Not sure what the circumstances are, but I see folks parked at times in N Park (Lake John area, probably ice fishing). Pretty sure it is State land. There was quite a group last weekend looking down on the way to Steamboat to ski. I'll look again tomorrow on my way over.

Just flew in to DIA from Palm Springs at 39,000 ft.
Southwest Colorado has great snow coverage now and I was fantasizing about putting my 185 on skis and touring the area. The Weminuche wilderness area would be a fantastic place to land on skis on a lake somewhere for some mind blowing skiing, but unfortunately that's illegal.
I've landed many places in AK on skis: glaciers, lakes, etc..., but when it comes to the Colorado Rockies,
I would be very paranoid about those big Rocky Mountain boulders lurking beneath the snow on anything but a lake (at least for a big heavy plane like a 185)...
My other concern about ski flying in the front range vicinity is the constant wind factor. The winter chinooks are always a nasty presence on all but the rarest of days. The western slope mountains would be much more likely to have better wind conditions.

aktahoe1 wrote:Thats a lot of BLM land! Go get after it!!! I did not look at the map closely but is there any lakes in there? Who controls the water? Betting you wont find any rules against float planes on the BLM land.

Rules from BLM no, but sadly the state of Colorado prohibits float plane operations (the only state to do so). Our local pilot groups are working to get that fixed now.

On figuring out who owns what land, I recommend picking up the OnX Hunt GPS map data. You can buy a chip for your Garmin handheld (which may actually work in a Garmin aviation portable GPS as well - it's just data), or as a downloadable product that you then transfer to your GPS. I went with the download version as it's a little easier to get into Basecamp, Garmin's free PC software that lets you look at it on a real screen. The database is meant for hunters to keep people from trespassing or violating game unit boundaries, but would also serve this purpose well. It includes all private and public boundaries, as well as who owns it in case you need to ask for permission.

Blu / Soy:

What is legal and what will get you in trouble are sometimes two different things.

You have a really good resource for BLM lands in CO. The RAF rep for CO (Learn to Land Short) has done great work in building bridges and dialog with the BLM. He is also a great off-airport resource. You can email him through the RAF website (there are two RAF reps for CO, his initials are PR).

My advice would be to check in with him before heading out. He has a good rapport with BLM in CO and could probably advise you on if or who you need to talk to. Would probably have good thoughts on Forest Service too, which I think you are more likely to receive static from. I have worked with FS officials here in NM quite a bit and I can tell you I would not land off-airport on FS land (snow or not) without first checking with local DR.

RAF and pilot groups have worked real hard on developing relationships with FS and BLM over the last few years and I have personally seen a lot of improvement.

However, I will also tell you that there is still a lot of individuals in the system that have had no interaction with aircraft and are not terribly friendly towards us. For instance, here in NM we had a flyin on a Forest Service airstrip last fall. We went to the trouble of getting FS approval (it is a restricted strip and requires that) and plenty of warning and notice of when we would be there. However, it was during hunting season and hunters flooded the local Fish and Game constable with reports of illegal use of aircraft for scouting elk (which of course was not taking place). Apparently, the NM Fish and Game and the Forest Service didn't communicate with each other about the flyin because we got a personal visit from the enforcement officer. Once he understood the situation he didn't have any issues.

However the point is, you never know where the problem might arise from or where the complaints will emanate from (i.e. someone might think you are going down or having an emergency landing).

See if you can get some pointers from PR (RAF rep) and if he has any thoughts about what you are proposing.

Good Luck! It does sound fun!!

The Forest Service is an agency that leaves a lot of regulatory powers up to the individual Forest. So, you may find a national regulation that you think says you can land on FS lands, go out there and land, only to find out that THAT Forest has specific regulations prohibiting landing....or whatever.

So, your best bet is to call the specific Forest offices with management jurisdiction, and speak with a LAW ENFORCEMENT officer, NOT a clerk or biologist, etc. Get that person's name....write it down.

Then and only then would I land on any Forest Service lands.

Same goes for BLM, by the way.

MTV

I suppose I could be the test dummy for the landing on snow thing (OK) versus landing on the ground legality. I have the perfect location, the old airport outside West Yellowstone. Heavily used for snowmobiles in the winter, huge with plenty of room, most importantly close to the best cafe in town.

I DO know landing there on the ground, less the snow, is frowned upon by the rangers, at least that was what I was told when I last did it. Haven't done it since, but it's eating at me......never been a problem in the past, landed it probably half dozen times over the last 20 years. Just happened to be seen the last time. No one got excited, it just resulted in a suggestion not to do it again. NOTHING was said about doing it, or not doing it, on skis in the winter, maybe I should take a lawyer buddy with me when I test the theory. Around here, snow machines go everywhere in the winter, places you wouldn't ride a dirt bike or ATV in the summer, if nothing else the "it's OK, I'm on the snow" thing might get a guy off the first time.

aktahoe1 wrote:

Cub271 wrote:

BLM is your best bet, you can see BLM ownership here: http://www.geocommunicator.gov/blmMap/MapLSIS.jsp

Make sure you click on "Surface Management Agency" and the BLM Land will show up highlighted in yellow like inthe picture above.

Generally you're not allowed to land on Forest Service lands except at designated airstrips. BLM lands are pretty safe except BLM wilderness lands and a few other areas are off-limits. I don't know about state lands in Colorado. Private lands require permission, but generally you're okay if the area is normally open to the public.

Thats a lot of BLM land! Go get after it!!! I did not look at the map closely but is there any lakes in there? Who controls the water? Betting you wont find any rules against float planes on the BLM land.

Do not land on FS property!

AKT

Right now, float planes are prohibited on BLM property in Colorado. Apparently the BLM has ceded that control authority to the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, which absolutely prohibits seaplanes on any of the DOW controlled waterways. The Seaplane Pilots Association is working to get that changed; we tried legislation last year which died in committee, but we have revised legislation that will be presented within the next couple of weeks.

I'm just one of the lackey volunteers, but there are others who have put a lot of work into it so far. We're also taking donations--it's 'spensive to hire our lobbyist, and there have been other expenses as well (anyone wishing to donate, PM me and I'll provide the link for online donations or an address to send checks). We had 2 splash-ins last year at private lakes, and there are 2, perhaps a third, scheduled for this year. The next one will take place at Meredith Lake again, planned for May 20th.

Cary