Winter Recreation Safety

Common Messaging from NoCo Places Agencies

Our collaborative efforts include the creation of common messaging of which all eight NoCo Places agencies stand behind. Sharing land stewardship and safety messages across county, state, and federal public land management agencies helps to increase the likelihood of the messages sticking with the visitors to public lands.

Our messaging is free to share and customize for your agency. Contact us to receive media kits.

Tips for Enjoying Winter in Northern Colorado

Winter in Northern Colorado ushers in different types of recreation that residents and visitors alike wait all year to enjoy. Whether skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, or biking, people take full advantage of the opportunities that freshly fallen snow provides. Just as recreation is different in the winter, so is wildlife behavior and the types of encounters people may experience.

NoCo Places collaborated on winter recreation safety messages and created a video series with tips for enjoying the Colorado winter, safely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp5aJlgjL1M&list=PLtgoppGFUkhEodgjCaioYSigNyXARCSOJ

View the entire Skills Before Thrills playlist

En Español: Destrezas para evitar ingratas sorpresas: edición de invierno

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUgxGD3t6lQ&list=PLtgoppGFUkhHxd0wYSCSWVMCnKJnhztqV

View the entire All Season Stewardship playlist

En Español: Gestión durante toda la temporada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dWfVQ9EGFs&list=PLtgoppGFUkhHy83Hqtld2eHUwtT-rn_d2

View the entire Winter Wildlife Awareness playlist

En Español: Sensibilización sobre la naturaleza en invierno

Skills Before Thrills: Winter Edition

Educate yourself on avalanche risk before heading into the backcountry. Take avalanche classes, and view the forecast and warnings from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Check weather and ice conditions before trekking out onto ice. Four inches of ice is generally considered safe for people ice fishing and ice skating.
If a fall through ice occurs, use elbows to crawl onto solid ice, kick feet to get out. Get warm quickly and call 911.
Bring multiple navigation tools including a cell phone, GPS unit, paper map, and compass. Route finding skills are critical, especially in winter.

Snowshoeing on a steep slope. Photo credit: John Marino

All Season Stewardship

Winter trail conditions can vary greatly from morning to afternoon and from foothills to mountains. Wear appropriate footwear, and walk through mud, not around it, to avoid trail widening and damage.
Know before you go: know which parks and trails are closed during the winter by checking Colorado Trails Explorer (COTREX) or another trail app before you leave home.
Pick up dog waste. Dog waste does not biodegrade like wildlife waste and will be washed into watersheds along with melting snow. Know which parks allow dogs.

Visitors sharing the trail. Photo credit: P. Baker

Winter Wildlife Awareness

Avoid disturbing deer and elk in their winter ranges. Do not approach. Stress from disturbance in the winter can cause death in the spring. Leash and control dogs.
Resist the temptation to feed wildlife. It’s illegal, dangerous, and can kill the animal.
Be aware that some wildlife use snow-packed trails during the winter. Never rush wildlife off trails, give them plenty of space and time, stay quiet.

Elk in snow