Fourteener climbers can finally summit Mount Lindsey, a majestic peak 10 miles southwest of Great Sand Dunes National Park, but only if they sign a waiver of liability.
The mountain, in the Sangre de Cristo Range, is located on Trinchera Ranch, private property owned by conservationist Louis Bacon. He, along with many other private property owners in Colorado, took their land off limits to the public in 2021 after a $7 million liability judgment against the Air Force Academy, brought by an injured cyclist. The landowners didn’t want to be held liable for any similar injuries that might occur on their property.
A spokesman for the ranch said there weren’t any “No Trespassing” signs on the mountain until after the court ruling.
But in 2024, the Colorado legislature adopted an amendment to a measure called the Colorado Recreational Use Statute which provided a liability shield for landowners who grant access to their land for recreation.
The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) announced the Mount Lindsey development on its Facebook page. “Getting to this point involved CFI working as part of the Fix CRUS Coalition to get Colorado’s Recreational Use Statute changed last year,” the post stated.
“That effort provided greater landowner protection from liability when they allow free recreational access and post required signage,” it continued. “Do not under any circumstances remove or deface any legal signage you see on the route. This protects the ranch and protects your ability to climb Mount Lindsey legally.”
According to CFI figures, Mount Lindsey saw 1,000 to 3,000 hikers annually during the most recent two seasons that it was open for hiking.
Climbing is permitted via two routes, known as the gully route and the ridge route.
“No other routes on the mountain are authorized, nor can you access the peak legally from any other place,” the CFI emphasized. “Entering the Ranch from any other point or trying to climb any other route will mean you are trespassing and will be doing great harm to this important relationship.”
The waiver states that hikers may not hunt, camp or spend the night on the property.
“You are trespassing if you enter the property without executing and submitting the Mount Lindsey Waiver,” according to the waiver, which can be found online, “or if you deviate from the designated Mount Lindsey access route as set forth in the Mount Lindsey Waiver.”
John Reiber, who owns Mount Lincoln — a fourteener that is part of the Decalibron Loop near Fairplay — also requires waivers to climb that fourteener.