Hinsdale County’s avidly perused OHV survey, which was conducted for the county’s property and
business owners for two weeks extending from late November to early December last year reveals
fascinating insights into a variety of OHV topics specifically and the county’s recreational outlook in
general.
As previously reported, the survey was conducted by Rev. Jason Santos at the request of Hinsdale
County Commissioners Hurd, Levine, and Borchers in order to gauge citizen and business sentiment on
Off Highway Vehicle use in the county and to assist in determining whether the county’s special use
permit with Colorado Department of Transportation allowing seasonal use of a portion of State Highway
149 to connect both ends of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway should be renewed.
As reported in last week’s WORLD, Commissioners have unanimously voted to continue the special use
permit program for an additional two years, 2024 and 2025, with a several-week reduction — starting
mid June instead of Memorial Day and continuing until the end of September both years — in the time
frame OHVs are allowed on the highway. Based on survey responses, many of those
responding feel the OHV route on Highway 149 should be extended as an accommodation to
businesses outside the current route and to reduce OHV traffic now passing through residential
neighborhoods in Lake City North, Riverside Estates, and San Juan Springs Subdivisions. Rather than its
present termination on 149 at Mile Marker 70 at Ocean Wave Drive — which has become an entre’
point into the above mentioned subdivisions — proponents of the OHV program have strenuously
lobbied for a north extension to vehicle wash facilities at the Toy Wash on the north base of
Cemetery Hill and adjacent to both the entry to Hinsdale County Transfer Station and San Juan
Ranch Estates and San Juan Meadows Subdivision.
Concerns on the north route extension are primarily vehicular, with no separate turning lanes at present
for either the well-traveled transfer station exit or the San Juan Meadows and Ranch Subdivisions.
Similarly, advocates of the OHV program have also suggested a south extension of the route from Lake
San Cristobal’s County Road 30 to Woodlake RV Park as a convenience for OHV enthusiasts at the
popular business The south extension would pass several private residential driveways, as well as the
gated entrance to Weems Malter Placer Subdivision, before crossing the two-lane Dawn of Hope Bridge
across the Lake Fork River and then accessing Woodlake Park at the base of Slumgullion Pass.
Similar to the north extension proposals, concerns of private landowners have been cited if a south
extension of the OHV route is considered.
Hinsdale Commissioners are planning a countywide ballot question on OHV use in the county —
specifics yet to be worked out —on the November, 2025, ballot, and at Wednesday morning’s workshop
this week, a discussion topic included whether results from the online survey might be further
delineated to separate responses which were received from property owners and registered voters.
At Hinsdale Commissioners’ first-of-year January 3 meeting, Jason Santos explained specifics of the
recently concluded online OHV survey, details to follow, Santos noting his contention the survey was
“representative” but “not entirely representative.” As reported last week, 876 online responses were
received for the survey which were reduced to a total of 770 after 76 ineligible responses and 30 duplicate responses were eliminated.
Survey Specifics:
GENERAL OUTLOOK: survey respondents were queried on their overall support of the OHV
Program, a 53.6 (379) to 46.84 (334) percent split responding yes, they would favor a renewal if the
Highway 149 program as implemented or, no, they are not in favor of the present program; 66.48 (474)
stated they are in favor of renewing the program with restrictions, 33.52 percent opposed; 83.52
percent (608) stated OHVs should continue to have access to the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway.
46.28 (330) percent stated they were in support of the Highway 149 program at its inception in 2019
(other responses 25.53 (182) percent in the negative; 95 individuals who stated they didn’t have an
opinion and 106 responding they didn’t reside in the county in 2019; for individuals who initially
supported the program in 2019, 19.50 percent stated their level of support for the program has now
increased, 24.26 percent cited equal support, and 8.84 percent less support. 99 respondents (13.88 percent) stated no support for the program.
SPECIFICS: road conditions and law enforcement were specifically cited in the survey questions, a
majority of those responding to the survey (43.83 percent, 316 responses) stating their view that the
OHV program has had a significant negative impact on the county’s roads; 19 (2.64 percent) said the
program has resulted in an improvement to county roads; 119 (16.50 percent), no impacts; 223 (30.93
percent) moderate negative impacts. A majority (313 responses, 43.41 percent) responded Hinsdale
County Road & Bridge Dept. is satisfactorily maintaining county roads (31.11 percent, 282
responses not adequately maintaining); asked whether they would favor a tax increase to improve
county road maintenance, a majority, 48.40 percent (349) said they would not support a tax increase,
compared to 34.54 percent (249) responding they would support increased road maintenance taxes.
Asked for what types of vehicles were most impacting the county’s unpaved roads, a majority
(47.02 percent, 339 responses) stated “all vehicles”; 303 (42.02 percent) blamed OHVs for deteriorated
road conditions, 13.31 percent trucks, 9.57 percent jeeps, 30.10 percent ATVs, and 18.31 percent
motorcycles.
A majority in the survey, 298 responses, 41.39 percent, stated they feel Hinsdale County Sheriff’s
Dept. is not adequately enforcing OHV regulations and ordinances, this compared to 32.08 percent who
state the department is adequately enforcing, and 26.53 percent uncertain. A majority in the survey
concerns on the north route extension are primarily vehicular, with no separate turning lanes at present
for either the well-traveled transfer station exit or the San Juan Meadows and Ranch Subdivisions.
Similarly, advocates of the OHV program have also suggested a south extension of the route from Lake
San Cristobal’s County Road 30 to Woodlake RV Park as a convenience for OHV enthusiasts at the
popular business The south extension would pass several private residential driveways, as well as the
gated entrance to Weems Malter Placer Subdivision, before crossing the two-lane Dawn of Hope Bridge
across the Lake Fork River and then accessing Woodlake Park at the base of Slumgullion Pass.
Similar to the north extension proposals, concerns of private landowners have been cited if a south
extension of the OHV route is considered.
Hinsdale Commissioners are planning a countywide ballot question on OHV use in the county —
specifics yet to be worked out —on the November, 2025, ballot, and at Wednesday morning’s workshop
this week, a discussion topic included whether results from the online survey might be further
delineated to separate responses which were received from property owners and registered voters.
At Hinsdale Commissioners’ first-of-year January 3 meeting, Jason Santos explained specifics of the
recently concluded online OHV survey, details to follow, Santos noting his contention the survey was
“representative” but “not entirely representative.” As reported last week, 876 online responses were
received for the survey which were reduced to a total of 770 after 76 ineligible responses and 30 duplicate responses were eliminated.
Survey Specifics:
GENERAL OUTLOOK: survey respondents were queried on their overall support of the OHV
Program, a 53.6 (379) to 46.84 (334) percent split responding yes, they would favor a renewal if the
Highway 149 program as implemented or, no, they are not in favor of the present program; 66.48 (474)
stated they are in favor of renewing the program with restrictions, 33.52 percent opposed; 83.52
percent (608) stated OHVs should continue to have access to the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway.
46.28 (330) percent stated they were in support of the Highway 149 program at its inception in 2019
(other responses 25.53 (182) percent in the negative; 95 individuals who stated they didn’t have an
opinion and 106 responding they didn’t reside in the county in 2019; for individuals who initially
supported the program in 2019, 19.50 percent stated their level of support for the program has now
increased, 24.26 percent cited equal support, and 8.84 percent less support. 99 respondents (13.88 percent) stated no support for the program.
SPECIFICS: road conditions and law enforcement were specifically cited in the survey questions, a
majority of those responding to the survey (43.83 percent, 316 responses) stating their view that the
OHV program has had a significant negative impact on the county’s roads; 19 (2.64 percent) said the
program has resulted in an improvement to county roads; 119 (16.50 percent), no impacts; 223 (30.93
percent) moderate negative impacts. A majority (313 responses, 43.41 percent) responded Hinsdale
County Road & Bridge Dept. is satisfactorily maintaining county roads (31.11 percent, 282
responses not adequately maintaining); asked whether they would favor a tax increase to improve
county road maintenance, a majority, 48.40 percent (349) said they would not support a tax increase,
compared to 34.54 percent (249) responding they would support increased road maintenance taxes.
Asked for what types of vehicles were most impacting the county’s unpaved roads, a majority
(47.02 percent, 339 responses) stated “all vehicles”; 303 (42.02 percent) blamed OHVs for deteriorated
road conditions, 13.31 percent trucks, 9.57 percent jeeps, 30.10 percent ATVs, and 18.31 percent
motorcycles.
A majority in the survey, 298 responses, 41.39 percent, stated they feel Hinsdale County Sheriff’s
Dept. is not adequately enforcing OHV regulations and ordinances, this compared to 32.08 percent who
state the department is adequately enforcing, and 26.53 percent uncertain. A majority in the survey
(53.47 percent) favored an increased level of OHV law enforcement within Town of Lake City, 36.39
percent maintain the same level of enforcement within the town, and 9 individuals who stated they
would prefer a decrease in the town’s law enforcement in regard to OHVs. On the Alpine Loop
Scenic Byway, 67.50 percent (486) were in favor of increased OHV law enforcement, 22.22 percent (160)
favoring maintaining the present level of Loop law enforcement.
As a possible funding mechanism to assist local law enforcement, a majority responding to the survey
(332, 46.11 percent) stated that would be in favor of a tax increase to fund the sheriff’s department; 38.19
percent (275) opposed.
Queried on a scale for their support of OHVs in the county, the largest number of respondents — 284,
37.62 percent — stated their view that OHVs should be allowed on an extended Highway 149 route from
Woodlake RV Park north through Lake City to the Toy Wash during the tourist season; next highest on
the scale of sense of support for OHVs were 180 respondents (23.84 percent) stating their view OHVs
should be allowed without restrictions on all Hinsdale County roads, including Town of Lake City,
at all times of the year. Other responses included 123 (16.29 percent) favoring retaining the present
Highway 149 route during tourist season without extension; 128 (16.95 percent) preference the
Highway 149 with added restrictions, including hours of operation; and smaller numbers, 120 (15.89
percent), citing no OHVs in either Town of Lake City and Highway, and only allowed on designated
county roads such as Nellie Creek, Sawmill Park or Wager Gulch; 82 (10.86 percent) no OHVs anywhere
town or county Asked for specific plusses and minuses in terms of OHV use in the county, positives
cited by 55 percent of respondents were recreational opportunities, access to the Alpine Loop (59 percent), increased tourism (55 percent), tax revenue (58 percent), and stronger economy (63 percent).
Negatives cited were increased noise (69 percent), deterioration of roads (73 percent), impacts on
wildlife (73 percent), safety concerns (73 percent), enforcement of regulations and laws (85 percent),
environmental preservation (78 percent), and increased dust (70 percent).
PERMITS – Colorado Parks & Wildlife presently requires a $25.25 annual permit sticker for operation
of OHVs in the state; survey responses totaling 516 (70.88 percent) stated this is reasonable, 29.12 percent
(212) not reasonable. A majority of those responding to the survey (464 representing 63.74 percent)
expressed their view that, if possible, the county should implement its own permit to operate OHVs
on county roads (264, 36.26 percent no) and that if a new county permit is instituted, 308 (42.31 percent)
felt it should be an annual permit, 157 (21.57 percent) seasonal/quarterly, and 190 (26.10 percent) never.
Preferred dates of operation for permitted OHVs could be May through October (150, 20.92 percent)
and all year (146, 20.36 percent), never 137, 19.11 percent.
In terms of permitting, 55.51 percent favored a new county permit (37.38 percent preferred additional
permitting through State of Colorado; 272, 37.94 percent stated they would like to see a separate OHV
permit for Town of Lake City) to include safety inspection (34.59 percent), noise decibel inspection
(56.76 percent), increased enforcement of regulations (63.88 percent), child safety checkpoints (42.40
percent), and increased required education (38.49 percent).
Survey respondents were equally divided (49.79 to 50.21 percent) as to whether an inspection should be
required before an OHV was allowed on either county roads or state highway. A majority (63.32
percent) felt permitting should require a sound decibel test.
A majority (343 responses, 47.84 percent) felt no attempt should be made to limit the number of
vehicles permitted on the Alpine Loop each year, contrary sentiment in favor of limiting vehicle
numbers 233, 32.50 percent; numbers of vehicles the Loop should be limited according to 233 of those
responding, 32.50 percent. In terms of limiting OHV access into Town of Lake City, 284 (39.61 percent)
cited their preference for existing staging/loading areas outside the town limits, 359 (50.07 percent)
opposed.
EDUCATION – educational OHV signage sufficient? 330 (45.77 percent) no, 281 (38.97 percent)
yes; OHV drivers sufficient informed and educated? 374 (51.94 percent) no, 190 (26.39 percent) yes; will
added OHV driver education result in fewer infractions? 33 (45.97 percent) yes, 271 (37.64 percent)
no.
SURVEYS – a slender majority (375 responding, 52.59 percent) feel a formal study of economic
benefits and impacts to businesses and organizations is warranted; 338, 47.41 percent no; slightly more, 408 (57.22 percent) feel it would be beneficial to conduct a formal study on OHV program impacts to the
environment and wildlife, 42.78 percent (305) no.
