Safety & Mountain Policies

Your Responsibility Code and Woods Skiing and Riding

Know the Code

Skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in many ways. At ski areas you may see people using alpine skis, snowboards, telemark skis, cross country skis, jack jumpers, snowskates, and specialized adaptive equipment like monoskis for our disabled youth and adult athletes.

Please note: While we do allow Jack Jumpers and Snowskates no other alternative sliding devices are allowed on the lifts at this time. Snowskates and Jack Jumpers are welcome to board Vista, Mid Mountain and Timberline lifts, but no others at any time. If folks would like to request an accommodation beyond this equipment, please contact our team at least 30 days in advance.

Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Observe the code listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.

Your Responsibility Code

  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.

Know and Obey the Code. It’s Your Responsibility.

If you need help understanding the Code, please ask an 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 Kaitlyn Fowle 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.

While we do allow Jack Jumpers and Snowskates no other alternative sliding devices are allowed on the lifts at this tim. Snowskates and Jack Jumpers are welcome to board Vista, Mid Mountain and Timberline lifts, but no others at any time. If folks would like to request an accommodation beyond this equipment, please contact our team at least 30 days in advance.
  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 Snow Deck riders are required to follow the national ski association skiers conduct rules.
  8. All riders will be treated as foot passengers when loading and unloading the lifts. No exceptions!
  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. 

Smart Style Freestyle Terrain & Parks Safety Initiative

Watch the Terrain Park Smart Style Training Program Video

Know the Code by NSAA