Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Visitors planning on pitching tents and camping out this weekend are running out of options.

Many Routt County campgrounds are filled to capacity for the holiday weekend, though a few options still exist for those without reservations.

Yampa River State Park, located west of Hayden on U.S. Highway 40, has a limited number of campsites and recreational-vehicle spots available for tonight and Saturday night, park employee Vickie Runnion said.

Because site reservations are closed for the weekend, the limited number of spots is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, Runnion said. Primitive camping sites at Elkhead Reservoir also are available.

Stagecoach State Park, situated south of Steamboat Springs off of Colorado Highway 131 near Oak Creek, has a small number of campsites available Saturday, park employee Laura Meade said. There are no sites available today, she said.

As with Yampa River State Park, the sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. The 860-acre park features a 780-acre reservoir where visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including fishing, swimming, water skiing, sailing and windsurfing.

While a limited number of camping and RV sites remain available at Stagecoach and Yampa River state parks, the same can't be said for the popular Steamboat Lake State Park, where park manager Ken Brink said the park's 198 campsites have been booked since early April.

"It's unbelievable," Brink said of the park's popularity. "People love to come camp here, especially on the Fourth (of July)."

All 38 campsites at Pearl Lake, located a few miles south of Steamboat Lake, also are filled for the weekend, Brink said.

However, Brink encouraged visitors to come to the park and enjoy the many activities it provides. Boat rentals are available from the marina, and swimming at Steamboat Lake's swim beach is particularly nice now that water temperatures are near 65 degrees, Brink said.

As with all state parks, fireworks are illegal at Steamboat and Pearl Lakes, Brink said. The park's campsites feature ground grate fire pits, though Brink said the area's high fire danger still poses a threat.

"Fire danger is on the rise because we finally hit the warm weather," Brink said. "We're warning people about fires, even those (at campsites) with the ground grate. It's very important to be safe."

Brink said camping is still available near Cameron Pass off of Colorado Highway 14, east of Steamboat Springs on the opposite side of Rabbit Ears Pass. For more camping information in that area, call (970) 723-8366.

Privately owned campgrounds also are experiencing the boom of holiday weekend visitors.

Every RV site, cabin and tent site at Steamboat Campground, located three miles west of Steamboat on U.S. 40, has been reserved since May, employee Peyton Bulla said.

"We are packed through the weekend and actually packed through the middle of next week," Bulla said. "This is typical for this weekend."

The story is much the same at Strawberry Park Hot Springs, gate attendant Brent Olson said.

"We're totally booked," Olson said. "I'm getting all the last-minute calls today."

Though the hot springs' gypsy wagons, campsites and rustic cabins are booked for the weekend, Olson said there's plenty of room for those who wish to come soak in the hot springs' warm waters.