Steinaker State Park

Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in Steinaker State Park, one of the many state and national parks in Utah. Steinaker State Park and the reservoir around which it is centered serve as a popular recreational spot for both visitors and locals year round.

Steinaker State Park and Reservoir is part of Dinoland Day Trip #4.

Check current park and reservoir conditions

Things to Do at Steinaker State Park

Steinaker Reservoir

Sometimes referred to as Steinaker Lake, the reservoir at Steinaker State Park is a beautiful place for all the water fun you could want.

Boating on Steinaker Lake

Boating is a popular activity on the reservoir. It’s common to see wakeboarding and water skiing during the summer months. There are also calm water areas away from the motorized boats where you can enjoy paddleboarding and kayaking. There’s no wrong way to spend a warm day on the water!

Keep Steinaker Reservoir Mussel Free

It’s very important we keep Steinaker Reservoir free of invasive quagga mussels. All boaters are required to fill out the AIS Certification form, which is available at the park office.

Complete the Mussel-Aware Boater Education Course

Fishing at Steinaker

Steinaker State Park is a great fishing spot for both new and experienced anglers. Rainbow Trout is a popular catch, with summer being an especially good time to catch Largemouth Bass.

The lake freezes over sometimes during the winter months. When this happens, be sure to claim your spot on the ice before someone else snags the best ice fishing spot! Steinaker hosts an ice fishing tournament every winter in January, with thousands of dollars in prizes awarded each year.

When it’s time to leave with the day’s catch, you can use the on-site fish cleaning station to prepare your fish for cooking and eating. Please adhere to Steinaker Reservoir fishing regulations.

Swimming

On a hot day, enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake or sunbathing on the beach. Steinaker Reservoir has a sandy beach area and a swim dock for public use.

OHV Riding

Feel free to bring your OHV to Steinaker to explore the various trails in the area (but please stay on the trails).

Hiking

Most of the terrain around Steinaker is easily walkable, and various trails make for a good day hike. Check out the 1-mile Steinaker Nature Trail through steep ravines that connect to other smaller offshoot paths around the park. Only 10 minutes away from Steinaker, is the beautiful Moonshine Arch trail, a short hike appropriate for all ages with a gorgeous view on the 40 foot arch.

Stargazing

Steinaker State Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018. Nighttime at Steinaker is a great opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers to spend an evening looking at the stars.

Escaping the light pollution of the city makes one realize just how many stars really fill the sky when you can get a clear view. Stay the night at Steinaker for one of the most incredible starry nights in the world.

Dinosaur National Monument is another International Dark Sky Park in Dinoland.

3D Archery Range

For those looking to hone their archery skills in a creative way, the 3D archery range at Steinaker State Park is a must-try! This range includes 17 life-like animal targets, positioned in a natural outdoor setting for archers to practice with.

There are seven shooting lanes including an ADA accessible lane. Entrance to the archery range is included in the park fee.

Look For Fossils

Evidence of past living organisms are plentiful at Steinaker. Look closely in the rock along the banks for fossils of oysters, clams, and other shellfish. One common find is the “belemnite”, a fossilized sea squid from the ancient sea that used to cover the area.

Removal of fossils is illegal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look for them. Maybe you’ll even find a dinosaur bone.

Geocaching

The park has a geo-cache set up and a hint to its location is “A great view of the reservoir.” The coordinates for its location are listed three different ways for your GPS:

N40.514902 E -109.541514 – degrees

N40 30.894′ E -109 32.492′ – degrees / minutes

N40 30’53.47″ E -109 32′ 29.52″ – degrees / minutes / seconds

Park Facilities

Facilities at Steinaker State Park include vault restrooms, a day-use pavilion, picnic tables, a swim dock, a beach, campsites, a fish cleaning station, and RV sites for vehicles up to 35 feet.

Fees and Passes

Day use fee = $10, including use of watercraft launches. You may purchase single-day passes online.
Day-use for Utah seniors 62+ = $8
Winter Camping (Oct 15 – April 14) = $13-26/night, depending on site.
Summer Camping (April 15 – Oct 14) = $20-30/night, depending on site.
Annual passes (available for purchase at the park) = $75
Senior (annual) passes = $35

Stay at Steinaker State Park

Steinaker Cabin

While camping at Steinaker State Park is a blast, there is also a cabin available for rent. The Steinaker cabin is available from mid-May to mid-October, and includes a Queen-size bunk bed, heating/air conditioning, a small fridge, a microwave, a futon, and a small table with chairs.

This cabin can accommodate up to six people. No pets are allowed. Book the cabin for a more comfortable stay at the park, with a great view of Steinaker Reservoir.

Camping

The campground at Steinaker State Park is very scenic with the campsites overlooking the reservoir. Camping is available from May 15 to September 30 each year. Book a campsite early because they fill up fast! Check out the Steinaker State Park campground map.

Lodging in Vernal

Steinaker State Park is only about 12 minutes from Vernal, Utah and some visitors choose to stay in Vernal while making a day trip out of Steinaker. Browse the lodging options in Vernal and find a comfortable basecamp for experiencing the adventure of Dinosaurland.