Steamboat Lake Marina

If you are planning to bring your boat to Steamboat Lake and the Steamboat Lake State Park this summer, we’d love to have you!  There are two boat ramps available for full-size boats on the lake; Placer Cove and the Dutch Hill Area.  The Sage Flats ramp is for use with launching small boats only.

The Marina offers overnight dock rentals, fuel, concessions, camping supplies, firewood and a whole lot more.  For our visitors staying at the park can store boat trailers west of the Marina.  Complete boat registration details can be found on the Colorado State Parks website.

A Day Permit or a Parks Pass is required to access the park and the boat ramps.  Annual Parks Passes can be purchased for $60 per vehicle and there are discounts for seniors, veterans and those that are disabled.

In response to various threats such as Zebra and Quagga Mussels, all boats must first be inspected by a Colorado State Parks Ranger in order to prevent the spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species.  Inspections will include a thorough scan of all boats and floating devices including their content, motors, trailers and associated equipment.

For those that don’t plan to bring their own boat but would love the opportunity to explore the lake from the water, please allow us to help you with the perfect Steamboat Lake boat rentals.

WOW!  The weather has been fantastic as of late and the wheels are in motion to start getting the marina up and running for the summer.  Our phones are buzzing with lots of friendly people eager to book our Steamboat Springs cabins and inquire about other camping in the area.

Don’t be left out of the fun… start planning ahead!  The State Park has announced that ALL of their campsites will be open and available this summer but spot will fill up quickly.   Here’s a helpful link for Steamboat Lake Camping and we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

As I look out at the melting ice on Steamboat Lake and notice the ice fisherman have all tucked tail for the summer, I can’t help but think back to colder days.

In that respect, I hope you appreciate how crazy this Canadian ice fisherman really are. Enjoy!

Checking on things at the Marina HQ today.  That was quiet a snow storm that blew through here over the last week and things are all covered up in snow once again.  But with the warm weather we had today and forecasted through the weekend, we should see this melt away quickly.

Just got connected with the very cool people at Steamboat Videos.  If you’re looking for the best explanation as to why we love living here, these videos will do the trick!  Here’s a favorite of mine.  About 6 minutes long but well worth the view.

You can also follow these guys on Twitter: @SteamboatVideos

One of the very coolest offerings you will find at the Steamboat Lake Marina is the wide selection of non-motorized boats we have for rent. So as a helpful way to get you started thinking about your interest in lake kayaking, here are some quick tips to remember.

On a personal note, the first time I ever tried kayaking I got about 2 stokes deep and flipped like a drunken sailor. It was then and there that I decided to give all those whitewater studs I’d see in the local rivers credit where credit is due. Your first foray into the fun and freedom of kayaking can initially be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be if you remember these simple things:

#1) Use the right paddle. Longer paddles are used for more relaxed, even strokes while short paddles are meant for more powerful, vertical strokes. When kayaking Steamboat Lake, we typically recommend going with a longer paddle style.

#2) You may not already know, but some paddles are specifically designed for right or left handed people. Check your paddle or ask someone to find if your paddle is dominant-hand specific.

#3) Offsetting your paddle blades can often help make your strokes smoother and longer, with less splash. This can typically be done by twisting the right and left sides once you’ve unlatched the small attachment button in the middle.

#4) To paddle with offset blades, the correct approach is to keep your dominant hand firm on the paddle while your other hand stays loose. Allowing the paddle to easily twist through your loose hand while your dominant hand controls the blade angle is the correct form.

#5) Paddling is NOT just in the arms! Your most powerful strokes should actually stem from your torso and core muscle strength. This will keep your arms from turning to rubber and prevent soreness later when you’re trying to roast marshmallows by the fire.

#6) When possible, try exercising the muscles in your hips and lower torso. Utilizing these muscle groups more effectively will lead to better control of the edge of your boat and your angle to the water.

Hopefully these quick tips will help keep your top end dry! Unless of course it’s a hot day on the lake. Then it’s perfectly acceptable to tip like a Weeble!

This week’s absolutely absurd clip is a compilation of hilarious water sports bloopers.  This is real life, “when good sports go bad” kind of material.  Happy Friday!

I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the Mastercraft this summer and making some turns on the lake.  I’m a true water skier at heart, born and raised on the lakes of Michigan.  As I’m getting back into the sport, I find myself amongst more and more wakeboarders than ever before.  

Now that I live in a ski town, it is probably very similar to the old “skiers vs. snowboarders” clash on the slopes.  Not that I’m suggesting there is any turmoil at all between water skiers and wakeboarders, it’s just that I know very little about wakeboarding (though I’m anxious to try). 

For anyone in the same boat (ha, nice pun) I wanted to attach a little “Beginners Guide to Wakeboarding.”

Looking at the river flows of nearby rivers and streams, the spring melt is definitely ON!  All signs are looking good for an earlier than usual opening at the lake.

The Yampa River through Steamboat Springs is currently running at 110 cubic feet per second.  That’s a good sign considering that just 3 weeks ago the flow was hovering in the low 90s.  If you’re a river rat or flow geek, you’ll appreciate the stats for yourself: http://bit.ly/9RQbLB

Otherwise, just know that the staff here is gearing up for a long and beautiful summer to come!

Once a week, we plan to scour the web for the most absurd videos we can find and bring them to you in what we like to call the “Absolutely Absurd Weekly Clip.”

Not sure if this is THE most absurd, but it’s a good one to get started with.  Kids… don’t try this at home!