Steinaker State Park

Steinaker Reservoir at Steinaker State Park is a bowl shaped oasis in the Unita Basin near Vernal. It is 5,520 feet in elevation, 750-acres in size, deepest point 130' and is located seven miles North of Vernal towards Flaming Gorge on Highway 191. It is a short drive from the highway on a good paved road to the entrance of the park. The park was named for John Steinaker a member of a local pioneer ranching family. The dam that created the reservoir was constructed in 1961. It is a water storage project that supplies the farmers in the basin with irrigation water during the summer. The water level is very dependant on the demand for irrigation and can fluctuate markedly depending on the season. Because of a very dry Spring and little Summer rain the level of the water is very low. Because of the low water, a condition called "swimmers itch" exists. For more information go to Swimmer's Itch Home Page.Use your browser's back button to return. The best advise is to avoid swimming or wading near the shoreline. Wearing waders to launch your boat is advisable. The condition is concentrated in the shallow water and does not affect the fish. The park is open from April to October and has 31 campsites located in the cottonwood trees, picnic tables, group pavilions, sewage dump station, boat ramp and restrooms including wheelchair accessible.For additional information you can contact the station at (435) 789-4432.

Fishing on the reservoir includes rainbow trout, the occasional large (9lb.) brown trout, largemouth bass in the 4-6 pound range and the variety of bluegills and green sunfish. Typical bass methods are the most productive - crank baits and jigs. The rainbow are responsive to the typical worms and Power baits. Trolling for the large brown trout with flat fish and other crankbaits will give the best result. The best time to fish all species is in the early portion of the season May-July.

Boat Ramp @ Steinaker

View South from Parking Lot