Colorado Fly Fishing RV Campgrounds

[BEisler]

I'd like to get some recommendations for a destination RV campground/resort that has stream/river/creek/lake fly fishing access. We prefer the eastern side of Colorado as I am hesitant about driving through the mountains in our motorhome. We'd be coming from Indiana. Also it would be nice if the RV park had possibility to see plenty of wildlife (moose, deer, maybe even a bear). Too much to ask for?

[Oldtymeflyr]

If you want to fly fish in Colorado most of the action is west of I25. That means mountains.

I would not avoid the mountain driving, do it in off hours to get used to the experience. Like they say just do it. If you are used to hitting trees, rocks and other things off the traveled way then maybe no. Just relax!

Millions and millions of people do it suscessfully every year, If you are an average driver you will have no problems. Its no big deal. When your wife says look at this animal or that mountain, avoid the temptation, pull over and enjoy the experience.

If you want to see moose go to the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and ask the locals in Grand Lake were the moose are. If you want elk go the the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park and they are dime a dozen or two or three.

Fishing is good about anywhere but again ask the locals and they will direct you to good spots that have trout.

People will fret about mountain driving just work up to it get some practice and keep your speeds under control and you will be fine.

Good luck.

[tc-lance]

The Big Thompson river between Loveland and Estes Park was heavily damaged by the flooding in Sept 2013. About 75% of the river basin was further compromised by emergency highway repairs. There is a long term plan (several years) to restore the highway and the river fishery. Until that work is done, most of the anglers on the Big T are concentrated in a few miles of river below Lake Estes or up in RMNP.

Similar story on other rivers between I70 and Estes Park, below 8000 ft of elevation. The Poudre River was mostly spared from the worst of the flooding, but it gets a lot of "displaced" fishing pressure.

[jkmac408]

Fishing during that time frame is generally very good and stream flows make wading easier. The terrestrial fishing is usually very good. Another area to consider is the Cache la Poudre river canyon,good fishing for good size trout and several forest service campgrounds in the canyon and one with electric, Mountain Park Campground.Another area would be in the southern part of the state along the Conejos river, fishing is good and several feeder streams in the area have good fishing.

[BEisler]

Thom02099 wrote:

BEisler wrote:
Thom02099, We are probably looking at somewhere between mid-August and mid-September.

4runnerguy,we don't currently have a toad, but that is certainly something I need to consider to make this trip.

All, this continues to be very, very informative. Thank you!

Something to keep in mind for that timeframe, many of the streams/creeks/rivers in Colorado will have dwindled down from the spring snow melt runoff and natural decline in water levels during the summer. That timeframe is also during the monsoon season for most of Colorado, making said streams/creeks/rivers sometimes susceptible to flooding, like the flooding in northern Colorado in 2013.

Wow, that is something I never would have thought of. Great input. Thank you.

[Thom02099]

BEisler wrote:
Thom02099, We are probably looking at somewhere between mid-August and mid-September.

4runnerguy,we don't currently have a toad, but that is certainly something I need to consider to make this trip.

All, this continues to be very, very informative. Thank you!

Something to keep in mind for that timeframe, many of the streams/creeks/rivers in Colorado will have dwindled down from the spring snow melt runoff and natural decline in water levels during the summer. That timeframe is also during the monsoon season for most of Colorado, making said streams/creeks/rivers sometimes susceptible to flooding, like the flooding in northern Colorado in 2013.

[BEisler]

Thom02099, We are probably looking at somewhere between mid-August and mid-September.

4runnerguy,we don't currently have a toad, but that is certainly something I need to consider to make this trip.

All, this continues to be very, very informative. Thank you!

[4runnerguy]

As noted the upper Arkansas River Valley has easy access up US 50 out of Pueblo with few grades. Being mostly along the river, there's little exposure.

Another area to consider would be around Creede. There's some decent fishing up the Rio Grande and it's tributaries above Creede. You have to go over North La Veta Pass (US 160) to get there, but that's a relatively easy and painless pass. We usually boondock or stay at an NFS CG in that area, but there are RV parks in South Fork and probably other places along CO 149. This area also has an opportunity for spotting wildlife, including bears.

I don't know if you have a toad, but if not, that will severely limit your access to the better fishing areas in our state. For instance one really needs to head up some of the canyons off US 285/24 in the Arkansas River Valley. Likewise, many of the creeks above Creede are on good graded gravel roads, but gravel roads nonetheless. One can get a decent sized MH up some of those roads, but how many days do you want to beat your rig up doing that? They do catch good sized trout out of places like Spinney and Elevenmile Reservoirs, but the scenery there isn't that great IMHO. Lots of sagebrush and few trees.

[Bumpyroad]

well do as I did when I went to yellowstone, stayed on I90 and dropped down from the North into yellowstone. friends of my BIL spend a lot of time just NOrth of the park at a campground right on the river which should serve your needs quite well.
woops, just saw the resort requirement, not one.
bumpy

[Major_Dad]

Castle Lakes outside Lake City has both a fly fishing lake and a stocked fishing lake. It sits at 9,000', and also has National Forest access with fly fishing opportunities as well. Castle Lakes

[Thom02099]

What time of year??

If you're looking for some time next year, spring/summer, then consider the Upper Arkansas River Valley, from Pueblo to Leadville. The drive from Pueblo on US 50 is not difficult, parallels the river and meets up with US 285 in the Salida/Poncha Springs area. From that point north to Leadville has some world class fishing there, and there's a variety of resorts in the area, some right along the river.

Some of the members here are in the Buena Vista/Salida area, hopefully they can give you more first hand info. I can only speak for my own trips over there, as a non-fisherman.

Other considerations further north, would be the Big Thompson Canyon between Loveland and Estes Park as well as the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins. Campgrounds in Estes, or on the west side of Loveland (Riverview CG). Campgrounds up the Poudre are a bit more scarce as far as resorts, but there are several USFS CG that have electric connections.

[BEisler]

Great input. Yeah, I am thinking I may need to consider some mountain driving to reach some of the better destinations. . . . Thanks

[2gypsies1]

If you don't drive mountains you'll be missing out on the best there is! They really aren't that difficult to drive and RVers are all over the place. Give it a try. There are many western spots without having a difficult time getting there.

Here's a wonderful spot to get to without having to get into difficult driving:

Take I-40 west to Albuquerque, NM. Pick up I-25 north for a short distance to Hwy 550 toward Bloomfield, NM. Then get on Hwy 64 to 511 to Navajo Lake State Park - Cottonwood campground. No mountain driving required.

The campground is right below Navajo Lake Dam and it's on the San Juan River. This is a PRIME fly fishing area. You can also get a guide from there for a fly fishing trip you'll never forget - BIG ONES - catch and release. We were just there this past June and it was a repeat trip. Well worth it.