Pearl Lake State Park

Surrounded by wilderness in Northwest Colorado, Pearl Lake State Park is a true escape from the hustle and bustle. This year-round state park is a wonderful retreat centered around a beautiful alpine lake where you can camp or stay in one of two yurts.

Located about 30 minutes north of Steamboat Springs, and across County Road 129 from busier and bigger Steamboat Lake State Park, it’s more difficult to access during the winter. However, the park still offers snowshoeing and cross country skiing, and while camping areas close, the two yurts remain open.

Activities

Pearl Lake Blue Water Colorado — Pearl Lake blue water. Photo: Michael Kirsh

Boating: Open May 1 – November 1 each year, the 167-acre reservoir permits wakeless-only boating.

Camping: There are 36 sites open from late May – mid-October, depending on snowy conditions. The sites close during winter, but there are two yurts that remain available to rent for a nightly fee. There is also a peak fee from May – September. The 2 yurts have electricity, heat, ceiling fans, light, and 2 sets of bunk beds. Nearby, Steamboat Lake keeps 14 electrical sites open in winter.

Read about the camping near Steamboat Springs, Clark, and Oak Creek.

Pearl Lake State Park Yurt — Yurt rentals are open year-round.

Fishing: At the lake, fly fishing and artificial lures are the only types permitted. There is a 2 fish bag limit, which must be over 18 inches. Cutthroat trout are commonly caught here.

Hiking: The Pearl Lake Connection Trail starts from the boat ramp leading to the dam. It’s 0.6 miles long, taking around 1 hour to complete the round-trip hike. It has excellent views of Pearl Lake and Farewell Mountain as well as providing the possibility of connecting to the Coulton Creek Trail, in the Routt National Forest, for an up to 6-mile, one-way trip.

Winter Recreation: The park and facilities are only accessible by snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile in winter as the area gets over 300 inches of snow each year. There are no groomed trails, ice fishing is permitted as long as the conditions are right, and the two yurts remain open, although getting to them requires a 1/2 mile trek through the snow.