ADA Animal Policy
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Copper Mountain permits service animals in all areas open to the general public, with the exceptions noted below. Suppose a guest with a service animal would like to visit an area for a special event that is not otherwise accessible to the service animal. In that case, Copper Mountain will strive to provide alternative transport to the location, dependent on the location, weather conditions, and other variables. Given the unique winter and summer environmental conditions, extreme terrain, and weather, Copper Mountain recommends that guests provide as much advance notice as possible when seeking alternative transportation. According to the ADA, only dogs and miniature horses are considered service animals.
Copper Mountain does not permit service animals to accompany guests beyond the ticket scanning equipment at Copper Mountain locations or facilities, including on chairlifts during summer and winter operations. This policy is based on legitimate safety requirements, as determined by Copper Mountain, to protect the safety of other guests and employees and the safety of the service animal itself. Areas beyond the ticket scanning equipment include skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking terrain, skateparks, foam pits, drop ramps, trampolines, and airbags. For the sake of clarity, Service Animals are permitted on the American Eagle Gondola during the winter operating season for the sole purpose of accessing The Aerie on-mountain facility.
A service animal must be under the control of its handler at all times. A service animal must 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 if the use of a harness, leash, or another tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of its work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control (e.g., voice control, signals or other effective means).
Authorized personnel may request a service animal be removed from the premises if: (1) the animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take immediate effective action to control it, or (2) the animal is not housebroken. If the service animal is removed, Copper Mountain will make all reasonable efforts to give the individual with the disability the opportunity to participate in the services or activities without having the service animal on the premises.