Known for its slopes and soft powder snow, Steamboat Springs is a world-renowned skiing destination. But not many know that it is surrounded by gorgeous lakes and reservoirs, most of which operate year-round.
In summer, these lakes offer swimming, paddling, power boating, and camping. And in winter, they attract ice-fishing anglers and cross-country skiers.
Most of the options are surrounded by Colorado’s famous hiking trails and have campgrounds for multi-day stays.
No matter the weather, there is plenty to do at Steamboat Springs. Check out what the area has to offer!
Lakes near Steamboat Springs:
- Stagecoach Reservoir
- Fish Creek Reservoir
- Dumont Lake
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Steamboat Lake
- Pearl Lake
- Elkhead Reservoir
- Williams Fork Reservoir
- Summit Lake
- Chapman Reservoir
- Lake Catamount
1. Stagecoach Reservoir
- Website: Stagecoach Reservoir
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 17 miles (25 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing
Stagecoach Reservoir is approximately 20 miles south of Steamboat Springs. This 765-acre reservoir is the centerpiece of Stagecoach State Park.
Built from roller-compacted concrete, Stagecoach Dam has offered flood control, hydroelectric power, and a reliable source of irrigation and drinking water since its completion in 1989. The Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District maintains the dam.
This state park in the Yampa River Valley is known for its year-round fishing, as well as its campgrounds, summertime swimming and boating, recreational trails, and winter outdoor activities that include ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Fat bikes are a common sight when snow covers the ground.
Anglers who visit Stagecoach Reservoir will find abundant quantities of rainbow trout and northern pike. Certain sections of the reservoir are designated as catch-and-release.
The state record for a northern pike was caught in this lake in 2006, with the fish weighing 30.69 lbs.
2. Fish Creek Reservoir
- Website: Fish Creek Reservoir
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 20 miles (1hr 20min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking
On the eastern side of Buffalo Mountain, Fish Creek Reservoir sits higher in elevation than Steamboat Springs. Middle Fork Fish Creek and Granite Creek flow into this impoundment, best reached with a high-clearance vehicle for the 19-mile drive east of the city.
This off-the-beaten-path destination offers impressive views of granite rock formations and towering pines near an appealing alpine body of water in Routt National Forest.
Great for birding and wildlife viewing, the lake is accessible to smaller, non-motorized boats, such as canoes and kayaks.
Granite Campground has a few sites available near the reservoir, with limited facilities for campers who enjoy a remote getaway. Those staying here should bring potable water with them.
Trout are commonly found in Fish Creek Reservoir.
For a more heavily-visited destination, visitors can also drive from Steamboat Springs to Fish Creek Falls, a waterfall five miles east of the city that is where water descends 283 feet after traveling west and leaving Fish Creek Reservoir.
3. Dumont Lake
- Website: Dumont Lake
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 22 miles (30 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking
Located 20 miles southeast of Steamboat Springs, Dumont Lake came into existence after the construction of the Muddy Creek Dam in 1954.
Designed to enhance recreational fishing, this 50-acre alpine reservoir in Routt National Forest is 9,620 feet above sea level in an area with seasonal wildflowers, abundant wildlife, migratory birds, and dense forests.
Located near Rabbit Ears Pass, a well-known summit along US Highway 40, Dumont Lake is a popular place for fly fishing to catch trout.
Hand-propelled and electric motor boats are permitted on this lake near the Continental Divide, a place where people come to hike, bike, and backpack.
Dumont Lake Campground and the nearby Dumont Lake Picnic Site are open from early July to late October as destinations for those who enjoy escaping from the urban environment.
4. Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Website: Wolford Mountain Reservoir
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 46 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing
Located in the eastern shadow of Wolford Mountain and 46 miles southeast of Steamboat Springs, Wolford Mountain Reservoir stores 1,550 acres of Muddy Creek and other creeks that flow into it.
The reservoir went into service in 1996. The Colorado River Water Conservation District owns this reservoir, a popular fishing destination for brown and rainbow trout.
Those who enjoy fly fishing will find plenty of places along the coves or the embankment to cast their line.
During warmer months, pontoons and paddle boats are available for rental at the reservoir. Most prefer to bring their own vessel, with water skiing a common outdoor activity at this location.
For those highly skilled with whitewater rapids, a short 10-mile drive from the reservoir that passes just beyond the Town of Kremmling leads to the day-use Confluence River Access parking area.
At this spot, the Blue River merges from the south and Mud Creek from the north into the Colorado River. From this site, those with Class IV-V+ whitewater experience can venture into the Gore Canyon area.
5. Steamboat Lake
- Website: Steamboat Lake
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 27 miles (40 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing
Located 27 miles north of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Lake is less than an hour away. A rancher sold this land so a reservoir could be built close to where Deep, Dutch, Floyd, and Larson Creeks met Willow Creek.
A dam first impounded this section of Willow Creek in 1968, into a reservoir that averages 1,050 surface acres, with the state officially opening Steamboat Lake State Park in 1972.
The boating season on Steamboat Lake runs from May through late October. Wake boating is permitted on much of this body of water, allowing personal watercraft and water skiers to enjoy fast water experiences, while some inlets and coves allow for more tranquil destinations.
The 2,820-acre state park includes a marina, cabins, boat ramps, hiking trails, and a campground.
A year-round destination, the park attracts those who enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing during the winter.
Many trout varieties swim in Steamboat Lake.
6. Pearl Lake
- Website: Pearl Lake
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 26 miles (40 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing
Located 26 miles north of the city and approximately four miles east of Steamboat Lake, Pearl Lake is a 167-acre impoundment of Lester Creek.
This reservoir that first appeared on the landscape in 1962 takes the name of M. Pearl Hartt, whose husband owned sheep ranches in Wyoming and Colorado. Pearl sold this land at the base of Hahn’s Peak to the Forest Service, leading to the creation of Pearl Lake State Park.
Although Pearl Lake is open year-round, roadways to this body of water are usually closed during the winter due to heavy snowfall. During these months, snowmobile and cross-country skiing access is possible.
Wakeless boating is allowed on Pearl Lake. Both lure and fly fishing are enjoyed here, with ice fishing allowed in the winter.
The main species found in Pearl Lake are brook, cutthroat, and brown trout.
7. Elkhead Reservoir
- Website: Elkhead Reservoir
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 40 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing
Elkhead Reservoir, a 900-acre body of water 40 miles west of the city, occupies an area surrounded by sagebrush, grasslands, and agricultural fields.
An earthen-fill dam impounded Elkhead Creek in 1974 to serve recreational, industrial, and water supply purposes along a creek that is a major tributary of the Yampa River.
Surrounding this reservoir, Elkhead Reservoir State Park offers a variety of activities. These include camping, biking, hiking, swimming, skiing, boating, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing.
In an area with some higher bluffs and rolling hills rather than tree-lined mountains, wildlife is more visible, and nature viewing has become a popular activity.
In this drier area of the state, the reservoir sustains birds and wildlife that frequent the site, as well as nearby farmlands and municipalities.
Fish species found within Elkhead Reservoir include crappie, bluegill, and largemouth bass.
8. Williams Fork Reservoir
- Website: Williams Fork Reservoir
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 69 miles (1hr 20min)
- Activities: Fishing, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking
Constructed in 1959, the Williams Fork Dam has created a water source for Denver known as the Williams Fork Reservoir.
This 1,860-acre body of water is a 65-mile drive southeast of Steamboat Springs, in an area southeast of Kremmling, near Parshall and Hot Sulphur Springs.
With 15.8 miles of shoreline, this lake is a welcome destination for those who enjoy seasonal boating and windsurfing, as well as year-round fishing.
Denver Water has two boat ramps on the lake, as well as a campground. Unlike many reservoirs owned by water utilities, motorized boats are permitted at this location, along with canoes, kayaks, pontoons, and other personal watercraft. Restrictions on boats go into effect when the water freezes.
A great location to find lake trout, this reservoir will appeal to anglers who enjoy casting lines for northern pike, Kokanee salmon, and other trout. A state record, 11 lbs. chinook salmon, was caught here in 1989.
9. Summit Lake
- Website: Summit Lake
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 14 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking
Summit Lake is 14 miles northeast of Steamboat Springs, near the top of Buffalo Pass, and four miles north of Granite Creek Campground and Fish Creek Reservoir.
This body of water is different than the much-higher Summit Lake, located along the approach to the top of Mount Evans near Idaho Springs.
The US Forest Service roads out of the city leading to this area may be bumpy, so having an all-wheel drive vehicle is a wise option.
Summit Lake Campground and a nearby day-use area see the greatest traffic of campers, hikers, and anglers between July and October.
Although no boat ramp exists, hand-powered watercraft are allowed on Summit Lake. Mountain biking, hiking, and dirt biking are also popular here.
10. Chapman Reservoir
- Website: Chapman Reservoir
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 36 miles (55 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking
Chapman Reservoir is a 36-mile drive southwest of the city. This impoundment of Little Oak Creek honors Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary of the Interior in the early 1950s and an advocate for many recreational areas and reservoirs in western states.
The alpine lake created by the dam sits within Routt National Forest, with a water level that fluctuates seasonally.
At 9,402 feet in elevation, this remote reservoir is approximately 2,500 feet higher than the Steamboat Springs area.
Although access to Chapman Reservoir is allowed throughout the year, automobile access is generally limited to a period that spans from late May until mid-October.
For the rest of the year, a snowmobile or even a dog sled would have a better chance of navigating the roads and trails to get to the reservoir.
Chapman Reservoir Campground is a remote site that generally accepts campers between June and October.
Non-motorized boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are permitted. Rainbow trout swim in the reservoir.
11. Lake Catamount
- Website: Lake Catamount
- Distance from Steamboat Springs: 11 miles (15 min)
- Activities: Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Picnics, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Tubing
A short drive eleven miles south of Steamboat Springs provides access to an exclusive, members-only lake retreat at Lake Catamount.
This private 530-acre reservoir sits within a high-end, 3,200-acre development that requires membership or to be welcomed as a guest of a member.
Lake Catamount was created as a reservoir along the Yampa River in the early 1970s, at a time when many hoped that Colorado would host the 1976 Winter Olympics.
It seemed like a perfect opportunity for Denver, the city that submitted the bid. Denver ultimately withdrew in 1972 when the International Olympic Committee made certain demands that would have prevented the use of Steamboat Springs and Vail as sites for the competition.
Today, this lost opportunity is a distant memory since Catamount Lake has become an exclusive year-round resort for members of the Catamount Ranch and Club.
Members and their guests enjoy a variety of lake amenities, including fishing for trout and northern pike.
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