Stagecoach State Park
State Park in Oak Creek , CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
25500 County Road 14
Oak Creek , CO 80467
United States
Stagecoach State Park
State Park in Oak Creek , CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
25500 County Road 14
Oak Creek , CO 80467
United States
Navigate to:
Stagecoach Reservoir with clouds in the sky and mountains in the background
Welcome to Stagecoach State Park
Nestled in the picturesque Yampa Valley near Steamboat Springs, Stagecoach State Park offers a captivating backdrop for recreation. With its expansive 820-acre reservoir offering renowned lake and river fishing, the park is a year-round destination. It serves as an ideal base to explore the diverse sports and attractions of the surrounding area.
1,630
acres
92
campsites
50
picnic sites
8
miles of trails
Directions
Accessing the Park
From I-70
Take the Wolcott Exit onto Hwy 131 for 50 miles and turn right on County Road 14. Take County Road 14 for six miles to the park entrance.
The Stagecoach Park Office is located in the northwest corner of the park. Turn right off Highway 14 and follow the entrance road.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, and Saturday and Sunday, open as staffing permits.
Marina and North Boat Ramp
The marina and north boat ramp are located on the north side of the reservoir by Harding Cove.
Morrison Cove Boat Ramp
The Morrison Cove boat ramp is located on the southeast side of the reservoir and can be accessed from County Road 18A.
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
Over 200 species of migratory and resident birds are known in this area, including the raven, mountain bluebird, gray jay, yellow warbler, goshawk, osprey, waterfowl and shorebirds attracted to the reservoir. Mule deer and elk are a common sight, as are cottontail rabbits, jackrabbits, beavers, red foxes, coyotes, badgers, ground squirrels and muskrats.
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
- Song Sparrow
- Mallard
- Willow Flycatcher
- American Crow
Mammals You Might Find
- Elk
- Muskrat
- Moose
- American Beaver
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
- Smooth Greensnake
Geology at This Park
The park is situated between Precambrian granitic and Tertiary sedimentary rocks, positioned on the western flank of the Park Mountain Range and the southeastern flank of the Washakie Sedimentary Basin. The Precambrian period is a vast span of geological time that extends from the formation of the Earth, estimated to be around 4.6 billion years ago, to the beginning of the Cambrian Period, approximately 541 million years ago. The Tertiary age lasted from around 65 million to 2.6 million years ago.
Throughout the park, Brown's Park Sandstone, a Tertiary-age sedimentary rock featuring silicic ash beds and some conglomerate, is prevalent in outcrops. At the damsite, Precambrian gneiss stands as the common rock, while the reservoir shoreline is characterized by Pleistocene Crowner Formation volcanic, conglomeritic sandstone and Pleistocene alluvium.
The diverse geological features of Stagecoach State Park offer a fascinating glimpse into the Earth's history. From the ancient Precambrian gneiss at the damsite to the Tertiary Age Brown's Park Sandstone spread across the park, each rock formation tells a story of the region's geological evolution. Explore the park to uncover the rich tapestry of rocks that contribute to its natural and unique beauty.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Park uplands are dominated by montane shrub communities comprised of mountain big sagebrush, mountain snowberry, serviceberry, Gambel oak, antelope bitterbrush, chokecherry and rabbitbrush. Common understory plants include wild buckwheat, American vetch, lupine, aspen peavine and Hood’s phlox.
Above the park, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Colorado blue spruce and aspen are the dominant forest trees. Diverse wetland and riparian plant communities have become established around the reservoir, along the Yampa River and its tributary drainages. A large wetland creation project has been constructed along the river.
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History
Stagecoaches once traveled over Yellow Jacket Pass, now County Road 14, on their way to Oak Creek or Steamboat Springs, hence the park’s name.
Stagecoach Reservoir stands as the largest water storage facility along the Yampa River, which is a significant tributary of the Green River, originating in the Flat Tops Wilderness/Routt National Forest about 50 miles southwest of the park. The fertile upper Yampa Valley attracted early ranchers, farmers and coal miners. Many of the reservoir’s campgrounds and picnic areas are named after early coal mines and mining camps. Before the construction of Stagecoach Reservoir in the early 1970s, the Woodmore Corporation had plans to transform the area into a luxury resort with residential lots, neighborhoods, skiing, a golf course, trails and a marina. However, the corporation went bankrupt in 1974, leading to ongoing challenges for the development.
The dam and reservoir were completed by the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District (UYWCD) in 1989, the same year the park began operation. Operated under a lease agreement between UYWCD and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the original lease, signed in 1987, granted Colorado Parks and Wildlife exclusive control and responsibility for the Reservoir Property for public recreational purposes. A 20-year lease agreement signed on August 25, 2004, extends the partnership through May 1, 2024.
In the summer of 2010, UYWCD increased the height of the dam spillway crest by four feet, raising the maximum pool elevation of Stagecoach Reservoir from 7,200 feet mean sea level (msl) to 7,204 feet msl. The reservoir has since served as a vital resource, offering recreational opportunities to the general public under the management of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.