Colorado’s Copper Mountain has some pretty explicit rules addressing uphill access. Many are posted for the public to see for general safety, but in this litigious world we live in, it’s now also a necessary precaution for any resort to avoid liability in case an accident were to happen on the mountain. There’s only one rule right now though, and it’s a pretty big one: Uphill access for the 2025-2026 winter season is now closed.
Most skiers these days own a backcountry setup so they can attach skins and trudge uphill to access terrain. And one skier in Summit County reportedly ignored Copper’s policy earlier this month more than once and was given a summons for his efforts. We do understand the temptation, though, given the late-season storms after a terrible winter. Copper Mountain is also on Forest Service land, which can cause confusion once the season is over (many resorts lease their land from the FS).
But rules are rules, apparently. Copper Mountain’s season officially ended on May 3, which is also when uphill access ended as well. The resort’s ski patrol was forced to call the Summit County Sheriff’s Office a few days later when a man was seen hiking. They reportedly told the man the resort is closed to uphill travel, but he ignored their warning and kept on hiking. He didn’t ignore the deputy who later caught up to him via snowmobile, however. That was when he agreed to switch to downhill mode and met the deputy back down at the base of the mountain. The deputy then issued the skier a summons for skiing on a closed trail.
The 2023 Colorado Revised Statutes plainly states that “No skier shall ski on a ski slope or trail that has been posted as ‘Closed’.” It’s a civil infraction and could be penalized with a fine of up to $1,000, according to Justia U.S. Law.
