Whitefish Mountain Resort Policies
Thank you for visiting our policies page!
We want people to come to Whitefish Mountain Resort and we want everyone to have a good time. We also want people to feel safe. So in order to keep everyone as happy and protected as we can, we need to have a few policies. Thank you for taking the time to read these and share them with your family and friends.
Conduct Policy
So that we can all have a pleasant experience, we’re asking our guests to adhere to a common sense decency policy when interacting with others on the mountain. Please review our full Conduct Policy guidelines here.
Read Full Conduct Policy
ADA Policy
Whitefish Mountain Resort is committed to making our facilities and programs as accessible as possible for all guests and their families.
Read Full ADA Policy
Whitefish Mountain Resort is committed to making our facilities and programs as accessible as possible for all guests and their families, including those individuals with disabilities. If you have an accessibility issue that may need a unique accommodation involving our activities, programs, and/or facilities, please give us as much advanced notice as possible. Whitefish will work with you and your family through an interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation. Depending on the extent of the accommodation requested or unique accessibility needs, we may need as much as two weeks advanced notice to assess the accommodation(s) needed.
Uphill Traffic Policy
It is your responsibility to read through the entire Uphill Travel Policy and study the Access Routes if you plan to travel uphill at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Read Full Uphill Policy
Please Note the Following Special Order from the US Forest Service:
USFS SPECIAL ORDER NUMBER: D08-115-L-14
This order is necessary to protect the personal safety of uphill users, downhill users, and WMR employees.
PROHIBITIONS:
36 CFR 261.53(e) – Public health or safety – Within the permit area of Winter Sports, Inc. Permit number TAL01, for the protection of public safety, it is prohibited for any skier, hiker, or person otherwise, to be off the two approved routes or in areas closed as described here:
General (Year-round)
It is prohibited for any skier, hiker, or person otherwise, to approach within 100 feet of grooming machines, whether stationary or moving; or 50 feet of snowmaking equipment, to include but not limited to fan guns, high-pressure water lines, and high-voltage electrical cables, within the Whitefish Mountain Resort permit boundary.
Jump to Uphill Map >>
Season Regulations (WMR open ski season)
Uphill skier parking is required in the Spruce Lot from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., but also encouraged in the Spruce Lot all day. Skiers must stay to the western edge of Chipmunk (under Chair 6) from Spruce Lot to the Lift Plaza.
Uphill: It is prohibited for any skier, hiker, or person otherwise, to traverse uphill off the two approved uphill routes and time periods described below. Be aware that temporary alterations to these routes may happen from time to time, it is your responsibility to be aware of and follow these alterations.
Benny Up Route – Open 6am—4pmThis route begins at the Spruce Parking Lot, follows the western edge of Chipmunk (under Chair 6) up to the Lift Plaza, then transfers to the western edge of Toni Matt and continues to the summit. It is marked by 12” red diamonds with an arrow and the word “UPHILL” printed on them.
East Route – Open 9am to 7pmThis route begins at the Spruce Parking Lot, crosses the bridge toward the Ski & Ride School and Clinic building and ascends lower Inspiration, Expressway, Moe-Mentum, and Upper Russ’s Street to the summit. It is marked by 12” red diamonds with an arrow and the word “UPHILL” printed on them.
Downhill: It is prohibited for any skier, or person otherwise, to be off the two approved downhill routes and time periods described here:
Benny Up Route – Open for downhill 6am to 9:30am
East Route – Open for downhill 4pm to 7pm
Pre and Post Season Regulations (WMR closed ski season)
This is in effect for 14 days before and after the scheduled “Opening Day” or “Closing Day” of Whitefish Mountain Resort.
East Route – Open 8am to 4pm
Is the only approved route for uphill and downhill traffic.
There are no uphill or downhill route restrictions before 8am and after 4pm pre- and post-season.
LEGAL INFORMATION : Whitefish Mountain Resort is the holder of a Special Use Permit on U.S. Forest Service land in the Tally Lake Ranger District. That permit states that: “The Special Use Permit authorizes the resort to provide public opportunities for skiing and snowboarding and natural resource-based outdoor recreation in National Forest Settings … The lands within the special use permit boundary shall remain open to the public for all lawful purposes; except for any restrictions the resort and Forest Service agree to be necessary as documented in the Operating Plan … The resort is responsible for public health and risk management within the resort boundary.” All dogs at Whitefish Mountain Resort, including on Forest Service Land, must be leashed and controlled at all times, pursuant to Federal Regulation 36 CFR 261.53(e). During ski season, dogs are not permitted outside of parking areas at the resort.
The Uphill Skier’s Responsibility Code
Skiing (a term which includes snowboarding and all other forms of sliding on snow), whether uphill or downhill, involves inherent risks that cannot be eliminated. However, there are a few rules of conduct that can decrease the risk involved. When traveling within ski resort boundaries, follow the Skier’s Responsibility Code (printed on the back of all lift tickets and season passes, as well as on trail maps), and follow these additional guidelines for uphill travel:
ALWAYS
- Travel uphill only on the designated route, marked with red diamond-shaped signs.
- Stay completely to the edge of ski trails; do not hike or stand in the middle of a ski trail.
- Observe posted signs, warnings, and trail closures.
- Be alert for and yield to downhill skiers.
- Yield to and/or avoid all ski area machinery.
NEVER
- Stop in high-traffic zones, where you are likely to obstruct a trail, or where you are not visible to downhill traffic.
- Hike, stand, or otherwise position more than two people side-by-side across the fall line.
- Bring pets out of parking areas during ski season.
Uphill Map
Winter 2019/20 Uphill Map
Link to Uphill Policy Page
Foot Passengers
Whitefish Mountain Resort allows foot passengers on Chair 1/Big Mountain Express during Winter and Chairs 1,10,6 during Summer with a foot passenger ticket. Guests with foot passenger tickets are not permitted to wear ski or snowboard boots.
Infants
Whitefish Mountain Resort does NOT allow guests to ski or ride while carrying infants in any type of backpack or baby carrier nor are they allowed on chairlifts/t-bars/magic carpet etc.
Winter: ONLY ON CHAIR 1 – Foot passengers ONLY are allowed to carry infants in backpacks or front carriers on lifts.
Summer: Chair 1,6,10 – Foot passengers ONLY are allowed to carry infants in front carriers on lifts.
Ski Scooters
ALLOWED; but must come with a leash or tether. Abide by NSAA Skiers Responsibility Code and Montana Ski Statute.
Ski or Snow Bikes
ALLOWED; Must be designed to load lift without slowing or stopping. Only 1 rider per trike. Abide by NSAA Skiers Responsibility Code and Montana Ski Statute.
NOT ALLOWED; Snow bikes are not allowed to have gears, chain, wheels or tires or a crank assembly.
Fat Tire Bikes
NOT ALLOWED; Not allowed on Lifts.
NOT ALLOWED; Snow bikes are not allowed to have gears, chain, wheels or tires or a crank assembly.
Electric Bikes
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.
Snow Skateboards
ALLOWED; but must come with a leash or tether. Abide by NSAA Skiers Responsibility Code and Montana Ski Statute.
Sledding/Infant Ski Carriers (Baby Buggy)
NOT ALLOWED
Dogs
Dogs are not permitted on chairlifts as they need to be properly trained to ride them. Dogs are not permitted in the gondolas because if they soil the gondola it is difficult to clean during operating hours making that gondola unavailable for other guests. Dogs are not allowed with Uphill Traffic.
Dogs (or other Domestic Animals) around Resort
Winter: Must be on a leash; cannot leave the parking lot.
Summer: Must be on a leash, not allowed in buildings. People with disabilities may bring qualified service animals onto the resort premises. Whitefish Mountain Resort holds the right to exclude the animals if there is a direct threat to the health and safety or our employees or guests. Outside of the Ides accommodation, animals are not allowed in any rented lodging properties other than service animals. WMR reserves the right to file complaints alleging the misrepresentation of service animals under section 3 of HB 439. Whitefish Mountain Resort has the right to ask you whether your animal is a service animal that is required because of the disability and what tasks the animal is trained to perform for you. The service animal must be housebroken and under the handlers control.
Emotional support animals are not considered service animals per the ADA and they are not allowed on the premises outside the parking lot.
Privacy Policy
In the course of interacting with customers and people who visit our internet sites, it is sometimes necessary for us to collect personal information. Other times we may ask that you voluntarily provide us with information so that we may better serve your needs. You are not required to provide any information requested other than that which we require in order to purchase goods and services from us.
Read Full Privacy Policy
If Winter Sports, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries ever collects any personal information from you, that information will never be sold, rented, donated, traded, or otherwise disclosed to any other individual or entity for any reason other than specified in this privacy policy and as required by law.
In the event that we do collect personal information from you, you will be given the option of whether or not you wish to receive future communications from us that we think may be of interest to you. If you do desire to receive future communications they will be from us and only us. Winter Sports, Inc. does not generally use third-party vendors to conduct marketing or informational communications, but in the case that we do choose to do so, the third-party vendor will be subject to the same strict privacy policies as are set forth in this policy. Any third-party vendors will be required to use any information provided to them by Winter Sports, Inc. solely for the purposes set forth by Winter Sports, Inc. Third-party vendors, if used, will be prohibited from disclosing, in any way, any information provided to them by Winter Sports, Inc.
Any financial and personal information transmitted to us over the internet in the course of purchasing goods or services from us is protected by SSL encryption and a signed SSL certificate. We take precautions to store all personal and financial information collected by us safely and securely and to limit access to any personal information collected by us to only those persons necessary to conduct the activities allowed by this privacy policy.
In short, your information is your own, and when you entrust us with it in order to purchase goods and services from us, or correspond with us, we take that responsibility very seriously.
– The Staff of Whitefish Mountain Resort
Link to Privacy Policy Page
Drone Policy
Due to safety and privacy concerns, Whitefish Mountain Resort prohibits the operation or use on or above Resort property of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, by the general public—including model aircraft by recreational users and hobbyists—without the prior written authorization from Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Read Full Drone Policy
This prohibition includes drones used for filming or videotaping, as well as any drone use by media or journalists operating above or within the area boundaries. 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 a resort representative if you have any questions or if you seek prior authorization to operate any such devices. Any authorized operation of drones on or above Resort property will be governed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations, local law enforcement, (and / or U.S. Forest Service rules), 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 access privileges to the Resort, or the revocation of your season pass, as well as confiscation of any prohibited equipment, and may subject violators to any liability for damages, including, but not limited to, damages for trespass, violations of privacy, and physical injuries to persons and/or property, as well as legal fees.
Link to Drone Policy Page
More Safety Links
