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Steamboat Lake State Park

A large, very scenic lake nested in a wide valley, Steamboat Lake is an excellent all-around birding site and well worth a visit. The lake itself has a good number of nesting waterfowl (mostly common species), and can be a decent stop during migration for a variety of divers and sometimes a loon or a grebe. The meadows on the way there and around the lake are good for Sandhill Crane, and marshy areas along the lake margin have Yellow-headed Blackbird and Savannah Sparrow. Lodgepole pine woodlands surround the lake, and while they are under attack from pine beetles just like elsewhere in the state, it is still a good place to find things like Mountain Bluebird and other common montane forest species. Mule deer and red foxes are common in the park.

County: Routt

Habitat: Lodgepole Forest, Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Marsh, Wet Meadow

Directions: From Steamboat Springs, go west on US 40 to CO 129 and turn right (north) toward Clark; continue on CO 129 18 miles north to the park. There are various access points around the east and north sides of Steamboat Lake.

Delorme: 16 B2
Roads of Colorado: 36 C1

Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours:
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: State Parks Pass

Restrictions: None

Parking: Parking areas
Lodging: Camping

Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: Some car birding

Elevation: 8100

Latitude: 40.80886
Longitude: -106.95247

» Visit the website for Steamboat Lake State Park