Elkhead Reservoir State Park
State Park in Craig, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
135 County Road 28
Craig, CO 81625
United States
Elkhead Reservoir State Park
State Park in Craig, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
135 County Road 28
Craig, CO 81625
United States
A boat moving through the waters of Elkhead Reservoir
Activities and Trails
What to Do at Elkhead Reservoir
Elkhead Reservoir State Park, in Colorado's Yampa Valley, offers a 900-acre oasis in the high desert. Visitors can boat, bike, swim, jet ski, picnic, hike, camp and more as they enjoy diverse wildlife and bird watching.
Activities
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Off-highway Vehicle Riding
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Snowmobiling
- Swimming
- Wildlife Viewing
Best of Elkhead Reservoir
Reservoir
The park's main attraction is the 900 surface-acre reservoir where visitors can boat and fish.
Swim Beach
Colorado State Park swim beaches do not have lifeguards on duty. Swim at your own risk. Children must be supervised by adults at all times.
Wildlife Viewing
Depending on the season, large herds of elk, deer and pronghorn can be seen in and around the park. Hawks, eagles and owls are regularly seen throughout the year.
Picnicking
Picnic or BBQ at one of many day use sites around the reservoir. Picnic sites are located at the boat ramp, swim (east) beach, ski beach and the northeast access.
Upcoming Events
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Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
Trails
There are approximately 10.5 miles of trails at Elkhead Reservoir for hiking and biking. Take a picnic with you and hike along the reservoir, or go to the north end of the reservoir for a more remote experience.
Boat Ramp to Dam
0.5 miles
Hiking, biking, snowshoeing
ADA accessible
Pet friendly
Ski Beach Overlook
0.1 miles
Hiking, biking, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
Bears Ears Loop
1.4 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing
Pet friendly
Boat Ramp to Greenwood Cove
2 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
Wetlands to East Beach
0.9 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
East Beach to Northeast Access
1.1 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
North End Trail
3 miles
Hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
Safety during Hunting Season
Most of Colorado's outdoors is multi-use and intended to be shared. Hunters and nonhunters should show respect and courtesy to all users engaged in outdoor recreation.
- Learn where and when hunting is taking place. Stay out of designated hunt areas.
- Stay on designated trails. Enjoying activities only on designated trails will reduce the likelihood of entering designated hunt areas.
- Make yourself easily visible by wearing bright clothing. Choose colors that stand out, like bright, fluorescent red, orange or green.
- For protection, it is recommended to keep your dog on a leash. Tie a brightly-colored bandana around your dog’s neck or purchase a blaze orange dog vest to make your dog more visible.
- Make noise. Alert hunters to your presence by whistling, singing or carrying on a conversation as you walk.
- If you hear shooting, raise your voice and let hunters know you are in the vicinity.
- Be courteous. Once a hunter is aware of your presence, don’t make unnecessary noise that disturbs wildlife. Avoid conflict. Please note it is illegal to intentionally interfere with hunters.
Big and Small Game Hunting
Hunting
Hunting is allowed after Labor Day during legal seasons in designated hunting areas only.
For waterfowl hunting, review the map for designated waterfowl hunting areas. Waterfowl hunting is only allowed from the high-water mark of the shoreline and below. All Colorado hunting statues and regulations apply.
Big-game hunting is allowed on the northern portion of the park, north of the northeast access. Contact the Yampa River park office for a description and map of the designated hunting area or review the map.