Well, the snow is finally here and the ski areas are closing. I never really understood why people start playing golf this time of year, yet can't get enough of riding 2 inches of snow in December. That's beside the point. There are tons of closed ski areas with a lot of snow. Am I allowed to ride on them? They are national forest land. I've always wanted to snowmobile through a snowboard park.
Is it legal to snowmobile a closed ski area?
- Thread starter smokenjay
- Start date
Each area is different. Contact your local FS and/or ski area for info. But I highly doubt any will allow you on the main ski runs, pipes and parks especially.
At this point I believe that none of them allow it aside from the one day at cooper. How aggressive they are about enforcement varies though.
Many of us have ridden them, and quite a few of us have received "a stern talking to" if I recall someone got as ticket for riding eldora (CO 2.O & JP?)
but that's the only one I've ever heard of.
the ones I know for a fact that don't allow it:
breck,
keystone,
vail,
loveland (they used to allow us to ride there, it was great when the snow started getting punchy in late spring as it was compacted there)
winter park,
eldora
The others I assume don't allow it, but these are the ones I KNOW will go after you for riding there.
I parked right at peak 9 one day & rode all day long without an issue, had a great day, the next weekend I think powdercowboy went up there & was threatened with a ticket if I recall...
Lots of us thought that it was legal once they closed, but their lease doesn't "expire"... their insurance still has to cover them for liability, so if they "allow" us on the mountain, they're open to suits from riders who hit a pipe or something like that. A few years back someone totaled a sled right on a ski slope by hitting some kind of equipment... that kind if thing can't help.
One day I got to hit one of the parks that was still in place after closing... best day ever
They're all pretty aggressive about plowing the parks closing day now though.
Many of us have ridden them, and quite a few of us have received "a stern talking to" if I recall someone got as ticket for riding eldora (CO 2.O & JP?)
but that's the only one I've ever heard of.
the ones I know for a fact that don't allow it:
breck,
keystone,
vail,
loveland (they used to allow us to ride there, it was great when the snow started getting punchy in late spring as it was compacted there)
winter park,
eldora
The others I assume don't allow it, but these are the ones I KNOW will go after you for riding there.
I parked right at peak 9 one day & rode all day long without an issue, had a great day, the next weekend I think powdercowboy went up there & was threatened with a ticket if I recall...
Lots of us thought that it was legal once they closed, but their lease doesn't "expire"... their insurance still has to cover them for liability, so if they "allow" us on the mountain, they're open to suits from riders who hit a pipe or something like that. A few years back someone totaled a sled right on a ski slope by hitting some kind of equipment... that kind if thing can't help.
One day I got to hit one of the parks that was still in place after closing... best day ever
They're all pretty aggressive about plowing the parks closing day now though.Thanks! I'm headed to Steamboat for a few days. The temptation may be too much to resist.
Old John, the maintenance manger at Breck requires you bring him a case of Amstel Light to ride his mtn. I've rode Breck every year after they close but i know alot of the maintenance guys over there. The stern talking too is usually all you'll get however you do risk the ticket.
Steamboat is tricky, The way the mtn is set up, there literally is nowhere to unload around that mtn unless you know someone the lives close by. Was up there last week and the grass was already poking through and the first steep face of the mtn was nothing but grass and rocks. Not sure if they got a bunch of snow or not.
Ahh the gold ole days. I knew a couple guys (and maybe a girl too) once who dropped...
I don't know WHAT you're talking about!!
The nice thing was, it was legal... the cdot folks were always cool, and it was a great place to ride in late spring. Wish it were still like that.
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trinitypowder
Well-known member
My buddy and I used to ride Purgatory/Durango MTN Resort every year when it closed. I cant tell you how fun it was to ride up to the bottom of the main lift area, wave to the crowd, and pull the trigger! One year, we were lucky enough to have two feet of fresh on the hill.............stupid fun!!!!!
Yrs ago my brother was riding (after season closing) the face of Aspen Mtn. (Ajax) and he was harassed hard by ski mountain personnel saying it was illegal.
Fact was he could not ride the slopes BUT.....he could legally ride the county rode that zig-zags up the face of Ajax. Too which he did, accessed the backside and had a bunch of fun.
THat has now since changed I believe. Now the backside is off limits to sledders so there is really no point.
I can see it being fun for a few minutes but I would get bored pretty quickly I'd imagine. But as Trinity mentioned......more fun with a crowd watching wishing they could access.......and have the ability to RIP IT UPHILL!
Fact was he could not ride the slopes BUT.....he could legally ride the county rode that zig-zags up the face of Ajax. Too which he did, accessed the backside and had a bunch of fun.
THat has now since changed I believe. Now the backside is off limits to sledders so there is really no point.
I can see it being fun for a few minutes but I would get bored pretty quickly I'd imagine. But as Trinity mentioned......more fun with a crowd watching wishing they could access.......and have the ability to RIP IT UPHILL!
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BallsDeep_5280
Well-known member
Copper's resolution lift hasn't spun during these last storm cycle's (4/11 - 4/18). When I was skiing there last Sunday, it looked ripe for the taking.
I imagine you could unload in the Alpine lot, and take the power lines a little ways in, then do some tree riding up to the resolution lift where you could crush 3' of untouched snow. Then head out through Spalding bowl to the rest of the mountain and have some fun. I've planned out a whole day there in my head... actually doing it is a different story.
Judging by the stern talk I received a few years back about skiing out of bounds, I'm pretty sure there would be a sheriff's cruiser waiting by your truck when you came back to load up and leave.
I imagine you could unload in the Alpine lot, and take the power lines a little ways in, then do some tree riding up to the resolution lift where you could crush 3' of untouched snow. Then head out through Spalding bowl to the rest of the mountain and have some fun. I've planned out a whole day there in my head... actually doing it is a different story.
Judging by the stern talk I received a few years back about skiing out of bounds, I'm pretty sure there would be a sheriff's cruiser waiting by your truck when you came back to load up and leave.
F
FCR112
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Lost a hard drive a few years back, haven't seen those pics in a long time. Thanks BCIL. That triple drop would look good blown up and put on canvas Some of the coolest tracks I've ever seen were the drops off the narrow arse lip on the very top of the tunnel from I-70 a few thousand feet below.
These changes and land use closures are bad news. The Loveland and Urad area losses wiped out thousands of acres of late season riding
Yet people struggle to understand where that is all headed for future generations. Join SAWS, or a club, or donate some money/time to them.
OK, done preaching to the choir. Nice pictures!
Some of the coolest tracks I've ever seen were the drops off the narrow arse lip on the very top of the tunnel from I-70 a few thousand feet below. These changes and land use closures are bad news. The Loveland and Urad area losses wiped out thousands of acres of late season riding
Yet people struggle to understand where that is all headed for future generations. Join SAWS, or a club, or donate some money/time to them.
OK, done preaching to the choir. Nice pictures!
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TheHardWay
Well-known member
You gotta watch out for those maintenance guys at Breck!
Do you know if you are still allowed to ride Purg? I know they open for a day or two for the snowmobile club, but I was wondering about the general public. My buddies and I were wanting to check it out.
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trinitypowder
Well-known member
My buddy just tried to ride Purg last week, but it was solid mud everywhere down low, so they went to Molas.
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mtsummitx
Well-known member
I'm sure it is very tempting, but given the current state of affairs this day and age with land closures, I don't think this is the mentallity to have. We don't need to give people that hate our sport any legitimate reasons to shut us down.
Its like the majority of guys in Colorado at this point. Forest Service has no money to keep areas open so they ask why pay for registration if they won't keep areas open so more areas get closed more guys stop paying. Its a never ending cycle, i get permission to ride certain areas but i know people. Its good to know people.
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TheHardWay
Well-known member
I figured it would be mud by now! Still curious to know if the average joe can ride there if there is snow and the resort is closed for the season.
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