Terrain and Uphill Access

Please read and sign the Uphill Access Policy before you come to Cooper!

Ski Cooper allows uphill traffic with limited restrictions. There are guidelines that all uphill users must follow to promote safety and to minimize conflicts between grooming operations, snowmobile traffic, downhill skiers, and any other activities that might be taking place at any time on the mountain, day and night.

Please be aware that no ski area services, including Ski Patrol, are available during hours that the ski area is not open for business. Please call 911 in the event of an emergency during non-operational hours. You are responsible for your own safety at all times while skiing on the property.

Please note: Dogs, and any other pets, are not permitted on the mountain or in the base area of Ski Cooper at any time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from 12/2/2024 to 4/25/2025, unless it is a Service Animal.

Uphill access is an activity that Ski Cooper permits in the interest of promoting the enjoyment of the Ski Area and the National Forest. This policy is intended to enhance the mountain experience for users of all kinds. Please remember, uphill access is a privilege and not a right.

Uphill access during operating hours (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) is conditioned upon purchasing either a Cooper Season Pass or Cooper Day Pass for access, and signing Cooper’s “UPHILL ACCESS POLICY AND USER GUIDELINES AGREEMENT” prior to visiting Cooper (click here). Your Season or Day Pass validation is loaded onto your Cooper Card (RFID Card). Your Cooper Card will be scanned at Cooper’s “Port of Entry.” Ski Patrol will periodically check uphill routes during operating hours and may ask uphill users to stop and show their card. The card is required in order to gain access to Cooper during operating hours, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Complimentary (free) non-lift served uphill access to the ski area is available between 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM subject to the conditions and rules set forth below. All uphill users without a valid season or day pass must complete their activity and be off the mountain no later than 8:45 AM, 15 minutes before the lifts run.

All those participating in Uphill Access activities between 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM are required to read and sign Cooper’s “UPHILL ACCESS POLICY AND USER GUIDELINES AGREEMENT” which can be found on the Cooper website (click here). If you are accessing the Area outside of operating hours, Cooper strongly recommends that you wear fluorescent and/or reflective clothing visible from all directions to increase visibility, as well as a light source, such as a head lamp.

Uphill Access Conditions & Rules:

1. Ski Cooper reserves the right to prohibit uphill access at any time for special events, on-mountain operations, weather, safety concerns, or any reason deemed necessary by Ski Cooper Management. Uphill access may be restricted due to avalanche mitigation efforts or ski area construction and maintenance activities.
2. From 12/2/2024 through 4/25/2025, there are 3 designated uphill routes. These designated routes are the only approved ways uphill during operating hours, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and during daily closing procedures from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM.  Looker’s left of Trail’s End is the front side uphill route; looker’s left of Ambush is the back side uphill route; looker’s right of Low Road/High Road to Motherlode Flats is the route from the Tennessee Creek Basin.  Follow the yellow Uphill Route signs as you go.  If a trail that is a designated uphill access route is closed for any reason, or due to events on the mountain, the uphill route may be moved to another trail. Look for the yellow uphill signs and follow them.  From 4:30PM to 8:00AM (overnight), uphill access is allowed on all trails except those that are closed and those on which grooming operations are taking place (see the night’s grooming plan and trail report located on the screen at the bottom of the 10^th Mountain Double Chairlift located on the east side of the Base Lodge just beside the Maze). If there is a snowcat on the trail, uphill use and downhill skiing are prohibited on that trail. If you were unaware that a trail was being groomed, please safely leave the trail as soon as you see or hear the snowcat. A map of the designated uphill routes appears on the “uphill access” page on the Cooper website and hard copies are available at the Guest Services Window at the Base Lodge.
3. All uphillers must have a valid lift ticket or pass to ride up any lifts, or to enter the area to uphill during the operating day (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM).
4. Be vigilant when ascending. The Area conducts operations on the mountain and in the base area 24 hours a day.  Many of these operations continue year-round.  Snowcats, snowmobiles, trucks, ATVs, skiers, riders, other Uphill Access users, etc. may be encountered at any time.  Keep as far away as possible from all machinery: grooming operations may occur at any time and on any trail, stay away; stay completely off trails that are in the process of being groomed.
5. Uphillers must stay on the side of the trail and remain visible at all times.
6. Uphillers must be aware of downhill traffic and avoid blind spots.
7. Other than Service Animals and Patrol Dogs, no dogs or other pets are permitted on the mountain 24/7 between 12/2/2024 and 4/25/2025.
8. Obey all closures, ropes, signs and warnings no matter what time of day or season. During the operating season Uphill Access users may not enter any trails, slopes, or areas that have not been opened for the season or that are marked “Closed” for any period or reason, as safety markings and pads may not be in place, and grooming, trail checks, construction, etc. may not be completed or may still be in progress and trees and limbs or other obstacles may be blocking terrain. If you are found ducking ropes and/or in closed areas, your access privileges may be revoked for the season.
9. Access to all terrain parks is prohibited outside of normal operating hours, unless for an event authorized by Cooper Management.
10. All Uphill Access users must abide by all Area policies and rules, follow Area employee directions and instructions, and all Colorado State laws. Remember, if you are using any Area facilities, under Colorado law you are considered a “skier” and must abide by the CO Ski Safety Act.
11. As an Uphill Access user, accessing the Area before or after operating hours is at your own risk and Ski Patrol services are unavailable. If rescue or medical care or other emergency assistance is required, call 911. Response time and rescue may be protracted, and cellular service may be limited or unavailable. Ski Cooper recommends always traveling with a partner.
12. If traveling on the mountain at dusk, at night, in the early morning, in a whiteout, fog, or other conditions of low light and/or low visibility, fluorescent and/or reflective clothing visible from all directions is highly recommended to increase visibility, as well as a light source, such as a head lamp. It is your responsibility to avoid any vehicles and/or equipment also on the mountain.
13. If your presence on Area property presents a hazard or the Area’s staff believes that you are impeding any Area operations, you may be directed to use a different location or to leave. You must follow any such direction.
14. Wildlife may be encountered at any time on Area property. Moose, bears, coyotes, etc. can be very dangerous.  It is your responsibility to be aware of wildlife and keep your distance if encountered.
15. If, as an Uphill Access user, you decide to leave the Area boundary, you are responsible for understanding the risks. You may not enter, leave, or re-enter the Area boundary by crossing any ropes, closed gates, closed signs, or other boundary markers. The only authorized National Forest backcountry access point from Ski Cooper is located in the North Basin, just east of the base of the Piney Basin Triple Lift.

Respecting these rules preserves this privilege. Failure to follow these rules could result in the loss of skiing and riding privileges. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Please stay on the designated routes when traveling uphill.