Pearl Lake State Park
Encyclopedia
Pearl Lake State Park, at the base of Hahn's Peak, is in Routt County, Colorado
near the town of Hahn's Peak, Colorado
and is north of Steamboat Springs
. Pearl Lake is named for M. Pearl Hartt, the wife of pioneer sheep rancher, John Kelly Hartt.
. The Cow Creek and Pioneer sheep summered near Hahn's Peak, Colorado in the place that is now Pearl Lake. John Kelly Hartt died in the early 1950s, eventually resulting in the sale of the land by his wife, Pearl, to the U.S. Forest Service. That sale was thought to be the event that shifted this region from primarily agricultural to primarily recreational.
During the winter, due to snowfall (over 300 inches (7,620 mm) annually), the roads and facilities are closed. However, the park is open for foot and snowmobile access. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing are popular winter activities.
Routt County, Colorado
Routt County is the 15th most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,690 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Steamboat Springs.- History :...
near the town of Hahn's Peak, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and is north of Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...
. Pearl Lake is named for M. Pearl Hartt, the wife of pioneer sheep rancher, John Kelly Hartt.
History
John Kelly Hartt was a principal owner of three of the largest sheep companies in U.S. history—Pioneer, Cow Creek and Yellowstone. The sheep wintered near Rawlins, WyomingRawlins, Wyoming
Rawlins is a city in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 8,538 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County...
. The Cow Creek and Pioneer sheep summered near Hahn's Peak, Colorado in the place that is now Pearl Lake. John Kelly Hartt died in the early 1950s, eventually resulting in the sale of the land by his wife, Pearl, to the U.S. Forest Service. That sale was thought to be the event that shifted this region from primarily agricultural to primarily recreational.
Activities
Recreational opportunities in Pearl State Park include camping, boating, fishing and picnicking. There are 36 campsites amongst the forest of fir, spruce and pine. In addition to tent camping, trailers and small motor homes are permitted. The park also has two yurts available for rent. The 167 acre (0.67582562 km²) lake permits boating, including gasoline and electric motors (though boaters are restricted to wakeless speeds). Fishing (license required) is restricted to flies and artificial lures (no bait permitted).During the winter, due to snowfall (over 300 inches (7,620 mm) annually), the roads and facilities are closed. However, the park is open for foot and snowmobile access. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing are popular winter activities.