Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks

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Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks are updating their Parks Management Plan! More info about the plan and opportunities to engage are below.


Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff are updating the Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks Management Plan. Yampa River State Park has been operating under its 1997 Park Management Plan, and Elkhead Reservoir State Park has been operating under its 1999 Park Master Plan. This new Management Plan will serve as an overarching management guide for both parks by outlining short- and long-term visitor, recreation, resource, and infrastructure management visions for the park. It will chart the management priorities and specific management directions for current and future park staff.

State Park Management Plans are intended to:

  • Serve as a point of reference for current and future park staff, other partnering agencies, elected officials, and interested members of the public.
  • Help inform future use and development and visitor recreation experiences.
  • Guide management of existing natural and cultural resources.
  • Provide a framework for monitoring and maintaining state park resources.
  • Identify park enhancement opportunities, including possible facility upgrades, new park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation projects, and other important management initiatives.
  • Help inform future budget allocations and annual funding requests.

Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks Description

Offering users access to one of the wildest stretches of river in Colorado and an oasis of water in the high sage desert, Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks are remarkable and unique resources in the Colorado State Parks system.

Elkhead Reservoir was constructed in 1974 by CPW and a consortium of power providers on Elkhead Creek to store water for agricultural, municipal, and recreational uses. The park came under CPW’s management in the late 1990’s. The reservoir was enlarged in 2006, raising the dam a total of 25 feet. The park now encompasses 2,100 total acres, 900 of which being surface water for visitors to enjoy. The park sees approximately 210,000 visitors annually.

Yampa River State Park was established in 1997 as a product of the Yampa River Legacy Project. This project brought together people with varied interests with one common goal: to conserve the unique natural areas and agricultural lands along the Yampa River while managing recreation and protecting biologically sensitive features and private property. The park provides users with 13 access points along the Yampa River from Hayden, Colorado west to the border of Dinosaur National Monument, totaling 134 miles of river. The park totals 164 acres and sees around 155,000 visitors each year.

Since the two parks are only 13 miles apart and are connected by surface water, they are managed by the same park staff and are guided by the same management documents. The area is rich in history and provides abundant natural resources to visitors seeking the best Northwest Colorado has to offer.

Upcoming Public Events and Meetings

Public Meeting: August 27th, 5:30-7pm, Location TBD

We would like to invite you to an upcoming public meeting regarding the update of our Parks’ Management Plan. The goals of the meeting are to:

  • Share information about the planning process and how to get involved
  • Share preliminary visitation survey results
  • Gather input on park priorities and public interest

Visitation Survey

We are also seeking feedback on visitor experiences to inform the management plan. The survey is completely anonymous and includes questions about your valued activities and experiences with crowding. If you have visited either park within the last six months, please share your feedback using the links below to help us support the best visitor experiences possible.

Yampa River State Park Survey - If you’ve visited Yampa River State Park in the last six months, please fill out this survey.

Elkhead Reservoir State Park Survey - If you’ve visited Elkhead Reservoir State Park in the last six months, please fill out this survey

Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks are updating their Parks Management Plan! More info about the plan and opportunities to engage are below.


Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff are updating the Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks Management Plan. Yampa River State Park has been operating under its 1997 Park Management Plan, and Elkhead Reservoir State Park has been operating under its 1999 Park Master Plan. This new Management Plan will serve as an overarching management guide for both parks by outlining short- and long-term visitor, recreation, resource, and infrastructure management visions for the park. It will chart the management priorities and specific management directions for current and future park staff.

State Park Management Plans are intended to:

  • Serve as a point of reference for current and future park staff, other partnering agencies, elected officials, and interested members of the public.
  • Help inform future use and development and visitor recreation experiences.
  • Guide management of existing natural and cultural resources.
  • Provide a framework for monitoring and maintaining state park resources.
  • Identify park enhancement opportunities, including possible facility upgrades, new park facilities, restoration and rehabilitation projects, and other important management initiatives.
  • Help inform future budget allocations and annual funding requests.

Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks Description

Offering users access to one of the wildest stretches of river in Colorado and an oasis of water in the high sage desert, Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks are remarkable and unique resources in the Colorado State Parks system.

Elkhead Reservoir was constructed in 1974 by CPW and a consortium of power providers on Elkhead Creek to store water for agricultural, municipal, and recreational uses. The park came under CPW’s management in the late 1990’s. The reservoir was enlarged in 2006, raising the dam a total of 25 feet. The park now encompasses 2,100 total acres, 900 of which being surface water for visitors to enjoy. The park sees approximately 210,000 visitors annually.

Yampa River State Park was established in 1997 as a product of the Yampa River Legacy Project. This project brought together people with varied interests with one common goal: to conserve the unique natural areas and agricultural lands along the Yampa River while managing recreation and protecting biologically sensitive features and private property. The park provides users with 13 access points along the Yampa River from Hayden, Colorado west to the border of Dinosaur National Monument, totaling 134 miles of river. The park totals 164 acres and sees around 155,000 visitors each year.

Since the two parks are only 13 miles apart and are connected by surface water, they are managed by the same park staff and are guided by the same management documents. The area is rich in history and provides abundant natural resources to visitors seeking the best Northwest Colorado has to offer.

Upcoming Public Events and Meetings

Public Meeting: August 27th, 5:30-7pm, Location TBD

We would like to invite you to an upcoming public meeting regarding the update of our Parks’ Management Plan. The goals of the meeting are to:

  • Share information about the planning process and how to get involved
  • Share preliminary visitation survey results
  • Gather input on park priorities and public interest

Visitation Survey

We are also seeking feedback on visitor experiences to inform the management plan. The survey is completely anonymous and includes questions about your valued activities and experiences with crowding. If you have visited either park within the last six months, please share your feedback using the links below to help us support the best visitor experiences possible.

Yampa River State Park Survey - If you’ve visited Yampa River State Park in the last six months, please fill out this survey.

Elkhead Reservoir State Park Survey - If you’ve visited Elkhead Reservoir State Park in the last six months, please fill out this survey

Page published: 03 Aug 2026, 08:33 AM