Snowmobile Registration and Permit Fees

I am against such a steep raise in fees. Being that I use my snowmobiles for the sole purpose of ice fishing and not trail riding. I already pay day use/ parking fees on top fishing combo license and trailer registration. Why would you not charge all trail "users", be it motorized or not, similar day use/ parking fees at trail head parking areas. I agree with others comments that all people using trails should contribute to the maintenance and up keep of said trails..

I agree with a lot of the comments from other snowmobilers about raising the fees. With one exception, we should increase the out of state user fees first and then consider raising the resident fees. Out of state licenses typically cost more regardless of the activity. Look at an out of state elk license vs in state as an example.

I disagree with the increase 💯 until you start charging people that ski, snowshoe and walk on the groomed trails #1 Why should we as snowmobilers be the only ones funding this trail grooming when non snowmobilers use the trails as much or more as well???? #2 what about people like me that do not ride groomed trails hardly ever and only back country ride? We use our sleds for ice fishing as well but that's on top of the licence fees, trailer fees, fourwheeler fees and "habitat stamp" which most don't even need because we don't hunt state land. I think that there could be a lot more groomed trails for all the fees collected for years that some people might use, but there is not! All that seems to happen is our licenses and fees keep going up but nothing looks like it's getting done to better things with all the extra money that you all charge. Remember you work for us!!!!

I use my snowmobile only for ice fishing, no groomed trails. Maybe make fishing permit only. I already pay for utv boats hunting fishing license ans inspection, $20 increase is outrageous. Maybe you guys need to stop spending millions on wolf introductions. Time for new governor people

I'm in favor of raising the registration fees and the $50.25 seems reasonable. My primary reason is to keep the grooming program healthy for snowmobiles.

I agree the fees may need to raised but $20 more?
I would be grateful to see a budget on where the money last year was spent and how the added $20 fee would help in what areas of the budget.
I really don’t understand the snowmobilers that are just OK just saying yes to increase without knowing where the money is going.

Idaho has more than double amount of groomed snowmobile trails than Colorado and registration is less than the proposed one.
Wyoming is way cheaper for similar amount of trails.
Minnesota is way cheaper and has what? 10x more groomed trails than Colorado?
Maybe Colorado needs to start using the funds smarter first? Then I'm fine with paying more.

We are seniors who only own 1 snowmobile that's not used very often. Mainly on Cottonwood Pass trails near Hot Sulphur Springs or behind the Hot Springs Spa. I would like to see a fee structure based on usage or the age and type of the sled. Ours is a 1997 Ski-doo Formula 500, basically a trail rider and not likely to get into a situation requiring search and rescue.
Paul

I use my snowmobile to go ice fishing. I already pay for fishing and hunting tags, boat, trailers, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, park fees and habitat stamps. Maybe it would make sense to charge for a trail fee at the trailhead if I choose to use a groomed trail. I don’t think a blanket $20 increase per sled is fair.

i'm in favor of the $20 increase. The increase is well overdue. Scott

I agree that we live in inflated times and the cost of doing business increases every year, as a business owner, I realize these costs. I guess I just hate the same old song and dance. We're going to increase fees but we're going to increase services and we never see those increased services or benefits. We just pay more and we see no benefit from it. I am in agreement with several of the posters in that I own three sleds and only one of them gets used regularly. The other two don't really warrant registering them. It would be nice to have a daily registration or a weekly or maybe even a weekend registration for the seldom used sleds out there.
Russ A

I'm not opposed to an increased fee. However, as others have said my support is highly conditioned upon the allocation of motorized fees being allocated solely to motorized uses. Motorized uses are way to often given inappropriate blame for impacts that aren't based on facts, evidence or science. One noteworthy example is suggesting that motorize uses displace wildlife. When there is research showing that pedestrian (hikers, snowshoes, BC touring) actually have a far greater displacing effect on wildlife. I've observed this watching elk watch ATV's drive by as long as the ATV passes without stopping they go back to their business. Where hikers chatting as they walk send wildlife immediately out of the area. Motorized uses are often treated as the "problem" in USFS and CPW management decisions - it's not only misguided but is also unproductive/counterproductive. If the fees are allocated to motorized uses then I'm in full support of the increase.

I understand that all costs have gone up and that The cost of CPW trucks, equipment, and personnel have all increased, however, why does the burden always seems to fall on the motorized category of outdoor users and persons. I have two utv's and three snowmobiles and then with my fishing combo license etc. I'm dropping almost more than a $1000.00 year now. Moreover, in your information post it states for trails and grooming. Most the areas over here on the western slope have individual snowmobile clubs for those very puposes and by participating in those clubs I know where those fees are going. I'm affraid these fees would go more towards grooming trails for the non-fee users ie: mountain bikers and backcountry skiers. I would like to see a program where mountain bikes must get registered just like my ohv vehicles, as they are a mechanical tool, in which to access the backcountry just like my snowmobiles and ohv's. Furthermore, they are becoming very popular as battery powered and power assist, definitely classifying them as an ohv. This would broaden the base of fees and be more fair on spreading out the burden for all of those who use these trail systems.
In conclusion, I was just on the Grand Mesa this weekend and saw far more mountain bikers than I did ohvs using trails that are maintained and groomed by the local ohv group up there. Just saying.

I Think a 20.00 increase is Ridiculous . The western side of Colorado has very few groomed trails so not much money spent there. The real problem with the registration system is the mountain bikes they need to pay for annual pass because they get more parks and trail systems built for there sole use every day and take away from other activities that could be done. So if you would charge a small 5.00 fee for every bike that would really help your OHV program funding without picking on the Snowmobile and ATV users that have been paying for years to be compliant with the system.
Thank You Tharron GJ. CO

I am not opposed to a fee increase and agree it is certainly overdue. That said, a 67% increase is pretty steep. It would likely be better received if the increase were spread over time and in smaller increments to allow users to adjust. Not having an increase in 17 years is in my opinion poor management of the program and to correct it overnight is a slap in the face to the public.

I would also like to know how these fees are used and if all beneficiaries are contributing. For example, do any of these fees go towards grooming of Nordic trails for cross country skiing? If so, do the skiers pay any kind of user fees to help fund their sport as well? It's pretty hard for me to want to provide for cross country skiers and mountain bikers who have both made disparaging remarks to me as a snowmobiler and an atv rider. I've always been respectful of their choice to recreate in their chosen manner but have been thrown verbal jabs from them on multiple occasions for my choice to recreate on motorized vehicles. Thus far, I have bit my tongue and ignored them, but it gets more difficult to do so each time I hear one of their remarks...

I am an avid snowmobiler as well, and I ride Colorado on a regular basis. I think the fee increase is part of the rising cost of living. I would also like to see a multi vehicle discount. Most of the locals here are families with multiple units. I would also like to see a financial report. What be money will be allocated to and for. Grooming ? Conservation ? Parking areas ? Thank you Don S Summit Powersports

I have a few questions,
1. CPW dose not own the majority of the public land or trails so how does snowmobile permit money actually help snowmobilers directly or will the increase basically go to paying operating costs?
2. Other non motorized users use the trails and parking why are they not helping pay for the improvements, infrastructure and search and rescue fees?
3. Summer use of the same facilities should also be permitted to help pay for the same areas such as mountain and E-bikes on the same trails/ parking.
Basically costs should be shared between all users and not pinned solely on the snowmobile/motorized community.

While I am not entirely against fees going up for residents, its seems to be a big problem in this state of punishing (maybe not the right word, but you probably get what I mean) locals for tourists and visitors to be able to reek the benefits. It costs a lot to live and recreate here, and it seems unfair that locals spend the same amount as a non-resident. Why would the fees not go up for out of state users more? This seems to be similar for OHV and other recreational uses of our open spaces. Again, I am ok with prices going up and will gladly pay for the machine I use once or twice a year, everything is more expensive and you have to pay the bills too. I am just advocating that maybe we should look at other sources other than our residents for funding sources for increases.

New snowmobile user here. We have one sled that is used to shuttle to a cabin via a forest service road about 3x per winter, which is unmaintained in winter by the State. With our limited use, I would be against any fee increases.

An increased snowmobile fee is fair. To echo some other folks, it would be nice for a day pass option, since some of us out of state may only sled CO once a season.

For increased fees, it would be nice to see some improvement and transparency on how they're spent. A lot of grooming happens locally via clubs and their volunteer, there aren't warming huts like we have in WY, parking is often very minimal (turn around at the end of a plowed county road), etc.

We already have to pay an extra winter rec fee to use places like Vail Pass which are super crowded, get minimal grooming, and so on. Then you have other orgs like CSA which actually provide updated maps and grooming conditions (another fee), and local clubs like Mile High if you want to join any group rides (yes, another fee), so it would be nice to know what specifically the CPW fee funds and where.