Thank you for all you did for us this year. You made it all seem easy!
D. & C. Cooper, Houston, Texas
May 15, 2023 By
Thank you for re-defining “above and beyond” when helping us buy our Lake City house. You truly made a dream come true and we are so grateful for all of your support during the process. Lake City is a special place and you are special people!
Hinsdale County OHV Pilot Program 2022
May 25, 2022 By
Lake City – Hinsdale County OHV Regulations
All OHV use on Lake City and Hinsdale County roads must comply with the Colorado State statues pertaining to motor vehicles and follow posted speed limits.
All OHV’s operators and or passengers must meet the following requirements:
- MUST have a current Colorado OHV permit. Note: Colorado does not recognize permits from other states.
- Operators must have a valid driver’s license in their possession
- Must have proof of current OHV liability insurance.
- Required to wear a restraint/seatbelt if: the OHV manufacturer originally incorporated restraint or child car seats. Child car seats and restraints must be used in accordance with Colorado motor vehicle laws CRS 42-4-236.
- Under 18yrs must wear a DOT approved helmet unless in a child seat or age-appropriate restraint. Child helmet exception is applicable ONLY for OHV’s designed and manufactured to support a child seat.
- Required to have proper eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, goggles, etc.) OHVs with windshields do satisfy this requirement.
- May not carry more passengers than designated by the manufacturer. All passengers must be seated in designated seating per manufacturer specifications.
- It is unlawful to operate any vehicle off: designated streets, roads, highways or trails.
From May 27, 2022 until September 30, 2022, OHVs are allowed on State Highway 149 from the County Road 30 intersection south of town, to the Oceanwave Drive intersection ONLY. OHVs are NEVER allowed to travel on Hwy 149 past CR 30 to the south, or past the Lake City Bakery within the Town of Lake City.
Fines may be assessed from $75, not to exceed $1000
2022 Hinsdale County – Lake City – OHV Awareness
May 12, 2022 By
Lake City – Hinsdale County OHV Regulations
All OHV use on Lake City and Hinsdale County roads must comply with the Colorado State statues pertaining to motor vehicles and follow posted speed limits.
All OHVs operators and or passengers must meet the following requirements:
- MUST have a current Colorado OHV permit. Note: Colorado does not recognize permits from other states.
- Operators must have a valid driver’s license in their possession
- Must have proof of current OHV liability insurance.
- Required to wear a restraint/seatbelt if: the OHV manufacturer originally incorporated restraint or child car seats. Child car seats and restraints must be used in accordance with Colorado motor vehicle laws CRS 42-4-236.
- Under 18yrs must wear a DOT approved helmet unless in a child seat or age-appropriate restraint. Child helmet exception is applicable ONLY for OHV’s designed and manufactured to support a child seat.
- Required to have proper eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, goggles, etc.) OHVs with windshields do satisfy this requirement.
- May not carry more passengers than designated by the manufacturer. All passengers must be seated in designated seating per manufacturer specifications.
- It is unlawful to operate any vehicle off: designated streets, roads, highways or trails.
From May 28 until September 30, 2022, OHVs are allowed on State Highway 149 from the County Road 30 intersection south of town, to the Oceanwave Drive intersection ONLY. OHVs are NEVER allowed to travel on Hwy 149 past CR 30 to the south, or past the Lake City Bakery within the Town of Lake City.
Fines may be assessed from $75, not to exceed $1000
Pilot Program Route Clarification by Hinsdale County
March 24, 2021 By
OHV Pilot Program route clarification
On March 18, 2021, Colorado Department of Transportation Commission approved an application from
Hinsdale County and Town of Lake City to permit OHVs to travel on a portion of State Highway 149
during the summer seasons of 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The portion of SH149 that will be open to OHV travel is the same as in 2020, from County Road 30 (MM
69.88) south of Lake City to the Ocean Wave Drive intersection (MM 72.11) in Lake City. It was
previously reported that the Ocean Wave Drive intersection is located at MM 73.11. This was
incorrect.
OHVs will be permitted to operate on this section of SH149 beginning on the Friday before Memorial
Day through September 30 each year.
To restate, OHVs will be allowed to operation on SH149 from MM 69.88 (CR 30 intersection) to MM
72.11 (Ocean Wave Drive intersection). OHVs will not be permitted to ride on any other areas of the
highway at any time outside the boundaries of the program.
CDOT Approves OHV Pilot Project 2021 thru 2023
March 18, 2021 By
New OHV Pilot Program Approved for Three Years
March 18, 2021
Lake City, CO – Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Transportation Commission gave unanimous approval today to a new three-year Pilot Program that will allow Off-Highway Vehicles to operate on State Highway 149. This program makes it possible for OHV riders to travel the entire Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, which requires traveling on a 3.26-mile stretch of Hwy 149.
The Pilot Program will run seasonally in 2021, 2022 and 2023, from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30 of each year. OHVs will be able to ride on Hwy 149 from CR 30 south of Lake City, to the Ocean Wave Drive intersection (MP 73.11) on the northern end of Lake City. OHVs are not permitted to ride on any other areas of the highway at any time outside the boundaries of the program.
OHVs are permitted on all Town and County roads. The Pilot Program only affects travel on the highway.
Hinsdale County, Town of Lake City and Hinsdale County Sheriff Department worked with CDOT representatives to identify specific considerations to be included in the pilot program permit that are intended to maximize the safety of OHVs traveling on the highway. After first reviewing the pilot program application in February, the Transportation Commission requested these safety conditions be included in the resolution up for approval.
Specific conditions of the pilot program include:
- Revised and increased signage indicating the beginning and end of the route, speed limit, and dates when the program is in effect.
- Any accidents involving OHVs will be reported to CDOT within 2 weeks of the incident.
- The speed limit for the portion of SH 149 included in the pilot project will be lowered to 30 mph for all vehicles during the seasonal period of the program.
- OHVs are required to follow Colorado traffic laws and County and Town OHV ordinances.
- Hinsdale County Sheriff Department will hire an additional officer with a focus at enforcing ordinances regarding OHV’s.
- Hinsdale County will increase penalties and fines for OHV infractions.
- Education efforts to inform OHV riders of rules and safety will include volunteer-manned information stop, maps of the Pilot Program route with rules, informational material on OHV operation and the Pilot Program, information on the Hinsdale County and Lake City.com website and social media.
- CDOT will be provided a report on the pilot program at the end of each OHV season, including specific data from law enforcement, CSP and CPW on numbers of accidents involving OHVs on the highway, warnings issued to OHV drivers, tickets issued to OHV drivers.
- OHV counts on the portion of the highway included in the Pilot Program will take place eight times (twice per month) during the four-month duration of each year’s program. This information will be included in the end-of-the-season report to CDOT.
- Hinsdale County will set up a link on the county website where the public can submit feedback/suggestions for the Pilot Program. This feedback will be incorporated into the annual end-of-season report to CDOT.
A similar Pilot program took place on Hwy 149 in the summers of 2019 and 2020. Following the close of the 2020 season, public input was solicited regarding the pilot program for consideration by Hinsdale County and the Town of Lake City for a possible application for a new pilot program. Following several separate and two joint meetings, county commissioners and town trustees directed their staff to work with CDOT on an application for a new three-year pilot program. This application was submitted in January, 2021.
Hinsdale County Press Release March 18, 2021
Silver Thread is Designated as a National Scenic Byway by CDOT – 2021
February 20, 2021 By
Digital Article in OutThere Colorado on February 18, 2021 by Breanna Sneeringer
Silver Thread Map, Courtesy of The Colorado Department of Transportation.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has announced the designation of two new National Scenic Byways in colorful state of Colorado, bringing the state’s total national byway count to 13 – more than any other state in the country.
The new additions include CO.12/U.S. 160 (Scenic Highway of Legends) in southeastern Colorado and CO 149/U.S. 50 (Silver Thread) in south-central Colorado.
CDOT describes the new National Scenic Byways as follows:
Scenic Highway of Legends: (Southeastern Colorado – CO 12/U.S. 160): “Features the Spanish Peaks where gold-seeking conquistadors and Comanche, Pueblo and Tarahumara Indians once traveled.” The route connects between Trinidad, La Veta, Walsenburg and Aguilar.
Silver Thread: (South-Central & Southwestern Colorado – CO 149/U.S. 50): “This route allows travelers to roam through wonderfully isolated swatches of the San Juan Mountains and includes both historic main streets and top-of-pass scenic overlooks.” The scenic route stretches from South Fork, Creede, Lake City, and Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison.
“These new designations are a tribute to this great state and characterize the breadth of its beautiful landscapes, history and culture,” said Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “In addition to providing new and exciting adventures for travelers, our Scenic and Historic Byways help protect these much-valued areas of Colorado.”
Designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, these roads are recognized for their “outstanding scenic and historic attributes.”
“What a remarkable nod to our State’s timeless beauty and a well-deserved recognition for the efforts of Colorado citizens to share it with everyone,” said Nathan Boyless, chair of Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways Commission. “The open road beckons, scenic travels!”
Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byway program has been around since it was established in 1989.
