By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio/Blizzard Broadcasting. Photos courtesy Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks.

 

While the weather has been well below freezing lately, still be careful around our lakes and bodies of water. Elkhead Reservoir State Park has significant open sections of water, as of last weekend so the reservoir is unsafe right now. Here’s Kirk Mahaffie with Elkhead and Yampa River State Parks.

“With all the changing weather and warm weather, ice at Elkhead is sketchy at best. We do have some in the cove there northeast access. We also have a little bit of open water. And general rule of thumb, ice that’s two inches or less, stay off. Four inches of good ice can support a walking individual, but that’s good, clean, clear ice, not cloudy or milky ice. So it’s just better to test it as you go out. Right now, it’s pretty sketchy. There has been people fishing but you just really need to know your conditions and keep all your equipment with you, your safety equipment.”

 

Stagecoach Reservoir at Stagecoach State Park is covered in ice, according to senior ranger Guthrie Lowe. He says some of the coves have up to six inches of ice, but it seems weaker than it has been in the past. He says to make sure to check the ice as you go, if you’re ice fishing.

 

At Steamboat Lake State Park in North Routt County, Julie Arington, the park manager says there would typically be several feet of ice right now, but it’s a unique year with the warm weather. She said the coves are safer, but still be cautious if ice fishing. She also says to not venture out to the middle of Steamboat Lake right now.

 

From Yampa River State Park, just west of Hayden, the outdoor ice rink is open. Loaner skates are available. Skating is free but you need your vehicle pass for the state park.