Celebrate Colorado Day -
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is offering free entry to all Colorado state parks on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. Learn more.
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: $12-$17
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: $12-$17
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 boating update:
Stagecoach State Park will fully open to boating, unless firefighting aircraft are conducting water-scooping operations at Stagecoach Reservoir. For more information about the emergency safety regulations in effect during these water-scooping operations, click here.
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.
The reservoir with a single boat floating peacefully
Park Highlight
Explore Stagecoach Reservoir
Stagecoach State Park sets the stage for great recreation in the lush Yampa Valley by Steamboat Springs. Vistas and views are backdrops to the 820-acre reservoir, providing renowned lake and river fishing. The reservoir is divided into wakeless and non-wakeless boating areas for your convenience and safety.
Reservoir Facilities
Facilities
Stagecoach has two boat ramps - one on the north shore of the reservoir and the other in the Morrison Cove area.
- The North shore ramp is serviced by the marina, offering rentals, a fuel dock, and basic fishing and camping supplies.
- The Morrison Cove area ramp offers picnic areas and vault toilets on the south side of the lake. Both ramps offer ample parking for vehicles and trailers.
See Mandatory Boat Inspections for aquatic nuisance species hours, location and more information lower on the page.
The marina, located at the north end of the park between Harding Cove and Pinnacle Peak, provides rentals for pontoon boats, fishing boats, canoes, stand up paddle boards and paddle boats, and provides showers. During the summer season, the marina is open Memorial Weekend through Labor Day weekend. For boat reservations, visit the marina website or call 970-736-8342.
The swim beach, located at the marina, has a sandy beach, picnic tables and a sand volleyball court.
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
The reservoir is open to motorized and non-motorized boating during the summer months (May 1 through October 31). The reservoir is divided into wakeless and non-wakeless areas for your convenience and safety.
Reservoir Zones
Buoys on the surface of the reservoir designate wakeless areas. However, a generous portion of the reservoir is available for boating and skiing activities. To view the buoy layout of the reservoir, please see the park brochure and map. Maps are also located at each boat ramp. Please review the boating page for information on boating regulations and safety.
Fishing in Stagecoach Reservoir
Stagecoach Reservoir is known for its fast-growing, hard-fighting rainbow trout that average in length from 14 to 18 inches. With a strong trout population, the pike have grown, some as large as 35 to 46 inches and weighing up to 30 pounds. In order to protect and sustain the trout population at Stagecoach, wildlife managers are encouraging anglers to harvest any pike caught.
This is the practice of keeping some average-sized fish to eat while returning the larger and smaller fish to the lake to continue to grow. Without returning some of the fish to the water, it's impossible for the fishery to withstand modern fishing methods and still produce trophy-quality fishing. Selective harvest is not catching and releasing all fish — just some.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing for rainbow trout and northern pike is extremely popular. The reservoir is traditionally frozen from the end of December through March. Conditions vary day to day and sometimes hour to hour. Please use caution when ice fishing. Have proper safety equipment and follow safety guidelines.
Basic ice-fishing kits and hand augers are available at the park office as part of our free loaner program. Snowmobiles are permitted on the reservoir surface during the winter months as conditions allow, solely for fishing access below the high water mark. Snowmobile use is not allowed anywhere else in the park or on Routt County Road 18 to the tailwaters.
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 Stagecoach
Colorado Parks and Wildlife awards anglers who catch big fish. Visit the Fishing Awards and Records page for more record
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.
Fishing in Tailwater
The tailwater section below Stagecoach Dam is designated as catch and release only. This area is touted by many experts as Colorado's best rainbow trout fishery and has received several accolades from Fly Fisherman Magazine. This area also experiences heavy use in the spring due to the consistent water levels when other areas are experiencing high runoff levels. Anglers during this time are asked to help manage heavy use by returning at a time when the river is not as crowded.
Fishing in the Yampa River
Only artificial flies and lures can be used while fishing the length of the Yampa River between Stagecoach Dam and Catamount Lake. A number of commercial fishing guides are available out of Steamboat Springs.
Water Activities
Jet Skiing
Always ski in a counter-clockwise direction. The minimum age to operate a personal watercraft is 16.
Paddle Boarding
The entire reservoir is open to paddle boards; however, paddle boarders are encouraged to take advantage of the calm water in Morrison Cove, Pike Cove, Harding Cove, Keystone Cove and the large no-wake area on the western half of the reservoir. A life jacked is required for every person on board. Paddle boards may be rented from the Stagecoach Marina Store.
Swimming
Swimming is allowed in the designated wakeless zones. Wakeless zones include: Morrison Cove, Pike Cove, Harding Cove, Keystone Cove and the western half of the reservoir. No lifeguard is on duty, and hazards do exist below the water surface around the reservoir. Please take caution and swim at your own risk.
Water Skiing
Always ski in a counter-clockwise direction. Don't forget your orange flag!
Mandatory Boat Inspections for ANS at Stagecoach
To boat on the reservoir, an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp, current boat registration and a pre-launch boat inspection at the 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
Boats must get an inspection during designated hours in order to launch.
Contact the park at 970-736-2436 for current hours.
Rusty Crayfish
Rusty crayfish have been detected in the reservoir at Stagecoach. They are not native to Colorado and are a larger, more aggressive freshwater crayfish than our native crayfish. Their aggressiveness and high metabolic rates allow them to destroy aquatic plants, causing decreased plant abundance and diversity. Native crayfish are susceptible to bacteria and viruses which could be introduced by the rusty crayfish.
Stop the Spread of Rusty CrayfishOh, 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