The Friends of the Routt Backcountry have been advocating for non-motorized use areas in North Routt since 1998, when the first task force identified the major areas of concern on the Routt National Forest.

Three specific areas were identified, Rabbit Ears Pass, Buffalo Pass and North Routt.

In the 2005 USFS Winter Travel Management Decision, 25,000 acres on Rabbit Ears Pass and Buffalo Pass were put into designated winter non-motorized protection.

The process in North Routt has continued for 10 years. In 2009 the USFS began a scoping period to determine where a groomed snowmobile would travel to avoid private property in the Columbine area. In 2010 a second scoping period became necessary. A final decision was reached in May of 2011 which will create a new large parking lot for motorized users on USFS property north of Columbine. The decsion includes a suggested non-motorized use area on Hahns Peak.