Mountain Bike Code

BE A SMART BIKER

Whitefish Mountain Resort and the Flathead National Forest do not allow the use of e-bikes anywhere on our resort’s trail system. This includes the Summit Trail, WMR’s bike park terrain and the Whitefish Trail system.

KNOW THE CODE, IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Stay in control: You are responsible for avoiding people, objects, debris and wildlife. Yield to slower riders and the rider below you. Walk your bike through the Lift Plaza and base area including common areas and pedestrian walkways.

Know your limits: Ride within your ability. Start small and work your way up.

Protect yourself. Helmets are required on all trails and appropriate safety protective gear is recommended.

Inspect and Maintain Equipment. Know the components and their operation prior to riding.

Be Lift Smart. Know how to load, ride and unload lifts safely. Ask if you need help.

Inspect Trails and Features. It is your responsibility to inspect the trails and features before use. Trail features vary in size and difficulty and change constantly due to weather, maintenance, usage, modifications and the time of day.

Obey Signs and Warnings. Stay on marked trails only. Keep off closed trails and features. Ride in the direction indicated.

Be Visible. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail, feature or are not visible to other riders approaching from above.

Look and Yield. Look both ways and yield when entering or crossing a road or trail. When overtaking, use caution and yield to those ahead.

Cooperate. If you are involved in or witness to an incident, call Patrol and identify yourself to them.

Wildlife. Do not feed, provoke or approach wildlife.

Notice TO ALL RIDERS, Parents and Guardians

Mountain Biking is a fun sport the entire family can enjoy. By taking safety precautions, risk of injury can be reduced. We offer a progression of trails to suit various ability levels. We suggest wearing full face helmets, full finger gloves and biking armor. A full suspension downhill bike should be used on downhill trails. More challenging terrain features should not be attempted without the appropriate experience, skills and equipment. Our lift-accessed downhill trails are a different experience than cross country trails. Downhill biking requires constant physical and mental effort to maintain control. There are no green “easy” runs from the top of the mountain.

AGE POLICY: Children under 5 are not permitted on the lift-accessed Bike Park trails. We recommend that children under 12 are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

BRAKE POLICY: All bikes must have functioning brakes on each wheel. Coaster brakes/beach cruisers are not allowed on chairlifts. Disk brakes are recommended for adequate stopping power.

SHOCK RECOMMENDATION: Full suspension is recommended on lift-accessed trails. Make sure your suspension is tuned properly for your weight and ability. Full suspension mountain bikes are designed for downhill trails due to the rocky/bumpy nature of the trails.

HELMETS: Helmets are required on all trails. We recommend full face helmets for downhill trails. Helmet rentals are available at Village Rentals.

EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING: Protective clothing and equipment is the best protection from injury. Full face helmets, body armor and pads, full finger gloves, closed-toe/closed-heel shoes and long sleeves/pants are also recommended. Helmet and armor rentals are available at Village Rentals. Riders should use a properly-sized bike that allows them to stand over the seat of the bike with their feet flat on the ground. if you are not sure, please visit Village Rentals.

LIFTS: Bikes are permitted on Chair 1 and Chair 10. Riders are responsible for loading their own bikes, but lift operators are available for assistance. A Bike Park Ticket is required for lift-accessed trails and can be purchased at the Lift Plaza Ticket Center, Base Lodge or Village Rentals.

SIGNAGE: All trails are marked with signs stating trail difficulty level. Similar to skiing, green trails are the easiest, blue are intermediate and black trails are expert-only. See the trail map for trail descriptions. Signs also mark road and hiking trail intersections. Be aware of road crossings and yield to all vehicles on the road. Stay on designated trails.

MULTI-USE TRAILS

Hikers and bikers unite! Our multi-use and hiking trails encompass 16.6 miles with both stunning vistas and isolated forests.

Many of our lower-mountain trails are multi-use and open to both hikers and mountain bikers. If you are on a multi-use trail, please remember that hikers have the right of way, but it is often easier for a hiker to stop, move to the side of the trail, and allow a mountain biker to pass. Please be considerate of all trail users and remember to share the trail. There are no bikes allowed on the Danny On Trail. There is no hiking allowed on bike-specific trails.

STAY ALERT

Stay alert, watch for trail crossings, obey all on-mountain signs and warnings, and have fun.