Loveland ski area will be closed to uphill skiing as of Wednesday by area officials and the U.S. Forest Service, which governs the public land on which Loveland operates.
This past weekend, U.S. 6 above and below the ski area was as skiers sought to use the area for uphilling, even though the parking lot was closed. Ski operations have been closed there and at other Colorado ski areas since March 15 by order of Gov. Jared Polis.
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The ski area is prohibiting uphill access for the same period of time as the governor’s executive order (which has ) and “any subsequent amendments extending that timeframe,” according to a news release that was distributed Tuesday morning.
Video of the has been widely shared across social media and Colorado news outlets, prompting widespread alarm that uphill skiers were failing to maintain social distancing.
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“It was obviously extremely busy,” said John Sellers, Loveland ski area’s marketing director. “It’s not really supporting the directive of minimizing group size and potentially putting too much of a burden on local law enforcement and emergency services.”
Uphill skiing also has been prohibited at four ski areas in neighboring Summit County: Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain.
Winter Park announced Tuesday afternoon that it will suspend uphill skiing as well.
“In accordance with recommendations from authorities, Winter Park Resort is suspending all uphill on-mountain access effective 5 p.m. on Tuesday,” the announcement read. “Just like you, we are mountain and outdoor enthusiasts, and we are equally disappointed we have to close uphill access for now. Protecting our employees, our guests and our community was the determining factor in our decision.”
Sunlight ski area near Glenwood Springs also has closed the mountain to uphill skiing, according to the area’s Twitter feed, but trails in nearby Babbish Gulch are open for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.
