Mountain Policies

The use of drones is not allowed anywhere at Solitude Mountain Resort.

Solitude Mountain Resort is located in the Salt Lake City Protected Watershed. Dogs and pets are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, inside property lodges, or in vehicles during your visit except by special permit. For more information, please visit keepitpure.com.

Service animals (dogs or miniature horses only) are not permitted on open chairlifts, mountain trails, ski runs, or any skiing and snowboarding terrain at Solitude Mountain Resort. This policy is pursuant to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and federal regulations at 28 C.F.R. 36.301 et seq., and is based on specific safety requirements determined by Solitude regarding the safety of other guests and employees, as well as for the safety of the service animal.

The policy of restricting service animals on both chairlifts and mountain terrain also applies to all other animals, including pets and emotional support animals. Note that pets that are not service animals are already restricted from Big Cottonwood Canyon due to the Watershed Protection Ordinance. For more information on watershed policies, please visit the Salt Lake City Public Utilities website.

If a guest with a service animal seeks to visit an area of the mountain for a special event during summer operations, Solitude may provide alternative transportation to the venue on the mountain, depending on the mountain location, weather conditions, and other variables. Solitude recommends that guests provide 72-hour advance notice when seeking transportation to on-mountain venues.

Due to the unique winter environmental conditions and the extreme terrain and weather conditions, Solitude does not allow or provide access to on-mountain venues during winter operations for guests with service animals.

At all times, the service animal must be under the control of its handler. The service animal shall have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe and effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control (e.g., voice command, signals, or other effective means).

Authorized personnel may request the service animal be removed from the premises if: (1) The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take immediate action to control the animal; or (2) the animal is not housebroken. If the service animal is removed, Solitude will make all reasonable efforts to the guest with a disability, the opportunity to participate in the services or activities without having the service animal on premise.

Alcohol is prohibited on all lifts at Solitude Mountain Resort. Due to fire hazards, smoking and open flames are not allowed on mountain or on Solitude lifts. In addition, the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act (UICAA) is designed to protect Utahns and visitors from exposure to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Smoking or vaping is not permitted at Solitude, except in your personal vehicle or when occupying paved areas of the Moonbeam or Solitude Village parking lots.

For everyone’s safety, transporting a child in a backpack or a front pack is not allowed on Solitude’s chairlifts or ski trails during winter operations. Children are allowed in packs at the Solitude Nordic & Snowshoe Center. Children are allowed in front packs on scenic chairlift rides during summer operations.

Know the Code
Please read all signs. Use common sense.

1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
6. Read and obey all signs, warnings, and hazard markings.
7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

Know the code; it’s your responsibility. This is a partial list; be safety conscious.

As a condition and consideration for use of the ski area, the user expressly assumes all risks of injury or death related in any way to snowsports — including the negligence of Solitude Mountain Resort and its employees — while involved with snowsports. The user represents that they are able to load, ride, and unload lifts properly. The user will read all signs and mountain information including the trail map. The right to use the Resort area may be revoked without compensation for violation of this agreement.

Solitude Mountain Resort is committed to providing a fun and safe snowsports experience for all of our guests. Before you finalize your plans to visit Solitude, review the list below of allowable on-mountain equipment and a list of those devices that are prohibited on our mountain. All equipment must have retention devices appropriate for the equipment and recommended by the manufacturer.

Acceptable Equipment
Alpine skis
Monoskis
Snowblades
Snowboards
Alpine touring and telemark skis
Adaptive equipment*

We Do Not Allow
Ski bikes*
Ski trikes*
Snowskates
Snowshoes
Sleds or sliding devices
Ski kites

*Reasonable accommodations will be made for adaptive skiers with approved specialized equipment specifically designed for use by skiers with a disability. Solitude Mountain Resort works closely with the National Ability Center to provide qualified instruction and mobility devices when requested in advance. Should you require these services, please contact the National Ability Center at 435.649.3991 or visit discovernac.org

All adaptive equipment, including ski bikes and ski trikes, may be used by persons with disabilities outside of an instructional session ONLY with prior notification. Please contact the National Ability Center for an evaluation of the equipment for appropriate safety and retention devices. At the same time, they will determine that the individual using the mobility device is trained in loading and unloading lifts with or without assistance and that the device is compatible with our ski lifts.

If you have any questions, please contact Dan Healy, Director of Snowsports Services at 801.536.5731.

Fantasy Ridge and Honeycomb Ridge Policy
Fantasy Ridge and Honeycomb Ridge are located at the top of Honeycomb Canyon and form part of our southern boundary. They include the two highest points on the resort — Honeycomb Peak (10,488 ft.) and Black Bess Peak (10,479 ft.) — and provide access to Black Bess and Honeycomb Chutes. This area has many cliffs, hanging snowfields, and skiable terrain exceeding 50 degrees in slope, plus unmarked hazards and constantly-changing snow conditions. Honeycomb Ridge is susceptible to rapid wind loading and large cornice formation. Avalanche mitigation work may be in progress at any time.

To access the Fantasy Ridge terrain area, each individual must carry an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and backpack or equipment carry system and check in with ski patrol at the top of Summit Express before proceeding. Expert skiing/snowboarding skills are highly recommended as a fall in these areas may result in significant injuries or death. Rescue in these areas may be prolonged due to the remoteness and technical nature of the terrain. It is the responsibility of each individual to know where they are at all times.

Access to Honeycomb Ridge is limited to Solitude Mountain Resort guests with valid season passes or lift tickets; this terrain is closed to backcountry users for the safety of Solitude's guests and staff members. Honeycomb Ridge may be closed due to avalanche hazards when the terrain below is open. Access to Honeycomb Ridge terrain is only available when the Fantasy Ridge access gate is open.

Salt Lake County law states that it is unlawful for any person for the purpose of skiing/snowboarding or other reason to go upon any area designated as closed or avalanche closed. Violators will be prosecuted and is punishable by a Class B misdemeanor. Please contact Solitude Ski Patrol at 801.536.5753 with any questions.

Highway to Heaven
The Highway to Heaven area is located within the Solitude Mountain Resort boundary and is often mistaken for backcountry. The Resort includes terrain from the Highway to Heaven access gate all the way to Twin Lakes Pass. Skiing in this area requires hiking to access the lift-served portion of the Resort.

PLEASE NOTE: Avalanche mitigation efforts, including work with explosives, may be in progress in this area at any time. This area may be closed for other reasons other than avalanche mitigation work, and it is your responsibility to know whether this terrain is open or closed at any given time. For questions regarding this area, visit our conditions page or contact Solitude Ski Patrol dispatch a 801.536.5753 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Uphill Travel Policy
Solitude Mountain Resort allows for limited uphill travel during specific dates and times, and only on specified uphill routes. Details are available on our Uphill Travel page.

Otherwise, we do not allow unauthorized uphill travel within resort boundaries. Due to the tremendous amount of avalanche mitigation work that is frequently conducted throughout the winter operating season, users traveling uphill through the resort to access backcountry terrain can easily find themselves in areas where avalanche mitigation work is in progress. This places uphill travelers directly in harm’s way and impedes the Ski Patrol from safely performing their duties while restricting their ability to open the mountain for our guests in a timely manner.

Snowmaking operations, grooming equipment, snowmobiles, and downhill skiers/snowboarders can also present hazards to uphill users on a 24-hour basis.

Backcountry terrain in Silver Fork Canyon can be accessed by users traveling up Church Road or from various trailheads along the canyon highway.

Solitude Mountain Resort has a special-use permit from the US Forest Service to conduct ski area operations on specified public lands. Snowsports instruction/guiding conducted with the knowledge and approval of Solitude Ski & Ride School is an authorized activity and is within the scope of our special-use permit. Any Snowsports teaching/guiding within the Solitude boundaries conducted without the knowledge and approval of Solitude Ski & Ride School is unauthorized and in potential violation of US Forest Service regulations. All ski/snowboard instruction for commercial purposes is unauthorized without the resort’s prior written consent and may constitute criminal trespassing under Utah law.

Professional patrollers are present on the mountain daily, providing our guests with emergency assistance and information. Ski Patrol buildings are located at the top of the Powderhorn and Summit Express chairlifts. The Steward Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Medical Clinic is located in the basement of the Last Chance Lodge, which is located near the base of the Apex Express chairlift.

Avalanche Rescue Dogs

Properly trained dogs are a huge asset in avalanche rescues, and Solitude is proud to have three dogs as part of the Ski Patrol team. Rio, Lumen, and Joni are most often stationed at the Ski Patrol Shacks located at the top of Powderhorn II and Summit Express chairlifts. Our dogs love their jobs, but doing them well requires continuous training. Any time a dog is on the mountain it is “in training,” and you may encounter a dog running alongside its handler, loading a lift with its handler, or working a search drill. Please do not approach, call, or distract the dogs. Skiing too close to a dog, or distracting them in any way, are a major safety concern for the working team. Give all dogs adequate space and slow down or stop when you see a dog and handler on the mountain. A collision with a dog or cut from a ski edge could cause a career ending injury.

Watch Solitude's event calendar for our avalanche dog demonstrations occurring at the bottom of the Apex Express chairlift throughout the season.

Wasatch Backcountry Rescue Avalanche Beacon Park
Solitude Mountain Resort hosts an avalanche beacon park for Big Cottonwood Canyon users to practice their search and rescue skills, located skiers left of the SolBright trail above Headwall Forest. This is an on-mountain beacon park that is accessed by Summit Express chairlift. The park offers four buried targets for single and multiple burial practice. The availability of the park is weather dependent.

Ski Patrol Information
If you need assistance or witness an accident, please notify a Solitude Ski Patrol staff member, Solitude lift attendant, or call 801.536.5753. Note and communicate your location to expedite the response from Ski Patrol. When skiing in Honeycomb Canyon, look for letters (A - Z) posted on trees to indicate your location on the hill; when skiing SolBright, look for numbers (1 - 20). To protect an injured person, plant your snowboard or plant and vertically cross your skis in the snow uphill from the person until Ski Patrol arrives.

Medical Clinic
Steward Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Medical Clinic is located on the lower level of the Last Chance Lodge, near the base of the Apex Express chairlift. The clinic works closely with our professional ski patrol staff and accepts most insurance policies.

Please visit if you are experiencing any symptoms of cold, flu, altitude sickness, sunburn, frostbite, or any other ailment or injury that could disrupt your day or your vacation. Equipped with x-ray capabilities and appropriate staffing, the clinic can help with many orthopedic injuries as well.

The clinic is open daily during our winter season from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 435.776.7522.

Solitude Mountain Resort is committed to providing great outdoor experiences for our guests. Our mountain trail system is a multi-use system that includes both hiking and biking. Safety is our number one priority. Closed-toe shoes are recommended for all lift riders and mountain users. Please review all summer mountain policies below.

Scooters, E-Bikes, and Motorized Vehicles
In our effort to provide a quality experience, we have restricted the use of the following equipment on our mountain:

1. Scooters: Both foot propelled and motorized scooters are prohibited
2. E-bikes: Known as electric bikes or power bikes, these are bicycles equipped with an integrated electric motor (generally battery operated), which provides propulsion beyond pedaling for the rider. These are prohibited at Solitude.
3. Motorized Vehicles: Strictly prohibited on all private on-mountain roads and trails.

Mountain Bike Group Riding
In order to best serve all guests who use our mountain facilities, we are unable to accommodate large mountain bike groups (15 or more bikers riding as a group) on the mountain on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. We welcome large groups to the mountain any time Monday through Thursday.

Camping Policy
No camping or open fires are allowed in Solitude parking lots or on mountain at any time.

Mountain Bike Safety and Trail Etiquette
Helmets are required on lifts, on trails, and during lessons for all biking activities on Solitude Mountain Resort property to help ensure your safety. Before mountain biking at Solitude, please know all mountain bike trail etiquette and traffic regulations listed below:

1. All uphill traffic gets the right of way.
2. When going downhill, yield to uphill bike traffic, hikers, and disc golfers.
3. Stay alert. Proper yielding requires that you slow down before you near hikers or fellow riders when riding downhill.
4. Make sure to ride your bike on designated MTB trails, not hiking trails.
5. Please note that Easy Out and Krüzr are single-track, one-way trails permitting only downhill traffic.

Watershed
Solitude Mountain Resort is located in the Salt Lake City Watershed Region. Please use restrooms and stay out of the creeks and lakes around the Resort. Although restroom facilities are not available at our Moonbeam Lodge base area, restrooms are open daily in Solitude Village. To see more watershed information, click here.

Mountain biking involves risk of serious injury or death. Your knowledge, decisions, and actions contribute to your safety and that of others. Please note that trails are not cleared at the end of the day, and we recommend that you ride with a buddy at all times.

ALWAYS
1. STAY IN CONTROL. You’re responsible for avoiding objects and people.
2. KNOW YOUR LIMITS. Ride within your ability. Start small and work your way up.
3. PROTECT YOURSELF. Use appropriate bike, helmet, and protective equipment.
4. INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT. Know your components and their operation prior to riding.
5. BE LIFT SMART. Know how to load, ride, and unload lifts safely. Ask if you need help.
6. INSPECT THE TRAILS AND FEATURES. Conditions change constantly; plan and adjust your ride accordingly.
7. OBEY SIGNS AND WARNINGS. Stay on marked trails only. Keep off closed trails and features. Ride in the direction indicated.
8. BE VISIBLE. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail, feature, or landing, or where you are not visible.
9. LOOK AND YIELD TO OTHERS. Look both ways and yield when entering or crossing a road or trail. When overtaking, use caution and yield to those ahead.
10. COOPERATE. If you are involved in or witness an accident, identify yourself to staff.
11. NO DRONES. The use of drones is not allowed at Solitude Mountain Resort.
12. NO SMOKING. Smoking is not allowed on the mountain due to fire concerns.

Mountain bike trails are rough and demanding on both the bike and body. Before riding, always inspect your equipment or have it checked by a qualified bike mechanic.

1. Helmets are required at Solitude. Ensure your helmet is in good shape and properly adjusted.
2. Inspect bike frame, fork, and other components for cracked, damaged, or dented areas.
3. Check that your brake pads are in good condition and are not worn.
4. Front and rear axles (skewers) should be tight.
5. Headset and stem must be secure with no looseness or play.
6. Check that your tires are in good condition with no tears or cuts in the sidewall.
7. Handle bar and handle grips must be tight and unable to spin.
8. Seat and seat post must be fastened securely.