Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Colorado Revised Statutes Title 33. Parks and Wildlife § 33-41-104. When liability is not limited--warning signage--trespassers

Current as of January 01, 2022 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(1) Nothing in this article limits in any way any liability which would otherwise exist:

(a) For willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity likely to cause harm;

(b) For injury suffered by any person in any case where the owner of land charges the person who enters or goes on the land for the recreational use thereof; except that, in case of land leased to a public entity or in which a public entity has been granted an easement or other rights to use land for recreational purposes any consideration received by the owner for such lease, easement, or other right shall not be deemed a charge within the meaning of this article nor shall any consideration received by an owner from any federal governmental agency for the purpose of admitting any person constitute such a charge;

(c) For maintaining an attractive nuisance; except that, if the property used for public recreational purposes contains mining operations that were abandoned or left in an inadequate reclamation status as provided in section 33-41-103(2)(e)(II) or was constructed or is used for or in connection with the diversion, storage, conveyance, or use of water, the property and the water or abandoned mining operations within such property shall not constitute an attractive nuisance;

(d) For injury received on land incidental to the use of land on which a commercial or business enterprise of any description is being carried on; except that in the case of land leased to a public entity for recreational purposes or in which a public entity has been granted an easement or other rights to use land for recreational purposes, such land shall not be considered to be land upon which a business or commercial enterprise is being carried on.

(2) As used in subsection (1)(a) of this section, in the event that an individual who lawfully enters land at a primary access point is injured or killed on the land by a known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity that is likely to cause harm, the owner does not commit a willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against the known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity likely to cause harm if:

(a) Prior to the injury or death, the owner posts a sign at the primary access point where the individual entered the land, which sign:

(I) Includes the following text:

WARNING!

YOU ARE ENTERING THIS LAND FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. IF YOU LEAVE THE DESIGNATED TRAIL, ROUTE, AREA, OR ROADWAY, YOU WILL BE DEEMED TRESPASSING. THERE ARE INHERENT DANGERS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USING THIS LAND THAT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, INCLUDING CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS; OPEN AND OBVIOUS VARIATIONS IN STEEPNESS, SURFACE CONDITIONS, AND CONSISTENCY OF TERRAIN, SUCH AS FOREST GROWTH, ROCKS, STUMPS, WATERWAYS, STREAMBEDS, CLIFFS, EXTREME TERRAIN, AND TREES; WILDLIFE; AND MINING OR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, STRUCTURES, REMNANTS, EQUIPMENT, OR OPERATIONS.

(II) Is at least:

(A) Eight inches in width and ten inches in length; or

(B) Eight inches in length and ten inches in width; and

(III) Is posted in a location and manner that makes the sign visible to an individual at the primary access point;

(b) The owner maintains photographic or other evidence of each such sign; and

(c) The dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity that caused the injury or death is described by the sign.

(3) Any known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity likely to cause harm that is not described by the sign is not covered by subsection (2) of this section and remains subject to subsection (1)(a) of this section.

(4) An individual who accesses land for recreational purposes shall stay on the designated recreational trail, route, area, or roadway unless the owner expressly allows otherwise. An individual who leaves a designated recreational trail, route, area, or roadway is deemed to be trespassing.

Back to chapter list
Previous part of code Next part of code
Back to chapter list

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Colorado Revised Statutes Title 33. Parks and Wildlife § 33-41-104. When liability is not limited--warning signage--trespassers - last updated January 01, 2022 | https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-33-parks-and-wildlife/co-rev-st-sect-33-41-104/

Read this complete Colorado Revised Statutes Title 33. Parks and Wildlife § 33-41-104. When liability is not limited--warning signage--trespassers on Westlaw. Westlaw subscription required.

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Search all Colorado Codes

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About the Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to find an attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard