Information About Wildlife Viewing In Steamboat Springs, Colorado

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Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Wildlife Viewing

Bird Watching	Mammals	Wildlife Viewing In State Parks	Wildlife Viewing In Wilderness Areas
Wildlife Viewing In Wildlife Preserves & Refuges

Bird Watching

Cowdrey Lake State Wildlife Area

This lake is heavily stocked lake with rainbow trout. Wwinter ice fishing is also available here.

Delaney Butte Lakes State Wildlife Area

One of these three lakes is classified as "Gold Medal Water", one of only two lakes with such a distinct fishing classification in Colorado.

Desert Voices Nature Trail

The trail is about 1 1/2 miles long round trip and is moderately difficult. This trail is close to the Dinosaur Quarry and is a particularly good trail to visit after viewing the bones and exhibits at the quarry.

Diamond J State Wildlife Area

Two rivers run through this State Wildlife Area where hunting and fishing areas are available.

Dinosaur National Monument

Visit Dinosaur National Monument to see the dinosaur bones at the Dinosaur Quarry. Dinosaur National Monument contains 210,000 acres of some of the most rugged and beautiful mountain and canyon country in the west. Opportunities also exist for white water boat trips, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, bird watching and more!

Echo Park Campground

This campground is located within 40 miles of headquarters for the Dinosaur National Monument. There are a total of 21 individual camping sites here, all designated for tents.

Geology Trail

This trail is located adjacent to the Quarry Visitor Center. It is 0.75 miles in length and is an easy to moderate walk with several short, steep sections.

Green River Campground

This campground is located within five miles of the Dinosaur Quarry. There are 88 individual camping sites available for tents or trailers/RV's. This campground is open during the winter, but the water is turned off.

Harpers Corner Trail

At the end of Harpers Corner Road is this 2 mile long round trip trail that is moderately difficult.

Irish Canyon Wilderness

Irish Canyon is a relatively small, remote and highly scenic canyon. Twelve of the twenty-two geological formations found in the eastern end of the Uintah Mountains occur here. Hiking, camping, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing are all available here.

Lake John State Wildlife Area

This is the most popular reservoir in this county, mainly because it produces trophy-sized trout.

Little Snake State Wildlife Area

Rolling hills dominate the landscape as gulches provide food, water, shelter & cover for a large population of deer, pronghorn antelope & sage grouse. Deer, elk, Waterfowl and other small game may be spotted here.

Lower Campground

This campground, located within the Lake Pearl State Park, provides 15 individual sites for tents or trailers/RV's. These sites do not have any hook-ups.

Meeker Pasture State Wildlife Area

This is one of four separate wildlife areas which are utilized extensively in the White River Valley. This smaller area straddles the White River offering a 0.25 mile stretch of access for fishing.

Pearl Lake

Excellent fly and lure fishing is available at the park where native cutthroat trout flash their red throats when pulled from the water.

Pearl Lake State Park

This area, nestled in the mountains north of Steamboat Springs, offers peace and quiet in a lush forest setting. Fishing, wakeless boating, and camping are among the most popular activities at this State Park.

Plug Hat Trail

This is another short trail along the Harpers Corner Road. It is 0.25 miles in length and an easy walk.

Richard State Wildlife Area

This State Wildlife Area is situated just south of the Lake John State Wildlife Area.

River Trail

This is a one-mile in length trail that connects the Green River and Split Mountain campgrounds. This is a great early morning or late evening moderate walk along the Green River.

Sound of Silence Trail

This trail is close to the Dinosaur Quarry and is about 21/2 miles long round trip.

Upper Campground

This campground, located within the Lake Pearl State Park, provides 23 individual sites for tents or trailers/RV's. These sites do not have any hook-ups.

Walden Reservoir State Wildlife Area

Wildlife watching is plentiful at this location during the warmer months.

Yampa River State Wildlife Area

Trout fishing is possible, but the northern pikes are what are really biting. This State Wildlife Area is a nice place to launch a canoe and float into the town of Craig.

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Mammals

Aspen Campground

This campground offers 7 individual camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 22 feet.

Bear Lake Campground

This campground offers 29 individual camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 40 feet.

Big Creek Lakes Campground

This campground offers 54 individual camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 45 feet.

Blacktail Creek Campground

This campground offers 8 individual camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 18 feet.

Delaney Butte Lakes State Wildlife Area

One of these three lakes is classified as "Gold Medal Water", one of only two lakes with such a distinct fishing classification in Colorado.

East Marvine Campground

This campground offers 7 individual camping sites within a grove of pine with views of the mountains. Horse trails and hiking trails are nearby. Maximum RV/trailer size is 50 feet.

Elk Run Trail

This trail, located within the Stagecoach State Park, measures 5.0 miles and is rated as "easy". The elevation is 7,200 feet, and this trail sees medium usage.

Harding Spur Sites Campground

This campground, located within the Stagecoach State Park, offers 18 individual campsites for trailers/RV's. These sites do NOT have any hook-ups.

Irvine State Wildlife Area

There are wild populations of both brown and brook trout in Raspberry Creek.

Junction City Campground

This campground, located within the Stagecoach State Park, offers 26 individual campsites for trailers/RV's. These sites have electrical hook-ups, and are all located alongside the Stagecoach Reservoir.

Lost Creek Campground

This campground offers 13 camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Fishing and hiking trails exist. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 40 feet.

Lower Campground

This campground, located within the Lake Pearl State Park, provides 15 individual sites for tents or trailers/RV's. These sites do not have any hook-ups.

Manville State Wildlife Area

This is primarily a brown trout fishery. The Roaring Fork is a tributary to the North Platte.

Marvine Campground

This campground offers 18 individual campsites situated in a grove of pine with mountain views. Stream and fly-fishing are both nearby. Hiking and horse trails are in the area. Maximum RV/Trailer length is 28 feet.

McKindley Sites Campground

This campground, located within the Stagecoach State Park, offers 10 individual campsites for trailers/RV's. These sites do NOT have any hook-ups.

Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area

Just south of the Wyoming border in the Routt National Forest, the wilderness occupies 140,000 acres of unspoiled alpine terrain. Backcountry camping and wildlife viewing are popular recreational activities here.

Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area

This wildlife area provides over 8,000 acres of fishing and hunting opportunities. Trout fishing is popular at both Lake Avery and on the White River.

Odd Fellows State Wildlife Area

It is not uncommon to find brown trout that measure over 16 inches.

Pearl Lake

Excellent fly and lure fishing is available at the park where native cutthroat trout flash their red throats when pulled from the water.

Piceance State Wildlife Area

This is a complicated array of both large and small parcels of land scattered across the Piceance Plateau. Big-game, blue grouse, duck, sage grouse, mountain lion and rabbit may be spotted in this area. Primitive camping is available.

Pinnacle Peak Trail

This trail, located within the Stagecoach State Park, measures 0.25 miles and is rated as "moderate-difficult". The elevation is 7,200 feet, and this trail sees medium usage.

Pinnacle Sites Campground

This campground, located within the Stagecoach State Park, offers 38 individual campsites for trailers/RV's. These sites have electrical hook-ups, and are all located alongside the Stagecoach Reservoir.

Richard State Wildlife Area

This State Wildlife Area is situated just south of the Lake John State Wildlife Area.

Six Mile Gap Campground

This campground offers 9 camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Fishing in the Platte River is a popular recreation here. A hiking trail leads to the Platte River Wilderness Area. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 30 feet.

South Fork Campground

This campground offers 17 individual campsites situated in a valley. Fishing in the South Fork of the White River is a popular recreational activity. Three separate hiking trails originate here. Maximum trailer/RV size is 60 feet.

Stagecoach Reservoir

The reservoir is known for its fast growing, hard fighting rainbows that average in length from 10 to 16 inches. The occasional brown or brook trout and Snake River cutthroat are also found in the reservoir.

Summit Lake Campground

This campground offers 16 individual camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 22 feet.

Upper Campground

This campground, located within the Lake Pearl State Park, provides 23 individual sites for tents or trailers/RV's. These sites do not have any hook-ups.

Verner State Wildlife Area

This wildlife area is accessed from a parking area that is visible from County Road 12W. The fishing in this stretch of the North Platte is marginal and challenging.

Walton Creek Campground

This campground offers 14 individual camping sites within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. Maximum combined vehicle/trailer length is 22 feet.

Wetlands Trail

This trail, located within the Stagecoach State Park, measures 0.25 miles and is rated as "easy". The elevation is 7,200 feet, and this trail sees medium usage.

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Wildlife Viewing In State Parks

Pearl Lake State Park

Stagecoach State Park

This reservoir hosts a variety of water sports, including boating, jet-skiing, water-skiing, swimming, sailboarding and canoeing. Camping and a trail system are also available.

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Wildlife Viewing In Wilderness Areas

Encampment River Wilderness Area

Here in the northernmost extension of the Southern Rocky Mountains, the Encampment River flows north out of Colorado. Fishing, hiking, and backcountry camping are popular recreational activities here.

Little Snake State Wildlife Area

Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area

Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area

The Sarvis Creek Wilderness offers a variety of backcountry recreation opportunities. Some of these include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, backcountry camping, and fishing.

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Wildlife Viewing In Wildlife Preserves & Refuges

Bitter Brush State Wildlife Area

This area used to exist as a Ranching for Wildlife property until the DOW purchased it in 1999. Elk, deer, and antelope are the main attractions here.

Brown's Park State Wildlife Area

During earlier times, this area (currently Brown's Park State Wildlife Area) north of the Green River served as a wintering grounds for bands of Ute and Shoshone Indians, as well as outlaws Butch Cassidy and Tom Horn.

Cross Mountain Wilderness Study Area

The area offers opportunities for moderate to difficult hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, high risk rafting and kayaking.

Diamond Breaks Wilderness Area

Activities in this wilderness area include hiking, back country camping, and wildlife viewing.

Indian Run State Wildlife Area

This wildlife area provides an access point and parking area for big-game hunters traveling to the Beaver Flat Tops region of Routt National Forest. This receives a considerable amount of use during big-game hunting seasons.

Irish Canyon Wilderness

Jensen State Wildlife Area

This area is a critical winter range and calving/fawning grounds for both elk and deer. This wildlife area lies within the range of 30,000 head of elk in the White River herd.

Owl Mountain State Wildlife Area

This 920 acre mountainous area in Jackson County has hunting for elk, deer, and blue grouse.

Service Creek State Wildlife Area

Seymour Lake State Wildlife Area

The reservoir at this State wildlife Area is stocked annually with rainbow trout.

Yampa River State Wildlife Area

Trout fishing is possible, but the northern pikes are what are really biting. This State Wildlife Area is a nice place to launch a canoe and float into the town of Craig.

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