Cast Away

Grab your rod and your tackle box. A fishing trip to Ouray is an angler's dream come true. Lakes, rivers, and streams stocked to the gills with brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and more will keep you catching fish faster than you can reel 'em in.

Rivers

Uncompahgre River
Located 15 miles north of Ouray (Ridgway).
Fresh catch: wild trout, browns, and rainbows
Fishing season: spring, summer, fall, and winter

Cimarron River 
Along Forest Road 858 and at the big Cimarron Campground. Limited access to the Lower Cimarron; begin at the bottom of the Gunnison River confluence.
Fresh catch: wild rainbows, cutthroat, brook, and browns.
Fishing season: summer and fall

San Miguel River
Watch for the turnouts along the road; fishing hole are a short hike away.
Fresh catch: rainbows, cutbows, browns, and cutthroats
Fishing season: summer

Gunnison River
Lower Gunnison near the confluence with the North Fork and up river to the East Portal.
Fresh catch: browns and rainbows
Fishing season: spring and summer

Mountain Creeks

Dallas Creek
Limited access to this feeder creek that flows into the Ridgway State Park Reservoir.
Fresh catch: trout

Canyon Creek
One of the few fly-fishing streams in Ouray County.
Fresh catch: brook and rainbow trout

Cow Creek
Upper Cow Creek is ideal for those who prefer to fish in solitude.
Fresh catch: trout

Alpine Lakes

Blue Lakes  
Hike four miles into the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area on TR #201.
Fresh catch: trout

Ptarmigan Lake
Access via TR #869 from Imogene Pass.
Fresh catch: stocked by the Department of Wildlife

East Dallas Lake
Located 11 miles from Ridgway on East Dallas Divide Road at Willow Swamps.
Fresh catch: stocked regularly

Fishing Resources

RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service
565 Sherman, Suite 2
Ridgway, Colorado
888-626-4460
Fly-fishing
Private/public waters close to Ouray
Single- and multi-day outings for families, individuals, and groups

Walther Ranch
waltherranch@ridgwayco.net
5300 CR 5
Ridgway, Colorado
970-626-5974
Three ponds packed with rainbow trout

Have a favorite fishing hole? Please send it to us!