Pearl Lake State Park
State Park in Clark, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office/Visitor Center at Steamboat: Sun.-Thur. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $12-$17
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
PO Box 750
Clark, CO 80428
United States
Pearl Lake State Park
State Park in Clark, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office/Visitor Center at Steamboat: Sun.-Thur. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $12-$17
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
PO Box 750
Clark, CO 80428
United States
Routt County Stage 2 Fire Restrictions -
Effective until further notice: Building, maintaining, attending, or using an open fire, campfire, or open flame outdoors is PROHIBITED, including in developed campgrounds & picnic areas. This includes charcoal grills, BBQs, coal & wood-burning stoves. More info: Routt County.
An aerial view of Pearl Lake
Park Highlight
Explore Pearl Lake
The park's main attraction is the 167-surface-acre lake. Nestled in the mountains north of Steamboat Springs, this peaceful park sits in a serene lakeside setting. Excellent fly and lure fishing for native cutthroat trout can be found. Paddleboarders, kayakers and sailors clamor for a chance to launch on Pearl's expansive and still waters. Pearl Lake is a wakeless lake — boaters cannot create a wake here, and water skiing, jet skiing and swimming are not permitted.
Facilities
Boat Ramp
There is one boat ramp located in the lower day use area of Pearl Lake.
Boats need to be inspected at the nearby Steamboat Lake Inspections Station prior to launching on Pearl Lake. See the Mandatory Boat Inspections section lower on the page for more information.
The boat ramp and Steamboat Lake Marina are located on the northwest corner of the lake and accessed from County Road 62.
Boat ramp hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Water Safety
Colorado Water is Cold Water
Colorado waters are classified as "cold water" (anything under 70 degrees) for most of the year. Swimming in cold water risks cold water shock, which can lead to drowning even for strong, experienced swimmers.
Life Jackets Save Lives
The majority of swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking fatalities occur when people are not wearing a life jacket. By keeping you above water, life jackets can be a last line of defense that prevents a bad situation from getting far worse. Colorado law requires that all water vessels have appropriately sized life jackets readily accessible for every person on board.
Boating and Fishing
Boating
Pristine and quiet with great fishing and wakeless-only (including gas/electric) 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. Campers can leave their boats along shore or trailered in the boat ramp parking lot.
The lake is open approximately from the end of May through November 1 each year.
Fishing
Pearl Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities. Excellent fly and lure fishing for native cutthroat trout can be found in Pearl Lake's wakeless waters. The best fishing of the year tends to be mid-to-late May during ice off and again in the fall.
Ice Fishing
Ice conditions are changing daily. For the most up-to-date conditions, including lakes and trails, please call the park at 970-879-3922 or visit the park's social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
The lake is available for ice fishing during the winter months but is restricted to flies and lures only. Ice fishing for cutthroat trout and grayling are allowed. 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.
- 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.
Fish Species and Bag Limits
See the Fishing Atlas for fishable species at this location and the Fishing Brochure (PDF) for daily bag limits.
Fishing Awards and Records for Pearl Lake
Colorado Parks and Wildlife awards anglers who catch big fish. Visit the Fishing Awards and Records page for more records.
Clean Your Gear: Fishing
Help Protect Colorado Waters
Clean Your Gear
Cleaning your gear before and after use helps protect our water from aquatic nuisance species. Check out these videos to learn how to clean your fishing gear.
Water Activities
Kayaking
Kayaking leisurely around the lake is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Canoeing
The wakeless waters of the lake are perfect for canoeing.
Paddle Boarding
Please remember your life jacket before launching in our waters. Paddle boards are available for rent from a vendor on the weekends. We recommend (required for children 13 and below) the use of a life jacket when going on the lake.
Sailing
Come sail and enjoy the picturesque lake.
Mandatory Boat Inspections for ANS need to be made at Steamboat PRIOR to arriving
To boat on the reservoir, an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp, current boat registration and a pre-launch boat inspection at the ANS inspection station located at the Steamboat Marina Boat Ramp is required.
Vessels and other floating devices that are both hand-launched and human-powered are exempt from mandatory ANS inspections. Although, the public is strongly encouraged to self-inspect their watercrafts, boots, waders, and fishing equipment by making sure that all equipment is clean, drained, and dry. For instructions, see Clean Your Gear.
Learn more about aquatic nuisance species.
Inspection Hours
Prior to launching all trailered, motorized and sail powered vessels must be inspected the Steamboat Lake Inspections station before going on Pearl Lake. The boat ramp and Steamboat Lake Marina are located on the northwest corner of the lake and accessed from County Road 62.
Inspection hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
During regular hours of inspection, you may call the Visitor Center at 970-879-3922 if there are no inspectors at the Marina Boat Ramp. We are unable to do boat decontamination at this time.
Aquatic Nuisance Species
Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are aquatic plants and animals that invade lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams, including zebra mussels, quagga mussels, New Zealand mudsnails, Asian carp, rusty crayfish and more.
Stop the Spread of ANSOh, SHELL NO
Be a Pain in the ANS
Colorado’s chile crop could be impacted by Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS). Take action when you clean, drain and dry your water gear.
Bring the Brochures with You
Fishing Brochure
Read up on the location you want to fish before you head out.
Download the Brochure
Land and Water Regulations Brochure
Have a question about regulations? Check the brochure.
Download the Brochure