Adjacent to Stagecoach Reservoir State Park, this day use area has good riparian habitat, with birds like Tree and Cliff Swallows, Steller’s Jay, Lazuli Bunting, Warbling Vireo, and Downy Woodpecker, among others. The Service Creek Trail leads from the wildlife area up into higher habitats with more coniferous forests, and eventually into the Sarvis Creek Wilderness. There is a high density of black bears in the area, though you would be lucky to see one. Elk and mule deer are more commonly sighted.
Rabbit Ears
Bird and Butterfly Bonanza
Bird and Butterfly Bonanza The area south and east of Steamboat Springs is one of the lushest regions of Colorado, boasting relatively few people but high natural diversity, including huge numbers of deer, elk, and pronghorn along the backroads. Rabbit Ears Pass, just east of Steamboat, rises from serviceberry shrubland with Spotted and Green-tailed Towhees, up to spruce-fir forests excellent for Threetoed Woodpeckers and Saw-whet Owls. The road that traverses these gradients is famous among butterfly enthusiasts for hosting more than a dozen species of fritillary. The low elevations in this area retain hints of the south, in the form of the occasional Gambel oak and Band-tailed Pigeon, while the high-elevation understory is highlighted by thimbleberries and monkeyflowers, echoing the flora of regions far to the north. These links with the north help make this the most reliable part of the state for finding nomadic winter flocks of Bohemian Waxwings. This area can richly reward a visitor at any time of year.
Sarvis Creek State Wildlife Area
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area or state trust lands.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: State Park Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area or state trust lands.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Yampatika’s Environmental Learning Center at Legacy Ranch
Admission: Free
Ownership: City of Steamboat Springs
Admission: Forest Sevice Day Use Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: daily entrance fee
Ownership: Colorado River District
Stagecoach State Park
Just to the south of Catamount Lake, Stagecoach Reservoir and State Park provides another excellent waterbird locale. The lake itself is excellent for all variety of ducks, especially at the southwestern corner where the Yampa flows in, as well as shorebirds when the water is low enough. The northern end of the lake is somewhat deeper, and is a better spot to look for rarer diving ducks, loons, and grebes. Surrounding the lake are meadows with some willows (good for Lincoln’s Sparrow), and montane shrubland (good for Orange-crowned Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Western Scrub-Jay and more). Just across the road from the reservoir is a wildlife area with some small ponds and blinds, good for dabbling ducks. Mule deer are common in the area.
Lake Catamount
This very large and often bird-filled lake is entirely private, but can be scanned from public roads. It is usually the best waterbird spot anywhere near Steamboat Springs, and is especially good during late fall and early spring migration. Look especially for a good variety of divers, often including Barrow’s Goldeneye, as well as loons and grebes. The marshy fringes of the lake are good for Yellow-headed Blackbird and Pied-billed Grebe, while raptors such as Bald Eagles often haunt the lake itself.
Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area
This small SWA provides good access to the Yampa River and associated riparian habitat. Look for Western Tanager, Bullock’s Oriole, American Dipper, occasional ducks, and loads of Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge by the entrance.
Yampatika’s Environmental Learning Center at Legacy Ranch
Legacy Ranch is owned by the City of Steamboat Springs and is maintained as a working ranch and as an environmental learning center. The ranch was originally homesteaded by a woman in 1899. The Yampa River runs through the ranch. There are plans to develop trails in the near future which would open up some great birding opportunities in riparian habitat dominated by willows.
Ferndale Picnic Area
At about 9000 feet on the west side of Rabbit Ears Pass, Ferndale is a moist, shaded area with stands of tall aspen in transition to coniferous forest. Common birds here include Tree Swallow, Steller’s Jay, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Common Raven. A good variety of woodpeckers can also be found, including Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsuckers, Hairy Woodpecker, and, in areas of beetle kill, American Three-toed Woodpecker. Ferndale is famous as a butterfly location, with nearly a dozen species of fritillaries, among a wide variety of others.
Rabbit Ears Pass and Muddy Pass
These two relatively low passes are on the Continental Divide just east of Steamboat Springs. Both pass through excellent forest and montane meadows, though Rabbit Ears is the more vegetated of the two. The recent lodgepole pine die-off has made the whole area excellent for woodpeckers, including American Three-toed, which is found reliably on Rabbit Ears. Other species include Williamson’s Sapsucker, Pine Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, and at night, Northern Saw-whet Owl. The area around Muddy Pass Lake often has Osprey during the breeding season, and the whole area during the winter can be good for finches and Gray Jay.
Wolford Mountain Reservoir
This large reservoir is popular with boaters and fishermen, but it can attract waterbirds, especially in late fall. Look for loons, grebes, ducks, and gulls. The campground includes accessible facilities and 48 sites with RV electrical hookups. There is a fee for entry.
Hinman Reservoir
Water is rather scarce in Middle Park, so this small reservoir can be surprisingly attractive to ducks and grebes. If the water level is low, shorebirds may stop here in migration also. The reservoir is private, so view it only from the road.
Gore Pass
This is a rather remote stretch of road that winds through scenic high country, mostly high-altitude sagebrush steppe and lodgepole and spruce-fir forest. Look for pronghorn, mule deer, and the occasional elk. Expect Mountain Bluebird and Brewer’s Blackbird in open areas. In summer, Pass Creek just northeast of Gore Pass supports a breeding population of Veery.