LOADING

• Get prepared and be ready! Take your pole straps off and hold your ski poles in one hand. Check for loose clothing and equipment.
• Backpacks should be removed.
• Group up with your riders and get on the same page before proceeding from the lift maze.
• If you would like the chair slowed, tell the operator before moving into the queue. Let them know if you need the chair slowed at the top as well.
• Line up with your group at the wait board and follow the chair in front of you to the load board.
• Line up with the yellow “load here” signs. Remember to keep your skis straight ahead and look behind you for the incoming chair.
  Grab onto the side of the chair and sit back to pull yourself onto the chair.
• Scoot and pull yourself all the way into the chair so your back is fully touching the seat back; as a group, bring down the safety bar.
• Be sure to notify your chair mates that the bar will be coming down to avoid any contact between the bar and an unaware passenger.

RIDING

Make friends and sit tight! Chat about the weather, the conditions, where everyone is from or anything else that may come to mind. Use the time to get to know your fellow skiers. Talk about anything, but DO NOT:

• Horse around.
• Turn around in the chair.
• Get things out of your pockets – no one wants to drop their phone off the chair!
• Throw things from the chair.
• Click your skis.
• Swing, rock, or bounce the chair.

UNLOADING

• When coming into the terminal, wait until everyone is ready to raise the bar! That means sitting back in the seat and taking feet off the footrest bar.
• Check for loose equipment and ensure your backpacks and fanny packs are loose from the chair and ready to move with you.
• Keep your tips up and look for the yellow “unload” signs.
• When aligned with the signs, stand up with authority and slide down the ramp. Do not hold onto the chair!
• Move out of the way quickly so the next guests have plenty of room to unload.
• If you happen to fall or leave something behind, clear out of the way as soon as you are able, the lift operators will be paying attention and can assist you more effectively if you’re off to the side.

• Resort access is closed from the closure of the gondola until Lift 10 terrain opens to the public. 
• Resort access closes at the end of the winter operation for 7 days to allow for mountain clean up. Mountain access will commence once resort personnel have had the opportunity to clean up and close winter operations.
• No services exist including but not limited to Ski Patrol and avalanche mitigation, on the hill outside winter operations.

CLOSED MEANS CLOSED. IT’S THERE FOR A REASON … SAVE YOUR SEASON.

We work hard to open our terrain when it is safe. Our mountain operations team will open a trail or portion of the mountain when it is ready for skiing and riding. By entering terrain before it is open, you put yourself and your rescuers at a greater risk for injury or death.

If a trail or portion of the mountain is closed, it could be for any number of reasons:

• Inadequate snow coverage
• Avalanche control work in that area or areas adjacent
• Adverse weather
• Snowcats or other heavy machinery working
• Snowmaking in progress
• Racing in progress

Keep yourself and your loved ones safe. If you see a sign or rope at the top of the trail, the whole trail is closed.

Our ski area boundary is marked in several different ways. If you are planning to exit our boundary, make sure you do so at a backcountry gate.

Uphill access is allowed for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and skinning in the Sunshine (Lift 10) Pod with the exception of Sundance trail from 8am to 10pm. Fat bikes are allowed following the uphill policy from 4:30pm to 10pm. Uphill users may not travel above the top of Sunshine Lift (Lift 10) due to on-mountain operations. Uphill users must follow the Colorado Skier Safety Act and yield to on-mountain vehicles.

Pursuant to the Colorado Skier Safety Act, Telluride Ski Resort assumes no responsibility for the safety and welfare of skiers and snowboarders going beyond the ski area boundary. Avalanche danger and other hazards exist and are unmitigated by the Resort. Individuals are solely responsible for their safety and welfare. Rescue in the backcountry, if available, will be costly and may take time.

Off-season Uphill Access—Spring/Summer/Fall

During ski area closing operations, aproximately 1 week (7 days) following normal winter operations  there is no mountain access at all . After that, the mountain may be opened to uphill traffic, if you choose to uphill ski, it is at your own risk. Backcountry conditions, avalanche danger and other hazards exist — be prepared to self-rescue. The ski area is closed, so there will no ski patrol services or any other emergency response from the ski area. Sledding is prohibited at any time.

Personal motorized vehicles including snowmobiles are not permitted on Telluride Ski Resort property and property managed land under a special use permit form the Federal Forest service.

Non-Motorized Uphill Access is allowed within the Telluride Ski Area boundaries. Mountain Operations remain underway including: plowing of summer access roads, lift maintenance, and mountain maintenance. Uphill Travelers should beware of snowmobiles, snowcats and other heavy machinery, road cuts through ski runs and restricted access in some areas due to construction and maintenance.

IMPORTANT: Please consider the post-season ski area as backcountry.  No avalanche control is done nor are first responders immediately available. Travel with a partner, and at your own risk. Be safe, and enjoy the spring. In the event of an emergency call or text 911.

Fall off season access will end in line with gondola operations. For more information about the gondola’s operating schedule please visit  https://townofmountainvillage.com/explore/getting-around/gondola-chondola/

In-season Uphill Access—Winter

Uphill access is only permitted after Lift 10 has opened for the season, and on ski trails in the Lift 10 “Sunshine” pod, with the exception of Sundance Ski Trail, during the hours of 8am to 10pm. Authorized uphill activities include Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, uphill skinning, trail walking, and running. Fat Tire biking is permitted in the same area after the ski operations at 4:30pm until 10pm. Uphill access on the rest of the Telluride Ski Resort is prohibited. Uphill users may not travel above the top of Sunshine Lift (Lift 10) due to on-mountain operations. Uphill users must follow Colorado Skier Safety Act and yield to on-mountain vehicles.

Well behaved dogs are welcome to accompany their owners from 4:30pm to 10pm following TSG uphill policies. At all times, dogs must be under the control of their handler and shall have a harness, leash, or other tether. Persons with dogs must follow all applicable rules and regulations regarding dogs set forth by the Town of Telluride, the Town of Mountain Village, this resort, and/or the United States Forest Service. Any persons with dogs in violation of this policy will be asked to remove the dog from the resort immediately and may be subject to other penalties. Please refer to our policies for more information on dogs and service animals.

Snow Safety

Mountain Operations and Ski Patrol make every effort to open sections of the mountain with the safety of our guests in mind. Skiing is an inherently dangerous sport and part of that danger includes avalanches.

While snow safety and avalanche mitigation efforts help reduce the risk of avalanches, they may still occur at ski areas, both inside and outside of the posted boundaries. Educate yourself on how to reduce the risk of injury or death from avalanches through your own actions and awareness. Learn more from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Park Smart

While the Terrain Park can be fun and challenging, it’s important to consider the risks that accompany skiing or riding on features in the park. Be sure to be Park Smart:

1. Start Small – Work your way up and build your skills.
2. Make a Plan – Every feature. Every time.
3. Always Look – Before you drop.
4. Respect – The features and other users.
5. Take it Easy – Know your limits. Land on your feet.

For more information on our Terrain Parks, visit the terrain-parks page.