#Devils backbone hike colorado drivers#

More than half of the survey respondents said they used open space trails at least 16 times a year, which Figgs said showed “they’re willing to put that financial cost on themselves because they’re frequent users.”īeginning in January 2023, nonresidents will also have to pay more for day-use permits - something that's already in place for annual permits.

Of the 243 respondents, 77% agreed with adding a fee at Devil’s Backbone. RECREATION: Bobcat Ridge Natural Area to reopen after being burned by Cameron Peak FireĪ survey sent out to residents in August showed that 93% of people wanted the county to sustain its current level of service as the county’s population grows and 75% agreed that fee increases were the best way to accomplish that, Figgs said. Larimer County is expected to grow by 150,000 people in the next 20 years, which means the county will need to add about 45 miles of trails to the already 100 miles currently maintained by the county “to provide the same level of service we have today,” Figgs said. “Absent that, we’d have to subsidize with other funds or lower our level of service.”

#Devils backbone hike colorado drivers#

“Adjusting fees from time to time for inflation and for other cost drivers associated with visitor services or visitor use are important,” Figgs said. It just doesn’t make sense.”ĭay permits at all other county natural areas will increase from $9 to $10, and annual passes for vehicles will increase from $90 to $100.įiggs said the fee increase is needed to keep up with the county's anticipated population growth and inflation. “We don’t want certain parks to be subsidizing other, more-used parks. “I think it’s really important for us to make sure that our fees are equitable across the system, and I think that not having a fee at Devil’s Backbone - a very highly used open space - was not a good policy to have,” county commissioner Kristin Stephens said. To use Devil’s Backbone Open Space's south trailhead in Loveland - which has been free - users will either need an annual pass or pay a $10 daily entry fee, like many other popular county open spaces and parks, including Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake. Starting in January, day use permits, annual permits and camping fees in county-managed areas will increase by about 10%, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources Director Daylan Figgs said in a presentation to commissioners. The Larimer County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the new fee and overall fee increases Tuesday. Larimer County trail and open space users will have to pay slightly higher fees starting next year - including a new fee for Devil’s Backbone Open Space. Watch Video: 4 hidden gems for Northern Colorado hiking and biking