Martin Luther King Jr. Day Office Closure
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices, including park visitor centers, will be closed for the state holiday, Monday, Jan. 19.
Steamboat Lake State Park
State Park in Clark, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $12
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
61105 RCR 129
Clark, CO 80428
United States
Steamboat Lake State Park
State Park in Clark, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $12
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
61105 RCR 129
Clark, CO 80428
United States
Hiking along a dirt path
Activities and Trails
What to Do at Steamboat Lake
Year-round outdoor fun and stunning mountain scenery await at Steamboat Lake. At 8,100 feet with breathtaking views of Hahns Peak and the Park Range, the park beckons hikers and mountain bikers with over seven miles of trails, connecting to more in the surrounding Routt National Forest. Boaters and swimmers enjoy a full-service marina and swim beach, and winter brings snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Activities
- Backcountry Camping
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Cross-country Skiing
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
- Ice Fishing
- Jet Skiing
- Paddleboarding
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Sailboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Swimming
- Water Skiing
Best of Steamboat Lake
Steamboat Lake
The park's main attraction is the 1,053-surface-acre lake. Visitors enjoy views of the Continental Divide from the water as they boat, fish, jet ski, paddle board, sail and water ski.
Picnicking
With its diverse array of plant and animal life, blue skies, plenty of brilliant aspen trees in the fall and breathtaking sunsets year-round, our valley is one of the most scenic in Colorado. Picnic tables offering either grills or fire rings are available at the Placer Cove day-use area, Tombstone Nature Trail trailhead, Sage Flats day-use area and the Dutch Hill Marina area.
Paddleboarding
Over a thousand acres of gorgeous waters beckon both beginners and experienced enthusiasts! Rent paddle boards on site from our marina as availability permits.
Swim Beach
The swim area is in the Dutch Hill Campground by the marina parking . The swim beach is located in the Placer Cove Day Use Area and is tested regularly throughout the summer for water quality. 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.
Upcoming Events
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Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
Trails
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is allowed in undeveloped areas of the park around the southeast corner of the lake. Guided rides are available from Steamboat Lake Outpost at 970-879-4404.
More Trails
The trails at adjacent Routt National Forest also provide many hiking, mountain biking and four-wheel driving opportunities.
Conditions
[As of 12-16-25] Please note that we do not have enough snow on the ground to start grooming operations for either the motorized and non-motorized winter trails. We need at least 3 feet of snow and a solid base before a track can be set. The North Routt Snow Riders are reporting seeing a lot of grass, sage, and rocks on what will eventually be the groomed trails.
For the most up-to-date trail conditions, please call the park at 970-879-3922 or visit the park's social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Poverty Bar Trail
1.1 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking, horseback riding
ADA accessible
Dog friendly
Willow Creek Trail
3.8 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly
Tombstone Nature Trail
1.1 miles, non-paved
Hiking
Dog friendly
Steamboat Lake Non-motorized Trails/Ski Touring Center
Winter Trail
4.20 miles, groomed
Cross-country and skate skiers, fat-tire biking, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
Steamboat Lake Multiple Use Access Trail
Winter Trail
5.0 miles, groomed
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
Dog friendly
Poverty Bar Trail
1.1 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking, horseback riding
ADA accessible
Dog friendly
Willow Creek Trail
3.8 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly
Tombstone Nature Trail
1.1 miles, non-paved
Hiking
Dog friendly
Steamboat Lake Non-motorized Trails/Ski Touring Center
Winter Trail
4.20 miles, groomed
Cross-country and skate skiers, fat-tire biking, snowshoeing
Dog friendly
Steamboat Lake Multiple Use Access Trail
Winter Trail
5.0 miles, groomed
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
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.
Activity
Hunting
Licensed hunters are welcome during all legal seasons beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day and continuing through the Friday prior to Memorial Day.
- Hunters must sign in on the board in front of the Visitor Center before hunting in the park.
- It is prohibited to discharge firearms and/or other weapons within 100 yards of any designated campground, picnic area, boat ramp, swimming or water skiing beach, or nature trail and study area.