Elkhead Reservoir State Park

Last updated

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
Red pog.svg
Location Moffat County and Routt County, Colorado, U.S.
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
Visitors268,047(in 2021) [1]

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. [2]

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. [3]

The reservoir is stocked with primarily warmwater fish species, including largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. [4] 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

References

  1. "Colorado State Parks Region Annual Visitation Report" (PDF). Colorado Counties, Inc. 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 4, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. Colorado Parks & Wildlife.Elkhead Reservoir.
  3. "Elkhead Reservoir State Park" (PDF). Colorado Parks and Wildlife . Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  4. Craig Chamber of Commerce. Elkhead Reservoir Archived April 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine .