Last week the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Transportation Commission reviewed and approved the request from Hinsdale County and Town of Lake City for the OHV Highway program to continue for ten years.

The OHV Highway Program that allows OHVs to travel on Highway 149 from CR 30 to Ocean Wave Drive from June 1 to September 30 has been approved for ten years, starting in 2026.

This is the official decision of approval from the Commission for the program changes that were approved by a majority of Hinsdale County voters to an advisory ballot question in November, 2025. CDOT was alerted to the proposed changes following the vote.

At the end of each summer, Hinsdale County, Town of Lake City and partners will continue to review the program and provide CDOT with a season-end report.

Sandy Hines

Hinsdale County Administrator

Public Information Officer

970-944-2225

Hinsdale County Assessor’s Office has put in place a GIS Parcel Map Viewer for use by the public. This viewer is helpful for a number of uses:

• property owners to get an estimate of where their property lines are

• emergency first responders can easily access homeowner information in proximity to an emergency

• hunters and hikers can get a better idea of public and private lands

• real estate professionals such as realtors, appraisers, and insurance agents can get a better idea of location and topography before doing a site visit

• construction and utility contractors can easily get an estimate of understanding of property lines

Always use caution as GIS is not meant to replace a professional plat or survey.  Its boundary lines are not pin-point accurate however are so useful in providing a visual estimate.

The viewer is on the Hinsdale County website on the Assessor Office page: https://hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov/assessors-office

(Posted from an email received on April 22, 2025 from Sandy Hines, Hinsdale County Administrator and Public Information Officer)

State of the County 2022

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

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