Can you hike up a ski slope without paying for a ticket?

Question

Can you legally hike up a ski slope (or at least on ski resort property) without buying a ticket, and ski down? I'm sure the rules vary from one slope to another, but generally speaking? I enjoy snow shoeing up mountains, and all that, even if its only for one ride down at the end of the day. I haven't been on the slopes for so long because its sooo expensive. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

If it is on private property then you are trespassing.  If it is public land then you may have to deal with the forest service to do that.  

You may be able to get away with it if you come down at the end of the day and don't try to get into a lift line.

Answer 2

Yes, you can if it is a resort on BLM land or forest service porperty. You do have to  have a land user permit. There is a small fee for the permit.  I saw many people doing it on Snowbasin years ago. It looked like more work then it was worth.

Answer 3

Any ski area that uses public land, (BLM, USFS, State Land, etc.) is open to public foot travel.

The need for a permit may or may not be true. I have never purchased a Forest Service permit to hike up a ski slope, however I have hiked up slopes at Bromley, VT and skied down many times w/o problem or issue. The fact that one of Bromley's slope is also part of the Appalachian Trail may have something to do with the fact that I never needed a permit.

I usually only hike or skin up slopes that are not lift serviced. Snowshoeing up slopes is fairly popular and is a good source of exercise. I see tracks going up slopes at Okemo, Stratton, and Mt.Snow all the time.

For the most part, it's generally not a problem and as long as you stay close to the trail edge or use a non-ski trail to get to the top, ski patrol normally won't say anything to you. As long as you don't wreck on the way back down (or do anything else to incur the wrath of ski patrol) the chances of you getting nailed for not having a ticket are slim to none.

Good Luck....Happy Poaching!

Answer 4

No - it's called trespassing.