Stagecoach South Shore Subdivision
Access to Bureau of Land Management Public Lands
Introduction
In November of 2015, Libby Miller, Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager
for Area 10 – Steamboat Springs – Yampa District, contacted Gina Robison, Outdoor
Recreation Planner Program Lead for the BLM Little Snake Field Office, concerning a
potential boundary dispute with a BLM parcel that adjoins the Stagecoach South Shore
Subdivision.
The Stagecoach Property Owner’s Association (SPOA) has posted the area
surrounding the traditional public access point to an 880 acre BLM parcel located off of
Shoshone Way, within the South Shore at Stagecoach subdivision, as closed to the
public and for use by members and guests only. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)
believes there is in fact legal public access to the BLM South Shore parcel from
Shoshone Way, which has been used by dozens of small game and big game hunters
since at least 1997 and more than likely for much longer than that. However, due to the
fact the BLM has not surveyed the boundary line at this location (T4N, R84W, Section
32, 6th P.M.) it is difficult to clearly identify exactly where the ROW on Shoshone Way
touches the BLM boundary. The two-track road that currently exists off Shoshone Way,
which traditionally has been used to access the BLM is very close to this point, but due
to the length and angle of the two-track, it may actually cross a very small section of
SPOA land.
Meeting/Issues
In November of 2016, Gina Robison was contacted, via phone, by Bryan Ayer, SPOA
Manager, concerning the BLM parcel access. A meeting was arranged to meet with
SPOA members, CPW, and representatives from the BLM on November 22, 2016,
10:00 a.m., at the BLM parcel that adjoins the Stagecoach South Shore Subdivision on
Shoshone Way.
The group discussed :
 Historic and present use
 Public right of way
 Parking
 Private land owners adjoining BLM parcels
 Hunters shooting near homes/walking streets with guns
 Camping
 Actual vs on-the-ground boundary markers
 Prescriptive Easement
 Grazing
 Solutions
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BLM’S RECOMMENDATIONS
Background
Because of the historical and present use of the BLM parcel; possible Prescriptive
Easement; and roads within the subdivision granted to the County of Routt for the use
of the public, the BLM would like to continue to have visitors and locals the ability to
access their public lands.
It was agreed upon by all parties that surveys of both public and private land need to be
completed to determine accurate boundary lines. Because of the costly procedure to
survey public lands and lack of funding, Libby indicated that there is the possibility of the
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to help out with the cost.
SPOA suggested that the BLM provide a summary of the BLM’s thoughts, desires and
direction on the possible cooperation between all of the groups so that it could be
presented at the next SPOA board meeting to be held in February 2017.
Parking Concept
To ensure the safety of visitors and the South Stagecoach community, the BLM would
provide a primitive parking area on the parcel (see Figure 1). The parking area would
accommodate 10 vehicles and 2 trailers. In the northeast corner of the parking lot
would be an entrance to the established two-track route for hiking, biking, and
horseback riding and will be clearly marked. No motorized travel would be allowed on
the two-track except for authorized use only. Some minimal landscaping (i.e., boulders)
would define the border of the parking area along with parking delineators to limit the
number of vehicles. A new route to the parking area would be created once surveys are
completed and a legal access point has been identified. The old route on public lands
would be rehabbed to prevent illegal use, depending on availability of funding, otherwise
the obsolete section of route would be posted as closed.
By allowing access for the public to the BLM parcel, the benefits for all parties would
include, but not limited to:
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Allow SPOA to work with Routt County to post “No Parking” signs on streets.
Eliminate night-time use as BLM would make the parcel ‘Day Use Only’.
Provide non-motorized recreational activities.
Limit the number of vehicles accessing the parcel.
Prevent trespass on private property.
Possible design of the parking area is attached. However, the BLM would work with
SPOA to ensure design and location are acceptable.
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Figure 1
Looking north. Conceptual design of a parking area on BLM land located off of
Shoshone Way within the Stagecoach South Shore Subdivision.
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