Yampa River State Park
State Park in Hayden, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
6185 W. US Hwy. 40
Hayden, CO 81639
United States
Yampa River State Park
State Park in Hayden, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
6185 W. US Hwy. 40
Hayden, CO 81639
United States
Yampa River State Park sign
Welcome to Yampa State Park
A 134-mile stretch of the Yampa River is the heart of Yampa River State Park. It has 13 access point sites stretching from Hayden to the Dinosaur National Monument near the Utah border. Yampa River State Park, located in the beautiful Yampa valley west of Steamboat Springs, is near Elkhead Reservoir State Park, Stagecoach State Park, Dinosaur National Monument and Routt National Forest. Explore all your options and make the most of your trip.
See the section pages below for directions to individual sites.
River Sections
With 13 different park segments spanning 134 miles along the Yampa River, there is something for everyone.
163
acres
60
campsites
1.5
miles of trails
134
miles of river
Directions
Accessing the Park
Park Office
6185 W US Hwy 40
Hayden, CO, 81639
970-276-2061
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Sunday
See the individual section pages for directions.
The Visitor Center is located at the Headquarters campground near Hayden, Colorado. From Steamboat, take Highway 40 west approximately 27 miles to the Park Headquarters, or from Craig 17 miles east on Highway 40.
The Visitor Center provides visitor and traveler information, as well as maps and other printed resources. The display area emphasizing Native American history, agricultural heritage and river ecology will captivate visitors young and old alike. A small store with books, clothing and miscellaneous supplies will help outfit visitors for their stay.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
12 Months |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
12 Months |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Visitors 64+ |
12 Months |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
12 Months |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Colorado resident veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
Colorado resident first responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
The Yampa River is one of the most hydrologically and biologically intact rivers in the West with native, aquatic and rare plant communities and abundant wildlife.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Northern Flicker
- Sandhill Crane
- Common Loon
- Eastern Screech Owl
Mammals You Might Find
- Rocky Squirrel
- American Beaver
- Hoary Bat
- Mule Deer
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Northern Leopard Frog
- Western Tiger Salamander
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
- Sagebrush Lizard
Geology at This Park
The Yampa River is located in the Wyoming Basin Physiographic Province of the Rocky Mountains. The river basin is defined by four major structural features: the Washakie Basin, the Park Range, the Uinta Mountains and the White River Plateau. The headwaters of the Yampa River begin in the area know as the Flat Tops and pass through a variety of unique features such as volcanic dikes, exposed Precambrian through Quaternary rocks, flowing into the wide alluvial valley where agricultural lands and riparian habitat coexist.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
The Yampa River is one of the last relatively intact river systems in the west and contains globally rare plant communities. While riparian areas occupy less than three percent of the western landscape, they provide habitat for 80 percent of the region’s wildlife. Mature cottonwoods line the river corridor and provide the base for other riparian plant species.
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History
Yampa River State Park was developed in 1997.
The Yampa River Basin in Western Colorado is rich in Native American and geologic history. It was not explored by people with logging or mining interests until the late 19th century. Indigenous people resided here for the abundance of wildlife and the ability to grow crops. A diverse climate enabled movement into regions that allowed access to food and amenable weather.
Yampa River State Park was developed in 1997 and was a product of the Yampa River Legacy Project. This project brought together people with varied interests with one common goal: to conserve the unique natural areas and agricultural lands along the Yampa River, while managing recreation and protecting biologically sensitive features and private property.