(Photo: Kayaking is a springtime sport that lasts well into summer on the Yampa River. Photo by Ben Duke.)

Featured in the Steamboat Springs Visitors' Guide Summer 2024. 

Steamboat Springs, CO - Skiing may have put Steamboat Springs on the map, but the wild Yampa River and the town’s surrounding lakes and rivers are what sets Ski Town USA® apart from other ski resorts. So blow up your innertubes, rig up your fly rods, and fire up your speedboats – it’s time to soak up the sun and get out on the water. 

Drive south to Stagecoach Reservoir at Stagecoach State Park. From May 1 to October 31, the reservoir is open to motorized and non-motorized boating, including sailboards, paddleboards and Jet Skis. Swimming is allowed at the swim beach near the marina and in all wakeless zones around the reservoir. If you purchase a Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing license at the marina, spend the day catching beautiful 14-18-inch rainbow trout that occupy the area. No gear? No problem! Throughout the summer, the marina rents kayaks, canoes, pontoon boats and stand-up paddleboards on a first come, first serve basis. Camping spots are also available for a fee. 

In town, you’ll find the Yampa River, which begins in the Flat Tops Wilderness and flows west 250 miles into Dinosaur National Monument. In the summer, locals enjoy tubing, paddleboarding and kayaking from Fetcher Park to the James Brown Bridge (more locally known as C-hole). Commercial watercrafts can be rented from several locations in town and along Yampa Street. Anglers can enjoy miles of fishable water up and down the Yampa; those who don’t know the area well can hire a guide from one of the many guide services in town. 

Want to get away from town and experience the rest of Routt County? Drive 45 minutes north to Steamboat Lake State Park and enjoy the views of Hahns Peak, one of Routt County’s tallest mountains. Steamboat Lake has many of the same amenities as Stagecoach Reservoir, as well as 10 cabins available for rent. 

However you decide to spend your time on the water, be sure to be safe, clean up after yourself, and have fun!