Got a cheap flight into denver for 4 nights. Looking for best places to flyfish and hike, am willing to stay anywhere within 3-4 hours. Right now I'm leaning towards Estes Park/RMNP. Any other suggestions?

Gunnison area

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Got a cheap flight into denver for 4 nights. Looking for best places to flyfish and hike, am willing to stay anywhere within 3-4 hours. Right now I'm leaning towards Estes Park/RMNP. Any other suggestions?

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Was up in Estes / RMNP first couple of weeks in July. We go a lot of rain and the water was running too high for any great fishing. But the view is worth it regardless!!!

PM me if you want some location, but don't miss any of the good spots on the drive up to Estes from Denver.

Frying Pan R.

Can't go wrong with Estes/RMNP. Lots of great hiking and fishing there. Fished a tributary of the Big Thompson about a month ago and had some decent luck. Should be going up there again next week to fish so can give a better report then. Also Boulder creek and Eldorado creek offer some decent fishing close to Denver/Boulder.

Hiked to Sky Pond in RMNP three weeks ago and it's probably my favorite hike I've done this year. Beautiful. Made the mistake of leaving my fly rod at home and kicked myself the entire way. Lots of great ponds with tons of fish along the hike.

Also Indian peaks wilderness is a cool area (you'll need a permit for it tho). Crater Lake is a great destination and had some decent luck fishing there two weekends ago. I'd recommend coming in from the Lake Granby side rather than over the divide (unless you like 70mph+ winds). The hike is beautiful since you're hiking along Cascade Falls. I've heard good things about Rainbow Lakes in that same area too (plus it's accessible from the East side of the divide).

Hope that helps. I'd be happy to answer any questions, these are just a few places I've been to recently and really enjoyed.

Lake of Glass


Crater Lake

Thanks guys, Im thoroughly convinced with RMNP at this point. So far im looking at the East Inlet trail and Sky Pond lake. Id like to find something that 50/50 hiking and fishing. any suggestions are welcome. thanks

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Thanks guys, Im thoroughly convinced with RMNP at this point. So far im looking at the East Inlet trail and Sky Pond lake. Id like to find something that 50/50 hiking and fishing. any suggestions are welcome. thanks

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RMNP is my favorite place on earth! Have a great time.

Here is a link to one of my favorite hiking / fishing trips (if you decide to enter the park from Estes side). The lower lakes are more crowded with "Bubbas" whipping the water to a froth, but the payoff of Loomis is well worth it! You don't have much time, but it is cool to camp at Spruce Lake. You won't see anyone at Loomis. Greenback cutthroats in there.

http://www.protrails.com/trail/335/rocky-mountain-national-park-loomis-lake

Rmnp is great! But I would recommend Bueno vista over it. Great food, great mountains, great fishing in the Arkansas, cottonwood creek, Taylor river, etc. Rafting in the Arkansas is incredible as well and the views of the collegiate peaks is breathtaking.

I've used Sasquatch Fly Fishing several times and had good experiences each time. They have a variety of 1/2 day, full day trips both into the park and some other non park locations around Estes. Think they even have a hike/fish type trip. They are located at the YMCA of the Rockies, but you don't have to be staying there to use them. If you are looking for a local outfitter they would be a good choice. Love RMNP. Have fun!

Camp for free at Salida East and just bounce up and down the Ark valley doing some fishing/hiking, plenty of 14ers, lakes or whatever your into.

I caught some fish in the lochs, sky pond, etc. this summer. (RMNP)

A good hike (and climb for sky pond) to get there, but pretty incredible to catch fish up above 10K elevation.

Granby area is good.

Caught a few at the river that spills into Monarch Lake (Mosquitos)

Had some success in the Colorado on the west side of RMNP.

My favorite spots in CO are around Steamboat (Sarvis Creek and Yampa) and around Lake John (a good ways away) but if you can make it to the water control structure on the river to the west of Lake John early (once again a couple hours from where you're gonna be) you're gonna have a great chance at some big colorful rainbows.
Mosquitos are bad, but it's worth it.

Also near there is North Park Anglers in Walden.

Best fly shop in CO in my opinion.



Also, up in the mountain lochs and Sky Ponf, Glass pond etc.
I had luck with (illegally I thing) putting ants on the flies.

Sounded weird to me, but some 70 year old man that somehow makes it up there all the time told me to do that if no one was around and it worked very well.

I never keep them in the small lakes, streams, or rivers, but it's definitely my summer hobby when I'm not in the bay or in the marsh.

Good luck

I got back from Grand Lake 3 weeks ago (RMNP). Awesome dry fly action using terrestrials on the North Inlet.


Beautiful meadow stream fishing starts about 3/4 of a mile into the park. Stream moves away from the trail and you never see anyone again. Summerland Park is the first camping area. Its in this meadow area probably a little over a mile in. The trail continues 18.8 miles up to Lake Nanita. Park guide says that there are fish there but i never made it out of this meadow.

I used green foam hoppers and Black foam ants drifted right next to the grass banks and had some of the best dry fly fishing i've ever experienced.

My best Brook.


My best Brown.