2026 CMC Snow Rangers Make a Big Impact Across Colorado’s Winter Backcountry

After federal funding from the USFS for the Snow Ranger Program ended in 2025, the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) remained committed to keeping this valuable winter program operational. Through a combination of community fundraising, donor support, and an impactful partnership with Winter Wildlands Alliance, CMC successfully led the effort to self-fund the program for the 2026 winter season, ensuring that CMC Snow Rangers continued serving Colorado’s backcountry during a time of growing recreation demand and limited public land agency capacity. 

Since 2019, CMC’s Snow Ranger Program continues to play a vital role in keeping Colorado’s winter backcountry safe, welcoming, and sustainable. During the 2026 winter season, four CMC Snow Rangers completed 45 patrol days and more than 840 hours of on-the-ground service across the Uncompahgre and Grand Mesa National Forests. 

CMC Snow Rangers directly engaged with more than 2,000 visitors, providing avalanche awareness, winter safety information, route guidance, and Leave No Trace education at trailheads and in the field. They also collected important recreation-use data, monitored snow and avalanche conditions, and worked closely with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, local Search and Rescue teams, schools, and recreation partners. 

Beyond education and safety, CMC Snow Rangers helped maintain winter infrastructure by clearing snow, servicing trailhead restrooms, removing hazards, assisting stranded motorists and snowmobilers, and supporting stewardship efforts in high-use recreation areas. 

The program’s reach continued to grow in 2026 through partnerships with 23 organizations, supporting community events, youth outdoor education programs, avalanche awareness initiatives, and coordinated patrols. More than 150 visitor-use assessments documented increasing winter recreation across the region, highlighting the importance of a trained field presence. 

As winter recreation continues to grow, CMC Snow Rangers serve as a trusted extension of public land agencies by helping to protect natural resources, improve visitor safety, and strengthen stewardship across Colorado’s backcountry. Their work is helping build a culture of safety, responsibility, and respect for the landscapes that make Colorado’s winters so special. 

2026 CMC Snow Ranger Season by the Numbers 

• 45 patrol days 

• 846 field hours 

• 2,075 visitors engaged 

• 23 partner organizations 

• 153 recreation-use assessments completed 

• 7 education and outreach days 

• 4 avalanche-related interventions 

• 3 Search and Rescue-related interactions 

Support the Snow Ranger Program 
Following the loss of federal funding, the CMC Snow Ranger Program now depends on community support to continue its work. Your donation helps provide winter safety education, stewardship, and on-the-ground support for Colorado’s public lands. Together, we can keep the CMC Snow Rangers in the field and our backcountry safe, accessible, and sustainable.  

Click here to donate to the CMC Snow Rangers Program!

Impact Statement: 
The CMC Snow Ranger Program is not just supporting winter recreation; it is actively shaping a culture of safety and stewardship while extending the capacity of public land agencies where it is needed most.