Mountain Policies

ADA Parking
ADA parking is available at the bottom of the stairs in our Main Parking Lot, at the Breezeway Level, and for limited use near the Ski Patrol First Aid Room. Our Parking Attendants will gladly direct you to the appropriate ADA parking area. A valid Disabled Parking permit placard is required for all vehicles using ADA parking spaces.

Adaptive Devices
We welcome the use of adaptive devices designed for skiing or riding by individuals with disabilities, including mono-skis, bi-skis, outriggers, and sit-skis. If you plan to use adaptive equipment on our lifts, please contact our Lift Supervisor at liftops@sunlightmtn.com prior to your visit so we can prepare our staff to accommodate your needs.

Adaptive Lessons
We offer Adaptive Lessons for individuals with physical, cognitive, or learning challenges. For more information, please contact us at joe@sunlightmtn.com.

Mobility Devices
Individuals with mobility disabilities may use wheelchairs and manually-powered mobility aids in pedestrian areas. However, consistent with Sunlight Mountain's "no motorized" use policy, the use of motorized devices or vehicles, including other power-driven mobility devices, is prohibited on the mountain. These safety requirements are based on actual risks and are not intended to be discriminatory. Please refer to our Power-Driven Mobility Devices Policy below for further details.

Service Animals
Sunlight Mountain supports the use of trained service animals during the winter operating season. However, service animals are not permitted on the lifts. Service animals must be under control using a harness, leash, or other tether unless it interferes with their task or the handler's disability prevents it. The service animal must be housebroken and trained to perform tasks related to a specific disability as defined by ADA regulations.

If you have additional needs not covered above, please provide us with at least 72 hours' advance notice so that we can make reasonable accommodations. For any questions or concerns regarding ADA accessibility, Adaptive Skiing/Riding, service animals, or power-driven mobility devices, please reach out to us at (970) 945-7491 or info@sunlightmtn.com. 

Sunlight Mountain supports the use of trained service animals during the winter operating season. However, service animals are not permitted on the lifts. Service animals must be under control using a harness, leash, or other tether unless it interferes with their task or the handler's disability prevents it. The service animal must be housebroken and trained to perform tasks related to a specific disability as defined by ADA regulations.

To ensure the safety of our guests and staff, please review our list of Permitted Devices:

Sunlight Mountain allows uphill foot and skier traffic along designated routes during the winter operating season, including the pre-season and post-season. However, uphill travel is closed while snowmaking operations are underway and other times as deemed necessary for guest and employee safety.

Please help us keep you and our employees safe and preserve our growing Uphill Community by abiding by our rules and any mountain closures throughout the year.

Sunlight Mountain Uphill Policy

• All guests must possess a current Sunlight Uphill Pass. These passes can be obtained at the Sunlight Ticket Office or on our Online Store.
• Uphill access is closed during snowmaking operations. Pressurized waterlines can be hard to see in the snow, but skis and snowboards are sharp enough to slice through the lines, posing a large safety risk to anyone nearby.
• Never follow directly behind or ski in front of a grooming machine. Keep a minimum of 100 feet away from grooming machines, snowmobiles, and snowmaking equipment.
• Dogs are not allowed on the mountain at any time.
• Use the designated uphill routes. Uphill route maps can be obtained at the Guest Services Office.
• Keep to the side of the trail. Downhill traffic has the right-of-way.
• Be aware that there are no Ski Patrol services before or after normal operating hours.
• Any guests accessing the Sunlight Mountain Resort property outside of normal operating hours acknowledge that activities including, but not limited to, slope grooming, snowmaking, snowmobile traffic, special event setup, and marked and unmarked obstacles pertaining to those activities may exist on any slope at any time.

Smoking is only permitted in one designated area on Sunlight property—next to the outdoor bar at the top of the stairs. Smoking is prohibited elsewhere on the property.

The consumption of marijuana is strictly prohibited at Sunlight Mountain Resort. This includes, but is not limited to, lift lines, chairlifts, ski trails, wooded areas, parking lots, patios, decks, and all other open spaces. Smoking of any kind, whether tobacco or marijuana, is also prohibited inside buildings, lobbies, restaurant, shops, hallways, and restrooms.

Marijuana consumption is strictly prohibited at Sunlight Mountain Resort. This ban applies to all areas, including lift lines, chairlifts, ski trails, wooded areas, parking lots, patios, decks, and other open spaces. Additionally, smoking of any kind, whether tobacco or marijuana, is not allowed inside any buildings, including lobbies, restaurants, shops, hallways, and restrooms.

While recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado under Amendment 64, it remains classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance under federal law. State law also prohibits the consumption of marijuana in public places, and all areas of Sunlight Mountain Resort are considered public. Because the resort operates on federal land, including ski lifts, trails, the lodge, and parking lots, U.S. Forest Service officers regularly patrol to enforce federal regulations.

For the safety of our guests and their pets, Sunlight Mountain Resort prohibits guests and employees from bringing dogs, or any other pets, onto the ski area and/or base lodge facilities at any time during the winter operating season. Exceptions to this policy are for: 1) Service animals as defined in the ADA regulations, 2) Trained or in training search and rescue/avalanche dogs accompanied by their handler and with permission from Sunlight Mountain, and 3) Dogs brought to the base area by an organization for a specific special event, such as C.A.R.E. pet adoption day.

Dogs permitted at the area must be on a harness, leash or other tether and accompanied by a handler, who is wholly responsible for the animal.

For safety reasons, dogs, including service animals, are not allowed on Sunlight’s ski terrain or ski lifts unless they are trained or in the process of being trained for search and rescue work or to load/unload a lift and these dogs must be in the direct control of on-duty Sunlight Mountain Resort staff. Reasonable accommodation will be made to assist in transporting service dogs in order to access other resort locations with a minimum of 48 hours notice. Service animals are defined as animals that have been individually trained to actively assist individuals with physical or cognitive needs. Individuals with service animals, of course must maintain control of their animals at all times. In addition, any service animal must be house broken and be trained and utilized for a specific disability approved by ADA regulations

For safety and privacy reasons, Sunlight Mountain Resort prohibits the operation or use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including drones, on or above resort property by the general public. This includes recreational users, hobbyists, and media or journalists, without prior written authorization from Sunlight Mountain Resort. The ban applies to all drone use, including filming, videotaping, or any other activity, whether launched from resort property, National Forest Service (NFS) lands within Sunlight’s special use permit (SUP) boundaries, or from private property outside of the resort.

Any authorized drone use must comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, local law enforcement, National Forest Service rules, and Sunlight Mountain’s own policies, which may require certification, training, insurance, indemnification, and liability waivers. Violations of this policy may result in the suspension of resort access, revocation of season passes, confiscation of equipment, and potential legal liability for damages, including trespass, invasion of privacy, personal injury, property damage, and associated legal fees.

To ensure the safety of our guests and staff, sledding and the use of sledding devices are not allowed anywhere on Sunlight Mountain Resort. This includes using a snowboard as a sledding device. Please review our list of Permitted & Prohibited Devices.

Sunlight Mountain Resort recognizes the growing interest in fat tire biking during the winter season and has implemented a limited access policy to accommodate this activity.

Fat tire biking is permitted under the following conditions:

• Access is restricted to nighttime hours, from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. All bikes must be off the mountain before morning grooming operations begin.
• The designated routes are:
  • Ascent via the Babbish Gulch trail system to the top of the mountain.
  • Descent using the Ute ski run back to the base area.
• All fat tire bike riders must have a Sunlight Uphill Pass. Current Sunlight season pass holders can obtain an Uphill Pass at no additional cost. Non-pass holders can purchase an Uphill Pass online or at the ticket office for $10.

The personal use of private motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles, is prohibited. All vehicles must have prior approval from Sunlight Mountain and the USFS.

Please see our Power-Driven Mobility Devices Policy for more infomation.

Camping is prohibited within Sunlight Mountain's Special Use Permitted Area. There are several free dispersed camping options nearby on BLM land.

All activities at Sunlight Mountain Resort require participants to read, understand, and sign a release of liability and waiver of legal rights before participating. Please review all Sunlight Mountain Resort release waivers below:

Sunlight Mountain Season Pass Release

Sunlight Mountain Uphill Release

Sunlight Mountain Lesson Release

Sunlight Mountain Rental Release

Sunlight Mountain Snowmobile Tour Release

Sunlight Mountain Model Release