Snow, offers ski-related care—including fractures, sprains, and lacerations—for Mount Snow guests 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Sundays, and during holiday/school vacations Saturday, November 28 – the end of the ski season.

2. For urgent care needs, visit ExpressCare or the Emergency Departments in nearby Bennington or Brattleboro. ExpressCare in Bennington is open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. CAREqd.com is a virtual urgent care option.

3. Those who need care for respiratory conditions, including COVID-like symptoms or to get a COVID test, may visit the ExpressCare in Bennington or www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing for state testing availability.


  • Closed trails and terrain parks may not be marked or signed from the bottom, top, or other access points on the trail.
  • Guests accessing the Mount Snow trail system must adhere to Your Responsibility Code.
Sledding or sliding in any form is dangerous and prohibited on Mount Snow premises.
Snowshoers must follow the uphill policies listed above. 
  • The trails and terrain parks are designed for use by skiers and riders only and any form of downhill descent other than by skis, snowboard, snow shoeing, or hiking is prohibited.
  • All skis and snowboards should be equipped with a device to prevent run-away equipment.