Summer Safety

• Children under 5 yrs are not permitted in the bike park.
• Children 5-12 are required to be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian (19yrs or older) when riding in the bike park.
• Children 13-15 are strongly recommended to be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian (19yrs or older) when riding in the bike park.

The parent or guardian must sign the bike park waiver for the child at the time of purchase at the ticket kiosk.

All bikes should have one functioning brake per wheel. Disc brakes are recommended. Steep grades necessitate disc brakes for adequate stopping power. Cantilever brakes will increase the fatigue factor as more effort will be required to maintain control.

Full suspension bikes are recommended to navigate the terrain you will expect to find on the trails. Ensure that your suspension is tuned properly and is set up for your body weight and riding ability.

Crashes can happen on your first lap. Ride the trail multiple times to get familiar with the features and equipment you’re on so you can confidently push your limits without pushing your threshold. Jumping skills are required for FreeRide trails.

Warm up the brain and body and inspect the trail at low speed.

Lap a trail a few times and get to know the flow of the features.

Start small and work your way up to faster speeds and larger features.

The Mount Washington bike park is a significantly different experience from cross country riding. The trails require constant physical and mental effort in order for all riders to maintain control.

Boarding the lift requires significant strength when loading a bike and children may require assistance. If you are unfamiliar with the bike loading process, please let our staff know and they can walk you through a demonstration before proceeding to the lift.

The bike park trails are specifically designed for full suspension mountain bikes. The trails are rocky, bumpy and become much more difficult without high quality suspension. Without full suspension, fatigue becomes a factor much sooner. The steep grades necessitate disc brakes for adequate stopping power. Cantilever brakes will increase the fatigue factor as more effort will be required to maintain control. All bike park participants should ride a properly sized bike and should be able to stand over the seat with their feet flat on the ground. A bike that is too large or with a high seat post increases the risk of injury. Jr DH rentals are available at the Rental Shop and our rental tech will help ensure your child is fitted with the right size bike.

Protective clothing and equipment is mandatory for young riders. The best protection from abrasion requires a properly fitted full-faced helmet, gloves, long pants, long sleeves, leg armour, arm armour and solid running shoes.

The level of risk increases with the level of difficulty. Black trails often have significant drops and jumps that require skill and experience to navigate. Many difficult trails have a "gate-keeper" feature at the top designed to keep riders with insufficient skills off trails that will be beyond their ability, do not ride around these features. Young riders become a hazard to other riders if they are unable to ride a trail or move out of the way. Children should be accompanied by an adult at all times and should be monitored for fatigue regularly.

Riding the Bike Park requires a different type of mountain bike than you might be used to. Mountain bikes with full suspension with the right geometry and components for downhill riding will make your day in the park safe and fun.

Downhill-specific bikes are intended for all levels of riders who want to enjoy the most out of the Bike Park. A full suspension, downhill-specific bike like the Rocky Mountain Maiden Park handles the Bike Park’s technical and free-ride terrain the best and is specifically designed for descending, not ascending. We recommend this type of bike for any level of rider in the bike park.

All-mountain bikes combine full suspension in the front and rear with a more upright design allowing riders to descent yet ascend when needed. At the minimum, bike park riders should have an all-mountain, full-suspension bike, similar to the Rocky Mountain Altitude 30, which is best suited for beginner and intermediate terrain only. Please note, uphill riding is not permitted in the bike park.

Cross-Country (Recommended for riding our XC Finger Trail) – Cross-country bikes generally have less suspension than most mountain bikes, making them ideal for pedaling long distances.Most XC bikes are hard-tail (no rear suspension) and not ideal or recommended for riding on our downhill trail network.

1. Have you purchased your ticket?
2. Are you familiar with the bike park signage?
3. Do you have hydration?
4. Do you have a trail map?
5. Do you have a mountain bike that is in good working order?
6. Do you have protective gear?

Mountain biking involves elements of risk that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce.
Please adhere to the responsibility code, and share a safe experience with others.

• Ride in control and within your ability level. You must be able to avoid other people or objects.
• Stay off the lifts and trails if your ability is impaired by drugs, alcohol, or fatigue.
• All riders must wear a helmet. Other protective equipment is strongly recommended.
• Inspect your bike or have it checked by a qualified bike mechanic before you ride.
• Be sure to have the physical dexterity, ability, and knowledge to safely load, ride, and unload lifts. Ask the lift attendant for assistance if you need it.
• Be aware of changing conditions on trails and features. Inspect features before use and throughout the day.
• Stay on marked trails. Obey all signs and warnings. Do not cut switchbacks. Keep off closed areas.
• Avoid riders ahead of you. They have the right of way.
• Look uphill and yield to other riders when entering a trail or starting downhill.
• Do not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
• If you are involved in or witness a collision or accident, you must identify yourself to the Bike Patrol.
• Do not feed, provoke, or approach wildlife.

• Mt. Washington is a smoke-free resort.
• No smoking is permitted anywhere in the Alpine.

An encounter with wildlife is something that visitors may experience when hiking in the Alpine. Please remember that you are a guest in their home territory! Bears, Cougars, and other animals are beautiful creatures and deserve our respect.

If you encounter a bear:

• Do not throw food or food waste into the forest, it can attract bears, and then the bear gets into trouble.
• Do not feed wildlife.
• Bike in groups and make lots of noise.
• Do not feed, provoke, or approach wildlife.
• Do not run: Bears can easily outrun humans. By running, you may trigger an attack. Pick up, small children. Whenever possible stay in a group. Back away slowly and speak softly.
• Give the bear space: Back away slowly and talk in a soft voice. Do not approach the bear or make eye contact.
• Leave the area or make a wide detour: If you cannot leave, wait until the bear moves out of the way and ensure that the bear has an escape route.
• If the bear rears up on its hind legs: It is curious and trying to see you or catch your scent better. It is not a sign of aggression. Back away slowly and talk softly.
• Watch for aggressive behaviours: A bear may display aggression by swinging its head from side to side; making vocalizations such as huffs, snorts, whoops, or moans; displaying teeth or claws; jaw popping; swatting at the ground; staring with eye contact; panting; or laying its. ears back. These behaviours usually indicate that the bear is stressed, acting defensively, and asking for more space. Attacks rarely follow, but this is a warning to leave the area.

If you meet a cougar:

• Never approach a cougar. Although cougars will normally avoid a confrontation, all cougars are unpredictable. Cougars feeding on a kill may be dangerous.
• Always give a cougar an avenue of escape.
• Stay calm. Talk to the cougar in a confident voice.
• Pick all children up off the ground immediately. Children frighten easily and their rapid movements may provoke an attack.
• Do not run. Try to back away from the cougar slowly. Sudden movement or flight may trigger an instinctive attack.
• Do not turn your back on the cougar. Face the cougar and remain upright.
• Do all you can to enlarge your image. Don’t crouch down or try to hide. Pick up sticks or branches and wave them about.
• If a cougar behaves aggressively, arm yourself with a large stick, throw rocks, speak loudly and firmly. Convince the cougar that you are a threat, not prey.
• If a cougar attacks, fight back! Many people have survived cougar attacks by fighting back with anything, including rocks, sticks, bare fists, and fishing poles.