Lake County commissioners continue decision on High Country Tours’ request to add summer OHV operations

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 6 continued consideration of an amendment to commercial recreation permit file 25‑39 that would allow High Country Tours to add summer off‑highway vehicle (OHV) operations, after more than two hours of discussion about public‑land access, road impacts and permitting requirements.

Anne Schneider, community planning and development director, told the board the operator’s request began as a temporary measure but, because of equipment and staffing costs, the company is seeking year‑round authorization to use ATVs and side‑by‑sides on the East Side. Schneider said the draft amendment mirrors winter permit volumes and includes an annual review and conditions tied to roadway use agreements and county approval for staging locations.

Tim, the High Country Tours representative, said failing snow seasons have left his Leadville operation idle and that summer OHV tours are a possible way to keep five Leadville employees employed and the business viable. “We’re just trying to figure out a way to keep the staff employed and keep the bills paid when it doesn’t snow,” Tim said, describing the financial risk of buying a summer fleet and the operational difficulty of renting machines.

Commissioners and staff raised several concerns: whether the operators already require conditional use permits (several speakers, including Pete Day, said the land‑use code requires a CUP for these activities); the proposed trailer/staging location where the county stops plowing County Road 3; potential summer and shoulder‑season impacts on trail conditions and wildlife; enforcement resources and complaint‑driven compliance; and the maximum daily volumes in the draft (up to four tours per day with 10 machines per tour, a 40‑machine daily cap that staff said was copied from a previous permit application).

Road supervisor Michael Erwin advised that the mapped staging area near the diamond‑mine pullout could work in summer but that winter parking and turning for large trailers would be tight; staff agreed coordination and Michael’s sign‑off could be made a condition. Commissioners also discussed setting a predictable annual road‑closure date (with exceptions) and a potential carrying‑capacity or maintenance‑fee analysis to quantify road impacts.

After extended exchanges on volumes, enforcement, and whether the permit as written matched operator practice, Commissioner Speaker 3 moved and Speaker 2 seconded to continue consideration of the amendment to a date to be determined. The motion passed by voice vote. The board asked staff to schedule a work session, invite operators, and prepare additional information on volumes, CUP status, enforcement capacity and mapped staging options before bringing the matter back.

What’s next: The board continued the item to a TBD date and asked staff to convene a work session with operators and relevant departments to develop clearer criteria—location mapping for trailers, decision points for when wheeled traffic must stop for snow preservation, monitoring and possible fees or maintenance agreements—before any amendment is returned for formal action.