Elkhead Reservoir State Park

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Elkhead Reservoir State Park
Elkhead State Park.JPG
A view of Elkhead State park including Elkhead Reservoir with the Elkhead Mountains in the distance.
USA Colorado location map.svg
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Location Moffat County and Routt County, Colorado, USA
Nearest city Craig, Colorado
Coordinates 40°33′40″N107°22′54″W / 40.56111°N 107.38167°W / 40.56111; -107.38167
Area2,200 acres (8.9 km2)
Created1998
Operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Elkhead Reservoir State Park is a Colorado state park located in Moffat and Routt counties in northwest Colorado, near Craig. The park surrounds and includes the 900 surface acre Elkhead Reservoir. It is referred to as Elkhead State Park. Elkhead Reservoir State Park is managed as a complex out of the Yampa River State Park office, located to the west of the town of Hayden, CO. [1]

Contents

Elkhead Reservoir was constructed in 1974 and is owned by the City of Craig. The Colorado State Parks system took over management of recreational use and facilities at the reservoir in 1998. [2]

The reservoir is stocked with primarily warmwater fish species, including largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. [3] Activities at the park include both non-electric and electric camping, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and hiking. As of 2021, Elkhead Reservoir State Park did not feature potable water as an amenity, though it can be sourced at the nearby Yampa River State Park.

Geography

The park straddles the Routt / Moffat county line. The reservoir dams Elkhead Creek, which drains the Elkhead Mountains, to the north.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach Dam</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elkhead Reservoir</span> Reservoir

Elkhead Reservoir is located in northwest Colorado near the town of Craig. It was originally constructed by the Division of Wildlife on the Elkhead Creek, which is a major tributary of the Yampa River. A 205 square miles (530 km2) river basin drains into the reservoir. It has a capacity of 25,550 acre-feet (0.03152 km3). The dam was enlarged for two years ending in 2006. This enlargement cost $31 million and raised the height of the dam by 25 feet (7.6 m) and of the pool by 20 feet (6.1 m). The reservoir is found at an elevation of 6,355 feet (1,937 m).

References

  1. Colorado Parks & Wildlife.Elkhead Reservoir.
  2. "Elkhead Reservoir State Park" (PDF). Colorado Parks and Wildlife . Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. Craig Chamber of Commerce. Elkhead Reservoir.