The Yampa River flows 250 miles through Northwestern Colorado. The map includes a chart that shows the different access points to the Yampa River in Craig, including Loudy-Simpson Park, the Pump Station, Pebble Beach, and the Milk Creek. Yampa River boaters have 13 access points in the 134-mile-long Yampa River State Park portion of the river, stretching from Hayden, Colorado, to Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah border (Permits required within Dinosaur National Monument). Follow the paths that meander throughout the gardens to enjoy trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Region. The drawback to this solitude is that a long stretch of the Elk River runs through privately owned ranches, and you need permission from the owners to access the best fishing waters. The Upper Elk, north of Clark down Seedhouse road, has tons of public water access in the National Forest. Double Bridges is the furtherest upstream public access point of the Yampa River state park system. This Yampa River development property is situated directly on the Yampa River with over 1,000 feet of river frontage. The Yampa is the only free-flowing river of the state, meaning that it is unobstructed by any dams or diversions for the entire 261 miles of its length. For that reason, the public access that is available seems to be enough. Rising in the Rocky Mountains, it is a tributary of the Green River and a major part of the Colorado River system. The first popular whitewater section of the Yampa river is made up of 65 miles of Class II and III rapids. The Headquarters park office is located on Highway 40 between the cities of Craig and Hayden.Yampa River State Park offers several public access sites along a 134 mile stretch of the Yampa River between Hayden and the Dinosaur National Monument near the Utah border. Take County Road 17 south for approximately 10 miles. Although there is a tailwater section of the Yampa, the river here exhibits the characteristics of a freestone fishery. We float all section of the Yampa River depending on water flows. The Yampa River flows through this ranch for over 1.5 miles. A good map or GPS will ensure property ownership as well. The Yampa River Fund helped provide funds to improve a boat ramp and an ADA compliant river access ramp at Loudy Simpson Park in Craig, CO. Below Steamboat the lower Yampa is a great fishery for trophy trout, northern pike and small mouth bass. The property spans 45 acres at the confluence of Sarvis Creek and the Yampa River and is known as Hubbard’s Summer Camp. Paddling from there to South Beach is ranchland with plenty of trees and wildlife along the banks of the river. We have access to many private ranches on both the Yampa and Elk rivers that can produce spectacular trout including large rainbows and browns. Make sure you know the river conditions before leaving. Marker Location Current Flow (ft/sec) Current Temperature (F) 1: Yampa River Public - Steamboat Springs: 65: 33: Fishing Report: 2: Yampa River Public - Stagecoach Tailwater The Yampa is one of the few free-flowing rivers in the western United States, with only a few small dams and diversions. The gardens are also home to sculptures placed throughout the Park. Yampa River State Park has attempted to mark the river with red (private land-no access) and blue (public access allowed) signage along the river. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Steamboat Springs City Council is moving forward on an ordinance implementing a $5 fee on tubes purchased at local sporting goods stores and banning disposable containers when floating on recreational tubes, rafts and paddle boards. The 39 mile flat-water float trip through little Yampa Canyon may be accessed through South Beach River access site off of State route 13 south of Craig. You can access the Yampa River about five miles upstream of Catamount Lake on County Road #18 at the Sarvis Creek State Wildlife Area. It should be noted that river permits are NOT available for paddling between West Cross Mountain and Deerlodge Park, so West Cross Mountain access becomes the last public take-out point for this reach of the Yampa River. Plenty of public access can be found starting from the town of Yampa, 30 miles south of Steamboat Springs, to Stagecoach Reservoir. The acquisition created new public access to a coveted stretch of trophy trout water and conserved the only unprotected land within an area that is otherwise safeguarded by wilderness, parks and wildlife areas. Yampa River is a stream located just 31.9 miles from Rangely, in Moffat County, in the state of Colorado, United States, near Robinson Place, CO. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including northern pike, panfish, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, brown trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout here. Beginning in 1995 the Yampa River Botanic Park sprang from a flat horse pasture to a six acre gem of ponds, berms, and over 50 gardens. All access sites have some type of river access for boating or limited walk-wade fishing. On the south side of the road, you will see County Road 17. The upper Yampa are full or half day floats and the lower sections of the Yampa are full day trips. Bring a small rod, attractor dry flies and 4x tippet. February 10th, 2020. Yampa River Fly Fishing Guide: Access to the Yampa River is plentiful. Boating at Yampa River State Park. Yampa River covers over 140 river miles from Stagecoach Reservoir to Cross Mountain Recreation Area and includes Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Upstream of Yampa River State Park is one of the healthiest trout fisheries in the state, and on the eastern end of Yampa River State Park from Hayden to Craig, you can find populations of small mouth bass, northern pike and more trout. ... With an ideal location in the path of growth in the West end of town, there is easy access on public roads and the property is adjacent to the city bike path. Most of the river is private but there is some public access in … The Yampa river is nestled up in Steamboat springs and contains plenty of access right through town and a great tailwater up by stagecoach. Also included are a Yampa insect hatch chart and float chart. In 2012, Western Rivers Conservancy completed a historic purchase on Colorado’s Yampa River: the Cross Mountain Canyon Ranch. Increasing recreational demands upon the river have created the need to develop the YAMPA RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN (YRMP) (PDF) to help ensure protection of the biological integrity of the river and manage recreational uses.. Commercial tubing is permitted from Fifth Street to the James Brown … It has one problem - the lack of public access but even so, it is rarely fished because of the nearby Yampa. The Yampa through town is all public water, and it’s bordered by a paved bike path that makes it easy to relocate from pool to pool (or to grab a beer and sandwich from one of the many riverside restaurants). This map contains all public fishing access areas, campgrounds, boat put in locations, parking areas, and BLM Public Lands. There are plenty of public access to the Yampa River. The Elk is frozen. Otherwise, your only access to the Elk River is from the public parking areas and pull-offs in Routt National Forest and the Christina Wildlife Refuge Area. The take-out at West Duffy Mountain River access site is off of Moffat County Road 17. Look for this to re open mid to late March. Yampa River Statistics, Facts and Maps Introduction to the Basin. Upstream, there are more public access points at Rotary Park, River Creek Park, and the Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area. Needless to say, take the flotation device. The main vein of the downtown corridor, the Yampa river is the lifeblood of the area. Yampa River State Park is located just west of the Town of Hayden on US Highway 40. The Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area also provides access. The Yampa River flows through northern Colorado through the ski resort town of Steamboat Springs. Though the river is no secret, it holds a good number of photo worthy fish that will fight hard and wild giving you a great tug on your fly rod and providing great fishing for beginners to experts alike. In Steamboat Springs. The Flat Tops are well known for the Devil’s Causeway, which is a fantastic hike over a narrow land bridge at 11,800 feet in elevation. The route begins in Steamboat Springs, with river access typically putting boaters in at Shield Drive or Little Toots Park. Public access around Steamboat allows anglers the opportunity to land better than average rainbow and brown trout. Yampa River Outfitters offers a wide variety of Float and Walk-Wade trips on both public and private water. With few public access points along the Yampa River and nearly all of the land in private ownership, there is very little crowding and the fishing is some of the best in the state. The Yampa River. The river usually flows clean, cold and clear from April through August in years of normal or higher snowmelt. County Road #14 has several pull off areas for anglers to park. During cold weather fleet (obviously before the river freezes), be prepared to deal with a situation in which their canoe overturned. Fly Fishing Elk River Colorado The Elk River is a beautiful Colorado trout stream that is a major tributary of the Yampa River. You will cross the Yampa River at a spot known as Government Bridge, no river access is allowed. The take out for this float would be the (1) Pump Station, managed through Yampa River State Park and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The ranch is located 14 … Acquisition of this 920-acre property protects 2.5 miles of prime riverland on one of Colorado’s greatest streams while opening new access to more than 88,000 acres of surrounding public land. The lower Yampa River is a warm water fishery that primary has Small-mouth Bass, Pike and Carp. The unregulated, wild, and free Yampa River starts at its headwaters in the Flat Tops Wilderness Southwest of Steamboat Springs, CO. Yampa River. All section have huge fish. “When we learned about Hubbard’s Summer Place,” says WRC President Sue Doroff, “We immediately recognized the need to protect it and make it accessible. Yampa River boaters have 13 access points in the 134-mile-long Yampa River State Park portion of the river, stretching from Hayden, Colorado, to Dinosaur National Monument on the Utah border (permits required within Dinosaur National Monument). About the Yampa River. WRC was in the process of conserving a 920-acre ranch on the lower Yampa River to protect 2.5 miles of the Yampa and open new public access to the BLM’s vast Cross Mountain Wilderness Study Area. From Colorado to Utah, here are the most popular whitewater rafting sections of the Yampa River: Steamboat To Craig. The Yampa offers miles of diverse fishing opportunity as it flows from the Flat Top Wilderness to the Green River. A word of caution is in order. Willows, cottonwoods and a bright assortment of shrubs and other vegetation have donned their fall-colored leaves along the Yampa River. The trip usually requires an overnight camp along the river on public lands. Anglers fish for both warm water and cold water species at the numerous access points to the Yampa in and around Hayden. Yampa River, Colorado is a guide to canoeing, kayaking and rafting the Yampa River running from its headwaters in the White River National Forest of Northeastern Garfield County to its confluence with the Green River, with information and links to canoe and raft liveries and rentals, campgrounds, shuttle services and other businesses catering to paddlers and paddlesports. The Yampa River is a vital element of the Steamboat Springs community. Continue along the county road, following the signs for public access and go left at the cattle guard on BLM Road 1593.