Snowmobile Registration and Permit Fees

I must say and go back to the Forest Circus!!!!
Why punish the snowmobiler when they LOCK gates and keep us out of the riding areas, early and late season especially!! Our season is short, extremely short compared to every other “public land” activity!!
And yet they are trying to punish, in my opinion, the folks that have the shortest time to enjoy public lands out of everyone. In our area there are NO parking lots only the side of the road to the locked gate, then have to ride the gravel road to get to the snow REALLY!!! And your wanting more money from the snowmobiler!!
Perhaps we should all stop paying any registration fees until the CPW comes up with a plan to make it fair for everyone. Including Mtn bikes, E-bikes, hikers, horse back riders, and the general public that has been locked out of hundreds of miles of existing back roads.
Figure it out!!! Don’t target one group alone!!!

Removed by moderator.

I support increasing the fees. There is a lot of public land in colorado and a lot more of the land could be used for snowmobiling. In addition, a lot of our existing areas are suffering under the weight of existing users (ex. full parking lots). I hope this money will be used to expand access to riding areas.

We are opposed to increases in snowmobile registrations especially as a tour operator grooming trails open to the public using these trails with no financial help from CPW for the past 55 years. If you have to raise fees, a tier system might be in order with different levels of fees based on snowmobile use by the public, clubs and outfitters based on the level of services provided by these entities. Secondly, as a permitted outfitter on Federal Lands we should not have to pay for State snowmobile registrations when we do not use State lands. In reviewing the input, we agree with those various inputs opposing increases in registration fee.

100% opposed to the increase in snowmobile registration fees! I’ve been snowmobiling Colorado for 20 plus years! In the greater southwest region there are no trails groomed maintained or ever even thought about being constructed by CPW. All grooming and trail maintenance is done by individuals and private/ volunteer snowmobile clubs!!! Show us where our current registration fees are being spent, I / we dare you! Every year more people are getting into the sport and the only thing we see is more areas being closed and fees going up! Let’s talk about the so called multi use national forest. Why is it that motorized users are the only ones who have to pay a fee?? If one group has to pay, every group should have to pay!! Think mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders, skiers, dog sledders ect. This is blatant discrimination! If not, show us where the motorized vehicle only trails are in the area! Go ahead, we’ll be waiting! How convenient of CPW to send out an email one day before the Sept 25th meeting. This is nothing more than government overreach! The Forest Circus and the rest of the clowns at CPW are receiving more revenue than ever before while simultaneously providing less services than ever before. Need we remind you that this is public land access that we are talking about. Once again public land!! Not CPW’s or USFS’s private play ground!!! Last fall, on one of the most popular trails in the area USfS placed boulders around the gate to block people from going around it. The only way snowmobilers can access the area/trail. When I asked how snowmobiles were supposed to get around the gate, the response was “gee we didn’t think about that”. How much did that cost? To gather and haul boulders from the top of the mountain, place them around the gate only to come back the next day, remove the boulders and haul them back up the mountain?? Get real CPW!! Remember in 2011 when CPW merged with DOW (division of wildlife)? Because CPW was broke! Clearly CPW has demonstrated both past and present that they can not properly manage the funds extorted from the people for the use of the peoples own public land. You say you want more? We say we want more from our current registration dollars!

I'm on board with this increase; not only will it help ensure our groomed trails are maintained better and more often, but it will also allow the sport to grow further and ensure further opportunities for younger riders and future generations. As most riders are aware, it is one of the greatest winter sports/activities that has experienced unparalleled growth and development over the last 10 years. With the improvements to our sleds, the number of riders and how we ride has grown dramatically. We also need to get more individuals to get linked up with and become part of their local clubs.

Non-Resident hunters pay $803.39 for a Elk tag for hunting a Resident pays $66.12

I support increasing the non-resident permit fee for all OHV's and Snowmobiles

At this point, I do not support raising fees. This is due to riding areas constantly being reduced significantly which makes the network of users confined to fewer places. Add to that, there are many backcountry users which utilize snowmobile trails and systems that pay ZERO! They benefit from the trails and parking structures but pay ZERO. Once I see registration stickers on the skis of backcountry skiers and mountain biker bikes, then maybe. But only when areas are opened back up.
I understand fees have not gone up since 2007 but areas have been significantly reduced. Got to give a little to get a little.

I SUPPORT this increase! I pay dues to local Snowmobile clubs. Anything we can do to allow trails and access to areas for riding is good for all who buy sleds, trailers, gas and more to enjoy public lands. Yes, hikers and mtn bikes don't pay the fees, but guess what they also don't do, tear everything up. I enjoy all outdoor activities in Colorado. I also fully support daily usage fees as well. Everything recreational costs money, gear, clothes, equipment, insurance, that's simply the way life works. Even $100 a YEAR for a registration is stupid low, when I can use as much as I want. Think about it, even if I only rode 5 days a winter, that's only $20 per trip. My gas to and fro is more than that, and I certainly burn more fuel and oil during the day than $20. Raise it up to make better for all. I would also certainly approve of penalizing the law breakers with HUGE fines. Makes me mad when I buy permits, contribute to clubs, etc and I see others, riding BRAND new $20,000 sleds don't do anything but complain, skip licenses, don't help local clubs, etc.

Thanks CPW for all you do!

I agree with giving more money to SAR!
I don’t agree that the Mtn bikers and hikers take priority over any motor sports. I mean why close back roads to the general public, then turn around and build new trails through new country for the hikers and bikers??
Also why raise rates for the snowmobilers when the forest service locks the gates and keeps us away from a couple months of good riding?
What doesn't the CPW make Mtn bikers buy registration? They charge for all motor sports and spend millions building trails for the ones that are charged nothing!!

From 2007 to 2024, the consumer price index (CPI) went up 52.4%, while the registration fee went up 0%. Just considering that measure of inflation would support a $46 fee vs a $30.25 one.

My comments are these:
- increase the portion that goes to SAR a little bit, especially since they're getting called more and more as we go deeper into the backcountry;
- take all of the 2024-2025 grant requests, throw out any that seem frivolous, then raise the fee to the amount that would have been necessary to fund the rest of them;
- bikers and hikers use all roads and sidewalks as well; there's no way to charge non-motorized users other than thru state/local taxes
- increase the fines for not having a registration to at least 2 times the registration fee, if not 3-4 times; why should I have to pay when someone else chooses not to?
- anything up to the $50.00-$59.99 range would be fine with me;
- sorry, but if one can afford a $10-25K machine, gas for it, gas to/from the trailhead, oil for it, and insurance for it, an extra $20-30 per machine so that volunteers can take care of the trails shouldn't be an issue.

Given the fact that more and more of our motorized land access is being lost, I think the only sensible way to charge more for registration fees is to open more areas back up-which have been illegally taken from us without due process; I think our registration costs should go down. Keep it proportional to the square mileage we have access to here as taxpaying citizens. What does our money actually go to in the first place? Maybe non motorized users should stop being given priority considering they oay no registration or fees to access their areas.

I would support an increase if CPW actually did anything. Why don't you try and get some money from Mt. Bikers, Hikers, and everyone else that uses the back country and doesn't pay a dime. OR if your going to up prices lets see a groomer? Let's see some trail maintenance. Lets see anything other that someone out there writing tickets. Where actually does the money go? Let's see some Proof. Wyoming the money goes to a trail system w/ groomers and WARMING HUTS!! I would rather send my money to Wyoming.

I FULLY support the increase in fees, and actually can't believe they are as low as they are for the excellent opportunities presented in Colorado.
Colorado offers so many beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors and I love my trips to the mountains. This fee is crazy low to expect anyone to provide any kind of care, education, maintenance and more of such vast outdoor opportunities.

I do not understand people who spend $20,000 on a sled, thousands more on trailers, hundreds more on gas each weekend thinking that having a small one time fee to use ALL these areas blows me away. The same people that fill garbage cans, expect plowed lots, areas to ride, and other things that cost huge sums of money to provide to so many areas, don't see the value? Went to an Avalanche game last winter, cost $75 to get in, one time, for one game. Not the season, not for as long as I wanted to stay, nothing, just a seat for 2 hours. Attend a show at Red Rocks, get in there for $50 or less, give me a break. The trails are way better, and I can keep coming back ALL SEASON LONG for that same price.
I honestly wish they would be $100 or more per sled and help improve the quality of what is available. The newer mountain sleds with huge lugs, etc will tear up groomed trails in short order, causing very rough conditions, dramatically increase the fees and increase the frequency of the maintenance efforts to make a more enjoyable experience for all.

I FULLY support the increase in fees, and actually can't believe they are as low as they are for the excellent opportunities presented in Colorado.
Colorado offers so many beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors and I love my trips to the mountains. This fee is crazy low to expect anyone to provide any kind of care, education, maintenance and more of such vast outdoor opportunities.

I do not understand people who spend $20,000 on a sled, thousands more on trailers, hundreds more on gas each weekend thinking that having a small one time fee to use ALL these areas blows me away. The same people that fill garbage cans, expect plowed lots, areas to ride, and other things that cost huge sums of money to provide to so many areas, don't see the value? Went to an Avalanche game last winter, cost $75 to get in, one time, for one game. Not the season, not for as long as I wanted to stay, nothing, just a seat for 2 hours. Attend a show at Red Rocks, get in there for $50 or less, give me a break. The trails are way better, and I can keep coming back ALL SEASON LONG for that same price.
I honestly wish they would be $100 or more per sled and help improve the quality of what is available. The newer mountain sleds with huge lugs, etc will tear up groomed trails in short order, causing very rough conditions, dramatically increase the fees and increase the frequency of the maintenance efforts to make a more enjoyable experience for all.

You keep closing snowmobile riding areas for a variety of made up reasons so now you want us to pay more but yet you keep shrinking our riding areas!! How about you charge cross country skiers?? They pay nothing to the CPW but yet you groom there trails. How about back country skiers? You keep closing areas for them but again they don’t have to pay!! Open all the previously closed riding areas and we can then have a conversation about what you can offer us for an increase in registration fees. What about those of us that have multiple offroad toys? I currently have to pay registration on 10 vehicles and yes some of those are summertime toys but enough is enough!! How about mountain bikers!? They don’t pay a dime or e-bikes?? They dont pay a dime either and yes they are motorized!! They are powered by something other than humans!!

I have been snowmobiling and paying yearly registration fees for at least 23 years. I have never ridden or even seen a ‘groomed’ or maintained trail anywhere I have snowmobiled. I think the fee increase is ridiculous for what I see the money going towards. Typical government, wanting more funds for same or less service.

One idea is to have an additional fee added for those who use/ ride on ‘groomed’ trails. There are none of these trails in my area, to even ride on.

I have been snowmobiling and paying yearly registration fees for at least 23 years. I have never ridden or even seen a ‘groomed’ or maintained trail anywhere I have snowmobiled. I think the fee increase is ridiculous for what I see the money going towards. Typical government, wanting more funds for same or less service.

I get the need for increased fees - but not 66% at one time. Also, has others have mentioned, why does one user group pay it all? Especially regarding parking areas? If registration fees were not increased and there was a small parking fee (not $10 a day) I'll bet you could improve both the parking lots and the trails with the increased revenue - and all users would be contributing.