|
|
Filter
| Sort By: |
|
Showing 1 - 6
out of 6
On the left map, we grouped Destinations that are located close to each other into small circles. Now, you can locate all Destinations on the map at the same time. You can also drag & zoom the map.
Circle numbers - Count of Destinations that are located in and around that circle.
Colored circles - Destinations that are displayed in the list below.
Grey circles - Destinations that are displayed on next page(s).
Half colored circles - Some Destinations in that circle appear in the list below and some on next page(s).
Click on circles to zoom in or highlight Destinations .
page 1 out of 1
Durango, population approximately 17,000, is a favorite destination for a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts, including cyclists, rock climbers, kayakers, white river rafters, skiers, ... morehorseback riders, zip-liners and just about anything else that can be enjoyed in scenic, mountainous terrain. Situated in the San Juan Mountains, the largest range in the Rockies, Durango is a genuine, old western town where a river, the Animas, truly runs through it.
Sizeable trout can be fished from the Animas, a tributary of the San Juan River, right from pedestrian footbridges in the heart of town. A short hour’s drive south from Durango is the San Juan River, a highly productive tailwater that attracts anglers from around the globe. A little farther west, about an hour ½ drive, is the challenging Delores River, and for those willing to drive a little over two hours, you can fish the alluring upper Rio Grande.
Ancestral home to early Native Americans, the surrounding area is filled with cliff dwelling archaeological sites, a perfect activity for anyone traveling with you not interested in fishing. Durango came to life in the late 1880’s with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad expansion, built to move travelers, miners and tons of ore from nearby mines. Today the town is home to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway Museum that offers a 9-hour railroad tour of the area and is a major tourist attraction.
Located near the San Juan National Forest, Durango is surrounded by high mountains and lush greenery. To the northeast is the Rio Grande National Forest while the Lizard Head, South San Juan and Weminuche Wilderness Areas are also close by. Add Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument and the Ute Tribal Park to the list of things to see and do and it’s easy to see why Durango is such a popular place to fish and explore.
There are many options for getting to Durango, including:
Fly to Denver International Airport and drive for approximately 6 hours
Fly to Grand Junction Regional Airport and drive for approximately 3 ½ hours
Fly to Four Corners Regional Airport (Farmington, NM) and drive for 1 hour
Fly to Albuquerque International Sunport (NM) and drive for about 4 hours
Most everyone has heard of Aspen, known for its physical beauty, great access to skiing, high-end resorts, and home to innovative think tanks and institutes. Yet just a ½ hour drive ... morenorth on I-82 will take you to Basalt, a mile-high jewel of the Rockies. Surrounded on all sides by the White River National Forest, Basalt is also where two of the state’s best fly fishing rivers come together – the Gold Medal Frying Pan and Gold Medal Roaring Fork – and it’s a mere 30 minutes to the Colorado River.
Named for the nearby rock formations on Basalt Mountain, this town like many others in Colorado began in the late 1800’s as a mining and railroad junction. Trains were used to move people, charcoal and charcoal kilns, which at the time brought people to the area and employed many. Today the Frying Pan Kilns at Arbaney Park are an important tourist attraction.
Adventure sports and outdoor activities are the major tourist draw to the area. Within the White River National Forest there are 8 areas officially designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, including Eagles Nest, Flat Tops and the Hunter-Fryingpan. In addition, there are 10 peaks with elevations in excess of 14,000 feet including Snowmass, Castle and Gray’s Peak. The area also features a dozen ski areas including Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands, Beaver Creek, Snowmass and Vail.
Anyone planning a fly fishing vacation along with others not interesting in casting a line, there are scores of alternative activities to keep them engaged. They can choose from White water rafting on the Roaring Fork, boating on the Ruedi Reservoir, and needless to say, skiing. For those who like to bike, there are over a dozen, world class, cross country bike trails, as well as lift accessed down-hill biking throughout the valley. Hiking trails are numerous, varying in length, elevation and difficulty.
Not to be outdone by Aspen, Basalt is home to the Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI) new “Net-Zero Innovation Center,” located on the banks of the Roaring Fork. The Roaring Fork Conservancy is also currently building a new, state of the art center near RMI’s.
There are several ways to reach Basalt, including:
Fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport and drive approximately 2 hours
Fly into Denver International Airport and drive approximately 3 hours
Fly into Colorado Springs Airport and drive approximately 4 hours
Fly into Salt Lake City International Airport and drive approximately 6 hours
The City of Boulder has a population of around 100,000 strong. Boulder is an outdoor town and the flyfishing community is strong here. The town is famous for its colorful Western history ... moreand being a choice destination for hippies in the late 1960s. Boulder is the home of the main campus of the University of Colorado, the state's largest university. Because of its connection to nature the city of Boulder frequently acquires top rankings in health, well-being, quality of life, education and art.
A number of fly shops and guide services cater to those that want to explore the eastern slope of the rockies. Supreme fisheries are in close proximity. Boulder Creek, South Boulder Creek, Clear Creek, Big Thomson, St. Vrain, Blue River and Rocky Mountain National Part are close by.
The "Park" as locals call it has countless lakes and streams to be explored. If you're up for stalking the most georgeous cutthroat on a fly, this is the place to come to. Visit Moraine Park where you can hunt nice brown trout in undercut banks or stop at any of the high mountain lakes for an adventure or a lifetime.
Find Fort Collins on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range. Fort Collins is situated about 65 miles north of Denver. With a population just shy of 160,000, it is ... morethe fourth most populous city in Colorado Fort Collins is a midsize college town and home to Colorado State University. In and around Fort Collins are many experienced guide services that will introduce visitors to the Cache La Poudre and the many creeks and rivers within easy driving distance.
To locals in Fort Collins Flyfishing is a lifestyle. Within easy reach are the Big Thompson River, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain Nation Park.
Anyone who enjoys great scenery and prime tailwater fishing (and who doesn’t!) will enjoy Manitou Springs, Colorado. Located near Pike’s Peak and surrounded by national forest, this ... morebeautiful small town of under 5,000 people has a lot to offer fly fishing aficionados as well as other outdoor enthusiasts.
Within a few miles of town it’s possible to reach some of the finest trout fishing in Colorado, if not the country, on the South Platte River. The three top sections along the Platte easily reached from Manitou Springs are Cheesman Canyon and Deckers, northwest of town; the Dream Stream, which runs between Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir, and the Eleven Mile Canyon stretch that runs downstream of its reservoir.
There are other great choices as well. The Middle Fork of the South Platte is designated as both a Gold Medal and Wild Trout Stream while the South Fork of the South Platte is blessed with Gold Medal status. These waters are defined as being able to produce at least 60 pounds of trout per acre, and at least twelve 14" or larger trout per acre on a sustained basis. Only 316 miles of Colorado's 9000 miles of trout streams, and three lakes, carry the Gold Medal label. Spinney Mountain Reservoir is one of the few still waters in the region to carry Gold Medal distinction. Downstream from Cheesman is another good section that runs next to the town of Deckers. Deckers has good public access and can be fished throughout most of the year.
While Manitou Springs is now a historical town that attracts tourists and sports minded visitors, it began as a mining town and spa, made famous by its natural mineral springs. Founded in 1872, it became known as a place to go to “get the cure” from the town’s healing waters and serene setting. Situated on the Ute Pass Trail, covered wagons eventually gave way to rail cars when in the late 1880’s the Colorado Midland Railway succeeded in getting tracks through the passage. Today the town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to any number of outdoor activities, the town also hosts entertaining events. Concerts, speaker series and arts and crafts festivals are well attended. Perhaps the most famous is the Pike’s Peak Ascent and Marathon, so difficult and physically taxing, that runners must pass a qualifying test before being allowed to enter the competition.
There are several ways to get to Manitou Springs, including:
Fly to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and drive for approximately 20 minutes
Fly to Pueblo Memorial Airport and drive for approximately 45 minutes
Fly to Denver International Airport and drive for approximately 1½ hours
Fly to Albuquerque International Airport and drive for approximately 5 hours
Strategically located near the Blue, Williams Fork and Colorado Rivers, Silverthorne is an ideal destination for great fly fishing. First established as a mining town by Marshall Silverthorn ... morein the mid-1880’s, he went on to become the town’s Hotelier, judge, justice of the peace, postmaster, storekeeper and ferrier. After a long and prosperous run, the interest in mining waned and the town was forced to re-invent itself.
When the state decided to built Dillon Dam and Reservoir in the early 1960’s, scores of construction workers came to the area. After the dam was completed, many workers stayed on and a new town was incorporated. Today, Silverthorne is a small village with less than 4,000 full time residents, but it is entirely focused on tourism, eco-adventures and outdoor sports.
Since the Blue River runs right through the center of town, its actually possible to fish for trout without having to go more than a few blocks from your hotel room. If you happen to be traveling with friends or family less interested in casting off, there is a long list of other things to do. Surrounded by high mountains and scenic beauty, Silverthorne is close to the million acre Arapaho National Forest, the 2 million acre White River Forest, the 1.2 million acre San Isabel National Forest and the 1.1 million acre Pike National Forest, all worth visiting.
Outdoor activities include skiing, both downhill and cross country, horseback riding, white water rafting, zip-lining through the trees, snow tubing, snowmobiling, boat rentals on Lake Dillon, ATV or jeep rentals and tours, snow-biking, mountain biking, golfing … and the list goes on. There’s no excuse for being bored in this neck of the woods.
In addition to the Blue and Williams Fork Rivers, there are also other places to fly fish. Gore Creek, a bit west of town, is a Gold Medal trout stream, while a little east of town you can fish the Fraser River, a designated Wild Trout fishery. There are also myriad creeks to try, including the Ten Mile, Muddy, Troublesome, Boulder, Indiana and Willow. You can cast off at Dillon Reservoir from shore, and if you’re lucky, you might just snag a rare artic char.
There are many ways to get to Silverthorne, including:
Fly to Denver International Airport and drive for approximately 1 hour
Fly to Grand Junction Regional Airport and drive for approximately 2 ½ hours
Fly to Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and drive for approximately 2 hours
Fly to Wyoming’s Cheyenne Regional Airport and drive for approximately 1 ½ hours
Fly Fishing in Colorado
Learn about the top destinations for fly fishing. Get detailed fishing reports for Colorado and find the best rivers and lakes to fish. See where to stay, eat, and other things to do in Colorado. Plan a Colorado fly fishing vacation and book your fishing guide.
Read blogs and articles about fly fishing in Colorado and get reviews on the best fly fishing destinations. See the top Colorado fishing guides and check availability to book a trip. Get a list of the top guided fly fishing trips in Colorado
|