Visitor Policies
Welcome to Crosscut!
We are thrilled to provide safe opportunities for folks to get outside, move, and breathe the fresh air. We welcome all visitors to Crosscut and ask that you please observe these expectations during your visit.
Policy for Organized Groups
Organized groups must receive prior authorization from Crosscut Mountain Sports Center for trail and facility use in all seasons. These groups include, but are not limited to:
Membership-based organizations
Teams, including introductory, development, and competitive teams in any sport
Businesses and for-profit organizations facilitating programs including those charging for participation or deriving income from use, and those offering free programs
Non-profit organizations facilitating programs including those charging for participation or deriving income from use, and those offering free programs
Educational institutions, including public and private schools, universities, and colleges
Crosscut charges trail fees for organized groups in both summer and winter months. Most trail and facility use requires additional information including liability insurance, licenses/ registrations, or other documents.
Please reach out to us at info@crosscutmt.org to discuss your group’s visit.
Visitor Policies – Summer
General
Crosscut does not host any amenities during our summer season. Our Nordic & Trails Center is only open by appointment only to folks renting mountain bikes. Visitors can stroll, hike, trail run, jog with heavy-duty strollers, picnic, go birding, or bike. Public trail use is from sunrise to sunset.
Crosscut trail use is not open to horseback riding or disc golf — please visit USFS for nearby options.
Our trails open to all users based on trail conditions. Check the website announcement bar and our social media channels for the most up-to-date information.
All third-party organizations must receive prior authorization from Crosscut to operate on Crosscut's property.
Voluntary Trail Pass
To help Crosscut cover the summer operating expenses of Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, we are asking visitors to support our nonprofit organization with a voluntary trail pass this summer. Support Crosscut by learning more and making a donation here.
Emergencies
Our Nordic & Trail Center is closed, and staff are not always on-site in the summer. During programs, Crosscut has an on-call emergency response staff member. In case of injury or another emergency, please call 406-600-3991 to reach our staff. If you are unable to reach us, you will need to call 911 for assistance. Be prepared to be responsible for your own safety.
Be Kind: Trail Etiquette
Please be Outside Kind and help facilitate a positive experience for yourself and all outdoor enthusiasts. Say hello to fellow trail users, be cool and respectful when interacting with others, and be aware of the guidelines for trail use at Crosscut.
Always bike in the indicated direction of travel, move off the trail for rest stops, and ride in control. Mountain bikers please yield to hikers and runners. Bikers, remember that the uphill biker has the right of way. Please stop, move to the side of the trail, and be friendly with all trail users. Dog owner, please pick up after you furry friends. Please be courteous and respect all property.
Trail Closures
We work all year long to improve and maintain Crosscut’s trail system. Please obey trail closures. Please avoid areas where construction is taking place. We make every effort to list trail closures on our Trailforks page.
Dogs
Well behaved and friendly dogs are welcome to visit once we have opened. Humans are responsible for keeping dogs under control and to pick up after them. Aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. Dogs must be leashed while passing through the base area while the biathlon range is active and in use. Always pick up after your dogs.
Crosscut reserves the right to ban a specific dog from visiting Crosscut if owner or dog behavior is judged to be inappropriate.
Electric Bikes
Electric Bikes, or E-bikes, are permitted on the trails on Crosscut’s property. E-bikes further Crosscut’s vision of empowering healthy communities by connecting people and nature and align with Crosscut’s values of inclusivity and accessibility. E-bikes can expand the option of bicycling to more people by providing a new option for those who want to ride a bike but might not otherwise do so. Dirt bikes and other motorized vehicles are prohibited on Crosscut property.
While Crosscut does not regulate E-bikes differently by class, it is expected that riders use bikes with pedal assist. Users with E-bikes equipped with a motor controlled by a throttle are not permitted to use without pedal assistance in order to provide a more fair and enjoyable experience for all users.
Helmets for Bikers
Crosscut Mountain Bike Program participants (camps, clinics, lessons, and events) as well as those renting Crosscut mountain bikes are required to wear a helmet. In support of our values to empower healthy communities, we strongly encourage all bikers to wear a helmet while riding on Crosscut property. Medical research supports the personal use of a bike helmet to protect from serious head trauma and traumatic brain injuries.
Biathlon Range
Use and access of Crosscut’s Biathlon Range is strictly limited to Crosscut’s program participants. No other firearm activity of any kind is tolerated. Dogs are not allowed in the biathlon stadium. Bikes are not allowed on the pavement — the paved trail is for biathlon program rollerskiing only.
Events
If you are interested in hosting at event at Crosscut, please get in touch with us via email (info@crosscutmt.org) to discuss options.
Visitor Policies – Winter
General
All trail users must have a valid Season Pass or Day Pass.
Always ski on posted trails and in indicated direction of travel, ski to the right when meeting on-coming skiers, ski in control, move to the side of the trail for rest stops, and please be courteous and respect all property.
Snowshoes and fat bikes may only use the Narrow Gauge trails. Fat bike tires must be 3.7" or wider. Fat bikes yield to all other traffic, on the trail and at intersections. Recognize that the Narrow Gauge trails are multi directional, and that you may encounter other trail users at any time. Always ride in control.
Uphill skiers are restricted to the Uphill Travel Route. The uphill skiing route should never be used to access Bridger Bowl. Any reports of poaching will result in immediate closure of the uphill route.
Walking (without snowshoes) is not allowed on Crosscut trails in the winter. All users must pack-out any trash.
All organized groups, including teams and clubs, must receive prior authorization from Crosscut staff to operate on Crosscut's property.
Hours of Operation
Crosscut trails will be open to the public 7 days a week. The Nordic Center is open from 9am to 4pm daily and until 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays when Night Skiing is held. Season pass holders may ski outside of regular hours at their own risk. Crosscut will offer Night Skiing on a schedule that may be changed according to demand and conditions, please check the website for the most up-to-date information.
Crosscut hosts many events throughout the winter season. These events include trail closures. For everyone’s safety, all visitors must respect these closures. Please check the website for information on trails before your visit.
Closing day is condition dependent. If conditions allow, season pass holders only will have access to late season skiing as long as safe snow conditions last. Please be advised that late season grooming will occur irregularly as conditions permit.
Trail Closures
Crosscut Mountain Sports Center strives to provide and maintain access to the entire trail system throughout the winter season. For certain events, a portion of the trail system closes for the duration of the event including setup and take down of courses. For the Crosscut Classic race held in February, the entire trail system will be closed from 5pm Friday until 2pm Saturday (check our Community Events for date).
Crosscut Mountain Sports Center makes efforts to communicate trail closures in advance via email notifications, website and social media channels, however, trail closures can occur without advance notice in certain circumstances.
Season Pass Holders
Opening day is condition dependent. If conditions allow, season pass holders only will have access to skiing in advance of the opening date.
Season Pass holders may ski outside of regular hours. No services, emergency or otherwise, available outside of Nordic Center hours. Skiers are responsible for bringing their own headlamp and skiing safely. Season pass holders who choose to ski before or after regular business hours will do so at their own risk and without emergency support from Crosscut.
Each season pass holder will receive one complimentary voucher along with their pass, good for one free day pass at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center.
Season Passes are non-refundable and not transferable after redemption. If you are unable to redeem your pass due to injury or sickness, we may provide a pass credit of the same value the following season. Pass credit requests must be made prior to January 1.
Dogs
Visiting Crosscut Mountain Sports Center with dogs is a privilege, please treat it as such. Day pass or season pass is required for Dog Days. Dogs must be under control at all times — aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. Dogs should be leashed or on a firm heel in the base area — we don’t want any mishaps with cars. During Dog Days, dogs may accompany their owners on all trails.
Dog owners must pick up all dog waste from every portion of the trail system. Dog Days will be terminated if dog waste is left on the trails.
Dog access is not guaranteed if snow, weather, dog behavior, or dog owner responsibilities are deemed insufficient. When snow and weather conditions allow, Dog Days occur on Monday, Wednesdays, and Saturdays after 3pm. Some years this results in a narrow window in which dogs are allowed. Dog access is not guaranteed for the entire ski season and, due to snow conditions, is often weeks shorter than the ski season. Dog Days may open and then be closed during the season if snow and weather conditions are deemed likely to cause damage to the cross-country ski trails.
Learn more about dog impact on trails and why Dog Days opens later than ski days.
Crosscut reserves the right to revoke Dog Days privilege at any time as well as the right to ban a specific dog from visiting Crosscut if owner or dog behavior is judged to be inappropriate.
More information about Dog Days.
Emergency Response
During Nordic Center hours, Crosscut has an on-call emergency response team. In case of injury or another emergency, please call 406-600-3991 to reach our staff. Any emergency outside of these hours will need to call 911 for assistance.
Biathlon Range
Use and access of Crosscut’s Biathlon Range is strictly limited to Crosscut’s program participants. No other firearm activity of any kind is tolerated.