Nestled in the mountains north of Steamboat Springs, this peaceful park sits in a quiet lakeside setting. Overlooking Farwell Mountain, visitors camp along the shoreline and on a ridge with amazing views.
There’s excellent fly and lure fishing for native cutthroat trout. A trail takes visitors along the shoreline and leads them deep into the Routt National Forest. Picnicking is picture perfect. This is a true escape from the day-to-day routine.
Backcountry camping
Dispersed camping in the National Forest is accessible by hiking the Pearl Lake connection trail.
Boating
Pristine and quiet with great fishing and wakeless-only boating, it’s what a mountain lake should be. In order to keep Pearl Lake and other lakes this way, new regulations now require that all trailer launched vessels be inspected for ANS.
Cabins and Yurts
Two yurts are available year-round at Pearl Lake. From May 1st through November 30th, the camping minimum night stay for the yurts is two nights. During the winter months, it is a 6-8 minute hike or cross-country ski or snowmobile trek to reach the yurts. Both yurts are heated and have electricity. Yurt #16 is pet friendly and requires a nightly non refundable deposit that must be paid at the Steamboat Lake Visitor Center. Yurt # 6 does not allow pets inside.
Camping
The modest Pearl Lake campground offers thirty five individual campsites (which are non-electric) and two yurts (each yurt has electric lights and heat) and is a quiet getaway. Some sites in the lower loop are near the shoreline, but all sites are within easy walking distance of the reservoir.
Cross-country Skiing
Being off the beaten path, Pearl Lake gets plenty of snowfall each winter, and is an excellent place to hop on your skis and go. There are no groomed trails, so this is a backcountry experience.
Dog-friendly
Dogs are welcome in the park and in yurt #16 as long as:
they are on a six foot or shorter leash at all times
their waste is properly disposed of
Fishing
Anglers catch cutthroat trout and grayling from this 167 acre reservoir. The best fishing of the year tends to be mid-to-late May during ice-off and again in the fall. Fishing at Pearl Lake is restricted to flies and artificial lures. No bait is allowed. A two-fish bag limit is enforced and each fish must be over 18 inches. Fishing licenses are available at the Visitor Center. The lake is available for ice fishing during the winter months but is restricted to flies and lures only.
Hiking
Hike from the boat ramp to the dam and connect with the Coulton Creek Trail on the Routt National Forest.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing for cutthroat trout and grayling are allowed. Pearl Lake is restricted to flies and lures only with a two-fish, over 18 inches bag limit. Ice fishers will have to snowshoe or cross-country ski a half-mile to reach the lake. Ice conditions can vary dramatically, and falling through can be fatal. Please use caution and carry self-rescue equipment, such as: ice awls.
Paddle Boarding
The wakeless waters of Pearl Lake have become a popular destination for standup paddleboarding. Please remember your PFD before launching in our waters. Paddleboards are available for rent from a vendor on the weekends.
Picnicking
Picnickers have the option of seven different sites with tables and grills or fire rings overlooking the lake. A watchable wildlife viewing deck provides picture postcard views along the tree lined shore. A universally accessible picnic site is located by the boat ramp.
Snowshoeing
An excellent area for snowshoeing!
Winter Activities
Park roads and facilities are closed by over 300 inches of annual snowfall making the park accessible by snowshoes, cross-country skis or snowmobile.
