Mountain biking comes with its own set of rules. Know the code and ride smart:

1. Stay in Control – You’re responsible for avoiding objects and people.

2. Know Your Limits – Ride within your ability. Start small and work your way up.

3. Protect Yourself – Use an appropriate bike, helmet, and protective gear.

4. Inspect Your Equipment – Know your components and how they work before riding.

5. Be Lift Smart – Know how to load, ride, and unload safely. Ask for help if unsure.

6. Inspect Trails and Features – Conditions change constantly. Plan and ride accordingly.

7. Obey Signs and Warnings – Stay on marked trails. Do not enter closed areas.

8. Be Visible – Don’t stop where you block a trail or aren’t visible to others.

9. Look and Yield – Yield to others when entering or crossing trails. Pass with caution.

10. Cooperate – If you’re in or witness an incident, report it to staff.

Know and follow the code. It’s your responsibility.

• Uphill travel permitted only on Work Road with an uphill pass and signed waiver

• Hiking permitted on designated routes only (see trail map)

• Dogs allowed only on the dog walking routes(marked on trail map), not bike trails, and must comply with the town of Bolton’s leash law.

• Obey all signage and trail closures

• Yield to mountain ops staff and vehicles

• Stay clear of lift areas — lifts may start at any time

• Respect protected lands and restoration areas

• Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes required for lift use

• Check the trail report before riding for updates and closures

• Pre-ride, re-ride, free-ride – always scout trails before sending it

• Certain bikes/devices are not permitted in the bike park – see below

Full list of allowed devices and safety requirements

• Full Suspension & Hardtail MTBs
  • ✅ Allowed
  • Must have disc brakes
• Rigid Frame & BMX Bikes
  • ✅ Allowed
  • Not encouraged on technical trails
• Adaptive Bikes
  • ✅ Allowed
  • Must have at least one disc hand brake; suspension encouraged
• Fat Bikes
  • ✅ Allowed
  • Tires must be ≤ 3.25”; disc brakes required; suspension encouraged
• Balance Bikes / Small Bikes (under 20”)
  • ✅ Allowed
  • Only permitted in the Mighty Mini progression area
• Type 1 Electric Assist MTBs (Class 1 e-MTBs)
  • ✅ Allowed
  • Must have working disc hand brakes; suspension encouraged
  • ❌ Type 2 & 3 electric bikes are not allowed
• Road Bikes
  • ❌ Not allowed
• Kid Carriers / Trailers / Shotgun Seats / Baby Packs
  • ❌ Not allowed
• Unauthorized Motorized Vehicles (Gas or Electric)
  • ❌ Not allowed
• Mountain Boards
  • ❌ Not allowed
• Scooters (Electric or Manual)
  • ❌ Not allowed
• Unicycles / Tandem Bikes / Non-Adaptive Recumbents
  • ❌ Not allowed
• Hoverboards / One Wheels / Skateboards
  • ❌ Not allowed

   

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.

• Open and designated trails at Bolton Valley Resort are generally within the groomed edges of trails. Designated gladed trails are also available which are not generally groomed but are clearly marked on our maps as designated gladed trails with one of these three icons 1) a blue circle with a tree, 2) a black, solid border circle with a tree or 3) a black dashed border circle with a tree. 
• You must enter and exit wooded terrain from Open terrain. It is the responsibility of the skier/rider to ensure they are aware of what terrain will be accessed and the statues of that terrain.
• All other areas, including woods that are accessible from Bolton Valley Resort facilities, including those wooded areas identified on maps with a grey circle tree icon, are not part of the designated trails.
• If you choose to ski/ride in the woods (or in other non-designated areas), please know that these areas are not opened, closed, inspected, marked, or patrolled in any way by Bolton Valley Resort. 
• The woods will contain countless hazards and can be life-threatening, including the possibility of being severely injured in remote locations and/or becoming lost and freezing to death. Search and rescue operations are conducted in Vermont woods each winter for lost skiers and riders who choose to leave the designated terrain and ski or ride in the woods. 
• If you do chose to ski or ride in the woods, or otherwise leave the designated trails, please be sure you are prepared to endure extreme conditions. Never ski or ride in the woods alone and never enter the woods after 3:00 in the afternoon.

If you ski or ride off the groomed trails, beyond the designated gladed trails and/or in the woods, including those wooded areas identified on maps with a grey circle tree icon, you leave the open and designated trails at our Resort. Bolton Valley Resort is not responsible for any damage or injury to any person who utilizes the ski area facilities to access terrain outside the open and designated trails. [12 V.S.A. 1038.] Vermont law also states that you may be billed for search and rescue activities for your rescue.

Please reach out (at minimum) 2 weeks in advance to seek approval for drone operation on the mountain per guidance below.
Drones must remain 75 yards from lifts at all times – ground/horrizontal distance – shooting from 75 yards directly above the lift is considered zero feet from the lift. 

Due to safety and individual privacy concerns for guests, employees, and resort property, Bolton Valley Resort prohibits the operation or use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, by the general public including recreational users and hobbyists for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating above or within Bolton Valley Resort boundaries without the prior written authorization from Bolton Valley Management. This prohibition extends to any devices launched or operated from Resort property, as well as any launched from private property outside of the Resort boundaries

Please contact resort representative Jake O’Neal at [email protected] if you have any questions or if you seek prior authorization to operate any aerial drones. 

Any authorized operation of aerial drones may be governed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations, local law enforcement, as well as those policies separately established by this Resort, which may include certification, training, insurance coverage, indemnification requirements, and waivers or releases of liability. Any violation of this policy may involve suspension of your skiing or snowboarding privileges, or the revocation of your season pass, loss of memberships, as well as confiscation of any drone 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 property damage, as well as regulatory fines and legal fees.

1. All Jack Jumpers and Snowskates must be inspected by a BV ski shop technician before being used on the mountain to ensure the equipment is safe and meets Vermont tramway requirements.
2. Ski shop technician will put a passed inspection sticker on the equipment once the inspection is complete and passed.
3. All devices will have an adequate safety leash. This will be determined by the ski shop technician at time of inspection.
4. Equipment will also be observed by ski patrol, lift maintenance, and lift operations. If they feel the equipment is unsafe they have the right to keep the rider from using the device on the mountain.
5. Riders will only be permitted to ride Vista, Mid Mountain, and Timberline lifts.
6. Jack Jumpers will load only two people for a quad chair and one person for a double chair.
7. Jack Jumpers and Snowskate riders are required to follow the National Ski Area Association conduct rules.
8. All riders will be treated as foot passengers when loading and unloading the lifts.
9. All devices must have metal edges.
10. Must have a valid season pass or lift ticket.

Cold weather is defined as any temperature that can negatively affect the body’s thermoregulatory system. Using this fact and Bolton Valley’s priority for the safety of our guests as well as our employees, management will determine to reduce or shut down ski operations based on the following criteria:

NOAA’s wind chill chart, weather forecasts from Bolton Valleys contracted weather service, the Burlington VT national weather service, other weather forecasting agencies and our own weather stations on the mountain will be utilized in determining the decision for modifying lift operations.  Check out NOAA’s wind chill chart.

When projected temperatures and wind chills are forecast to be in the 30 minute frostbite warning (-20 degrees and below) during hours of operation the upper mountain lifts will be evaluated for closing. The lower mountain lifts will remain open pending wind conditions.

When projected temperatures and wind chills are forecast to be in the 10 minute frostbite warning (-34 degrees and below) during hours of operation night skiing operations will be closed.

Our objective is to provide a fun, safe and enjoyable experience here at Bolton Valley. We appreciate your patience and understanding of this policy.

Visit KidsOnLifts.org for more information on how to safely ride chair lifts.