11/1: The 2022 boating season has come to an end. See you next year!
Pristine and quiet with great fishing and wakeless-only boating, it’s what a mountain lake should be. In order to keep Pearl Lake and other lakes this way, all trailer launched vessels and those powered by motor or sail MUST be inspected prior to launch.
Inspections are available at the Steamboat Lake during the boating season.
Two yurts are available year-round at Pearl Lake. The camping minimum night stay for the yurts is two nights.
During the winter months, it is a 6-8 minute hike or cross-country ski or snowmobile trek to reach the yurts.
Both yurts are heated and have electricity.
Yurt #16 is pet friendly and requires a nightly non refundable deposit that must be paid at the Steamboat Lake Visitor Center.
Yurt # 6 does not allow pets inside.
Trash and recycling receptacles are available at the day use area. Check out Project Greenify, a local Girl Scout project, inspiring people to conserve resources through recycling and proper waste disposal!
For more information, see the Camping & Yurts page.
** The Day Use Area Construction Project at Pearl Lake will begin the week of October 10th. The upper day-use area will be completely closed. Construction may also require the closing of the lower day use area and entrance to the park.
Being off the beaten path, Pearl Lake gets plenty of snowfall each winter, and is an excellent place to hop on your skis and go. There are no groomed trails, so this is a backcountry experience.
Dogs are welcome in the park and in yurt #16 as long as:
they are on a six foot or shorter leash at all times
their waste is properly disposed of
Upcoming programs are posted on the Steamboat Lake Facebook page, homepage, and in the Steamboat Pilot. Information is also available at the Steamboat Lake Visitor Center. Please call (970) 879-3922 for more information.
Anglers catch cutthroat trout and grayling from this 167 acre reservoir. The best fishing of the year tends to be mid-to-late May during ice-off and again in the fall. Fishing at Pearl Lake is restricted to flies and artificial lures. No bait is allowed. A two-fish bag limit is enforced and each fish must be over 18 inches. Fishing licenses are available at the Visitor Center. The lake is available for ice fishing during the winter months but is restricted to flies and lures only.
12/17: With the cold temperatures, ice conditions are improving. However, we are still asking fishermen to please keep safety in mind if you chose to go out on the lake. Snowmobiles or heavy equipment are discouraged on the lake at this time. The area around the marina has been reported to have the best ice conditions. 12 inches of ice with 2 plus inches of slush on top have been reported. Feel free to call our office or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for current updates and pictures.
Ice fishing for cutthroat trout and grayling are allowed. Pearl Lake is restricted to flies and lures only with a two-fish, over 18 inches bag limit. Ice fishers will have to snowshoe or cross-country ski a half-mile to reach the lake. Ice conditions can vary dramatically, and falling through can be fatal. Please use caution and carry self-rescue equipment, such as: ice awls.
12/17: With the cold temperatures, ice conditions are improving. However, we are still asking fishermen to please keep safety in mind if you chose to go out on the lake. Snowmobiles or heavy equipment are discouraged on the lake at this time. The area around the marina has been reported to have the best ice conditions. 12 inches of ice with 2 plus inches of slush on top have been reported. Feel free to call our office or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for current updates and pictures.
OHV's are not allowed to operate in the park; however, there are hundreds of miles of excellent trails on forest service service land immediately surrounding the park.
OHV registrations and Forest Service and Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available at the Steamboat Lake Visitor Center.
The wakeless waters of Pearl Lake have become a popular destination for standup paddleboarding. Please remember your PFD before launching in our waters. Paddleboards are available for rent from a vendor on the weekends.
Picnickers have the option of seven different sites with tables and grills or fire rings overlooking the lake. A watchable wildlife viewing deck provides picture postcard views along the tree lined shore. A universally accessible picnic site is located by the boat ramp.
Note: Pets--on a leash and under control--are welcome.
Park roads and facilities are closed by over 300 inches of annual snowfall making the park accessible by snowshoes, cross-country skis or snowmobile. Snowmobile registrations can be purchased at the Steamboat Lake Visitor Center.
Caution: Before going out onto a frozen lake, pond or river, it’s important to take safety precautions to reduce the risk of falling through the ice. Knowing how to judge ice conditions will also help you make more informed decisions while enjoying winter activities.
