United Country Real Estate 1st Edition 2023

HOW TO BUY A SEASONAL ACCESS PROPERTY IN THE MOUNTAINS

by. Rob Gash

If you’re searching for a remote mountain land for sale, it’s likely you’ve seen the words “Seasonal Access Only” in a listing description. However, how many actually know what those words mean? Seasonal access means that the roads leading up to a property do not get plowed. This may mean that during the winter months you can only access the property by snowmobile, tracked snow machine, skis or snowshoes. The distance necessary to travel through the snow can vary greatly, from a fraction of a mile to 10 miles or more. Here are some things you need to know if you’re thinking of buying a mountain property with seasonal access. Some cabin subdivisions are designed around seasonal access and provide designated parking areas for residents to park their trucks and trailers while others require people to park in national forest parking lots or literally on the side of the road. Many subdivisions that cater to the winter adventure minded also provide snow-related activities and trails for additional winter fun. This might include access to groomed trails for Nordic skiing or snowmobile touring, social clubs for like-minded residents, restaurants or bars that people can drive their snow machines to and more. Mountain cabin communities that cater to snowmobile or tracked machine access typically have widely groomed and packed trails for residents to use safely. Other more remote properties may not have any type of winter maintenance, leaving it up to you to make your way safely to and from your cabin on sometimes deep and unpacked snow covered roads. Finding Cabin Subdivisions Designed for Seasonal Access Property Owners

Living in a Seasonal Access PropertyYear-Round

Year-round living with seasonal access is not for everyone. Snowbound roads provide obstacles many times for safe long-term parking and occasional necessary trips to town. Seasonal access doesn’t mean you can only live there during a certain season; it simply means that it’s generally only accessible during non-winter months. However, some cabin communities provide safe long-term parking lots for just such obstacles. These communities can become bustling with activity in the winter and are conducive to the challenges associated with seasonal living. A remote cabin in the woods may not be the best choice for someone looking to spend several days or weeks at a time at their winter property. Not necessarily. Perhaps the road to your cabin is on a Forest Service Road with a locked gate to prevent public access in the winter or maybe it is a non-maintained public road. It may be that your cabin shares a road with other cabin owners or is part of an HOA that has elected to leave the roads unplowed so they can enjoy snowmobiling to their cabins in the winter. You might also fi nd that the sheer amount of annual snowfall, lack of room to move it or the distance necessary to plow is just not practical. Either way, you need to do your research before you assume you can just plow your way in and out of a seasonal property. If you own a property with seasonal access, but the road to access it is a public road, then you need to check with the city authorities on the legalities of plowing a public road. Typically, you can plow the road, but you need to have a contract with the county that speci fi es the requirements, duties, liabilities, payments and other terms to allow you to plow, even if you agree to do it for free. Common Question: “Can’t I Just PlowThe Road?”