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.
Hinsdale County, Colorado – State of the County 2021
February 6, 2021 By
Continental Divide Trail Coalition Announcement May 14, 2020
May 27, 2020 By
LAKE CITY, Colo. (May 14, 2020) – Nestled in the San Juan Mountains at the headwaters of the Gunnison River, Lake City, Colorado, is a small community known for its mining heritage, its pristine beauty, and the plentiful opportunities it offers to enjoy the natural areas surrounding it. Beginning next week, Lake City will also be known for the role it plays as a gateway to an outdoor destination that brings visitors from around the world to southern Colorado each summer – the Continental Divide Trail.
On Thursday, May 21, at 7 PM MT, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will welcome Lake City as the newest official Gateway Community to the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail during a virtual designation ceremony streamed live on Facebook. CDT Gateway Communities are trailside towns recognized by CDTC as welcoming destinations for trail visitors, dedicated to protection and promotion of the trail. Lake City will be the seventh CDT Gateway Community in Colorado.
“Although we’re not able to sign the proclamation in person, we’re incredibly excited to officially designate Lake City as a CDT Gateway Community.” said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of CDTC. “As a town that is so clearly dedicated to enjoying both the recreational and economic benefits of the public lands that surround it, Lake City will fit naturally into the greater network of CDT Gateway Communities who value the trail and are interested in contributing to its stewardship.
While the dedication was originally scheduled to take place during the annual San Juan Solstice ultramarathon in June, the race was canceled due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19. The virtual format, however, will allow Lake City lovers and CDT enthusiasts from all over to take part in the celebration.
“There’s a tremendous amount of love for Lake City, our trail, and our trail-champions, so we are really very excited about this!” said Hinsdale County Commissioner and Lake City resident, Kristine Borchers. “Hinsdale County is a community and landscape bound by pathways: the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, and some of the best-groomed snowmobile routes in Colorado. The Continental Divide Trail traverses our county in 71.7 miles over three segments. The designation of Lake City as a Gateway Community is an inspiring step for us in the stewardship and celebration of our trails.”
Along with celebrating Lake City’s dedication to outdoor recreation and stewardship, the designation will bring a taste of the town’s laid-back mountain culture to living rooms across the country with musical performances from local musicians, Wylie “Crazy Horse” Jones and Kris Bloomer.
“I’m honored to be playing the celebration,” said Wylie “Crazy Horse” Jones. “I’m a long-distance hiker that’s thankful to have spent a lot of time in Lake City and on the Divide. It’s my favorite place to hang out, play music, and stop on trail, in no small part to one of my best friends, Lucky, who built and runs Raven’s Rest Hostel.”
Lake City has long been known for its diverse outdoor opportunities, from fishing and horseback riding to mountain biking and, most famously, motorized and off-highway vehicle recreation, but it’s only recently become a popular destination for Continental Divide and Colorado Trail hikers. Thanks to an organized network of “Trail Angels,” thru-hikers can catch a free ride 17 miles into town, and most opt to stay at the Raven’s Rest Hostel, which was founded in 2012 by former thru-hiker, Cionnaith “Lucky” O’Dubhaigh. Thanks to O’Dubhaigh’s efforts to dispel skepticism toward long-distance hikers, Lake City residents now value the economic power these visitors bring to their town, and local businesses work during the busy summer hiking season to provide needed goods and services to hikers.
The virtual designation ceremony is free to the public and will be streamed Thursday, May 21, at 7 PM MT via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/continentaldividetrailcoalition. The Facebook Live video can be viewed by anyone, regardless of whether they have a Facebook account, and will be available for replay at the same link.
Press release from https://continentaldividetrail.org/2020/05/14/lake-city-becomes-newest-cdt-gateway-community/
Lake City DIRT Receives 2020 National Main Street Accreditation
March 3, 2020 By
LAKE CITY DIRT RECEIVES
2020 NATIONAL MAIN STREET ACCREDITATION
Lake City, Colorado (March 1, 2020) – Lake City DIRT has been designated as an accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs to recognize their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™
“These programs deserve recognition for becoming accredited and generating impressive economic returns, preserving community character, and celebrating local history. Main Street America Accredited communities are part of a powerful movement of changemakers, and their dedication to improving quality of life in the places they call home is inspiring,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center.
Lake City DIRT’s performance is annually evaluated by the Colorado Main Street program under the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.
Since Lake City DIRT’s acceptance into the program in 2005, we have met or exceeded the standards for accreditation every year, thanks to hard work of our Board of Directors, project volunteers, and through the support of our local governments. Thank you, community.
ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $78.98 billion in new public and private investment, generated 640,017 net new jobs and 143,613 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 284,936 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
(Permission to post by DIRT 3-3-20)
Colorado Counties, Inc. FB Post January 10, 2020
January 11, 2020 By
We love a good counties helping counties story here at CCI. Here is a photo of the clearing of Cinnamon Pass in Hinsdale County. Communicating with our high-mountain, remote counties was especially important during the 2019 spring/summer opening of the Alpine Loop. This partnership with Road & Bridge departments and assistance during a record snowfall / run-off year was vital for Hinsdale County. Mutual aid also came from Emergency Managers and Sheriff’s Offices to Hinsdale from Gunnison, San Juan, San Miguel, Mineral, and Ouray counties, multiple State of Colorado agencies, and private companies such as Wagner Equipment. #countiesmatter #teamwork
Photo by JoAllen Blowers, Road & Bridge Supervisor
The Hiker Who Never Left – Backpacker Magazine Article – January 6, 2020
January 10, 2020 By
“Just letting you know that the story about Lake City and Lucky was just published by Backpacker yesterday. It’s online here and will also be on print stands through February… The story has had a very positive reaction so far. And please keep me in the loop about Gateway Community status!”
Best,
Chris Walker
Backpacker Magazine
Lake City Fall 2019 Activities
August 27, 2019 By
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