Colorado Fly Fishing Vacation Guide
GENERAL INFORMATION
Coalition for the Upper South Platte
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (License, Regulations)
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Fishing Maps)
South Platte River Fly Fishing Article
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Nearest Town
Fishing Conditions
Enlarge: Badger Basin - Above Spinney Res.
Enlarge: Charlie Meyers SWA - Above Eleven Mile Res.
Fishing Access
State Wildlife Areas / River Access
Tomahawk SWA | Badger Basin SWA | Charlie Meyers SWA
Also see: South Platte River Fly Fishing Article
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Nearest Town
Fishing Conditions
Enlarge: Eleven Mile Canyon
Fishing Access
Also see: South Platte River Fly Fishing Article
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Nearest Town
Jefferson | Fairplay
Fishing Conditions
Enlarge: Tarryall Creek Near Como & 285
Enlarge: Below Tarryall Reservoir
Fishing Access
State Wildlife Areas
Cline Ranch SWA | Teter - Michigan Creek SWA
Also see: South Platte River Fly Fishing Article
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Nearest Town
Fishing Conditions
Enlarge: Below Cheesman Reservoir
______________________________________________________________________
Nearest Town
Fishing Conditions
Enlarge: At Grant
Enlarge: Roberts Tunnel
Fishing Access
Also see: South Platte River Fly Fishing Article
+ South Platte Fly Shops and Guides
BUSINESS | PHONE | ADDRESS | CITY | ZIP |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anglers All | 303.730.8932 | 5211 S. Santa Fe Dr. | Littleton | 80120 |
The Colorado Angler | 970.513.8055 | 249 Summit Pl. | Sliverthorne | 80498 |
Virtual FlyBox
Like having an inexpensive guide in your pocket but you tie the knots. |
303.674.2726 | 7002 S. Silverhorn Dr. | Evergreen | 80439 |
Charlie's FlyBox | 303.403.8880 | 7513 Grandview Ave. | Arvada | 80002 |
Breckenridge Outfitters | 970.453.4135 | 100 North Main Street | Breckenridge | 80424 |
Mountain Angler | 970.453.4665 | 311 S Main St. | Breckenridge | 80424 |
Alpine Angling Fly Shop | 970.963.9245 | 995 Cowen Dr. | Carbondale | 81623 |
Denver Angler | 303.403.4512 | 6870 S. Yosemite St. | Centennial | 80112 |
Angler's Covey | 719.471.2984 | 295 S. 21st St. | Colorado Springs | 80904 |
Blue Quill Angler | 303.674.4700 | 1532 Bergen Parkway | Evergreen | 80439 |
High Alpine Sports | 719.836.0201 | 525 Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Golden River Sports | 303.215.9386 | 806 Washington Ave. | Golden | 80401 |
Minturn Anglers | 855.311.0245 | 102 B Main Street | Minturn | 81645 |
Flies & Lies | 303.647.2237 | 8570 S. Platte River Rd. | Sedalia | 80135 |
Boxwood Gulch | 303.838.2465 | 54371 US 285 | Shawnee | 80475 |
Cutthroat Anglers | 970.262.2878 | 400 Blue River Pkwy | Silverthorne | 80498 |
Peak Fly Shop | 719.687.9122 | 301 East Highway 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
South Platte Fly Shop | 719.686.8990 | 405 E. Highway 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
+ South Platte Lodging
BUSINESS | PHONE | ADDRESS | CITY | ZIP |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eagle Fire Lodge and Cabins
Your home away from home. |
719.687.5700 | 777 E. Hwy 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
The Fairplay Valiton Hotel | 719.836.4699 | 500 Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Hand Hotel Bed & Breakfast | 719.836.3595 | 531 Front St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Riverside Inn Fairplay | 719.836.0600 | 249 US 285 | Fairplay | 80440 |
Western Inn Motel and RV Park | 719.836.2026 | 490 US 285 | Fairplay | 80440 |
Chaparral Park General Store | 719.748.3822 | 19015 County Rd 59 | Hartsel | 80449 |
Hartsel Springs Ranch of Colorado | 719-836-2480 | PO Box 7 | Hartsel | 80449 |
11 Mile Lodge | 719.748.3220 | 38122 US Highway 24 | Lake George | 80827 |
Lake George Cabins and RV Park | 719.748.3822 | 8966 County Road 90 | Lake George | 80827 |
Flies & Lies | 303.647.2237 | 8570 S. Platte River Rd. | Sedalia | 80135 |
Bristlecone Lodge | 719.687.9518 | 510 North Highway 67 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Country Lodge | 719.687.6277 | 734 US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
The Woodland Inn | 719.687.8209 | 159 Trull Rd. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
+ Restaurants & Entertainment
BUSINESS | PHONE | ADDRESS | CITY | ZIP |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mason's High Country BBQ | 719.836.3465 | 450 US 285 | Fairplay | 80440 |
Safeway (Woodland Park) | 719.686.1836 | 1101 E. US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Alma Coffee House | 719.836.1480 | 131 N Main St. | Alma | 80420 |
Cutthroat Café | 303.816.5099 | 157 Main St. | Conifer | 80433 |
JJ Madwell’s Italian Restaurant | 303.838.1440 | 26412 Main St. | Conifer | 80433 |
Safeway (Conifer) | 303.838.7859 | 27152 Main St. | Conifer | 80433 |
Starbucks (Conifer) | 303.838.4924 | 26724 Conifer Town Centre Dr. | Conifer | 80433 |
Dorothy's Homemade Tamales | 719.836.9120 | 123 Frontage Rd. US 285 | Fairplay | 80440 |
Java Moose | 719.836.0770 | 730 Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Millonzi's Restaurant | 719.836.9501 | 501 Front St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Silver Scoop Creamery | 719.836.3403 | 456 Front St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
South Park Steakhouse | 719.836.7031 | 456 Front St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Subway | 719.836.0308 | 24 N Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Chaparral Park General Store | 719.836.0308 | 19015 County Rd 59 | Hartsel | 80449 |
Highline Café & Saloon | 719.836.0729 | 12779 US 24 | Hartsel | 80449 |
The Jefferson Market | 719.836.2389 | 38600 US 285 | Jefferson | 80456 |
Beirwerks | 719.686.8100 | 121 E Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant | 719.687.0415 | 520 Manor Ct. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Donut Mill | 719.687.9793 | 310 W Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Grandmother’s Kitchen | 719.687.3118 | 212 US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Hungry Bear Restaurant | 719.687.5912 | 111 E Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Joanie’s Deli | 719.686.9091 | 110 E US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Serrano’s Mexican Grill | 719.687.7150 | 730 E US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Sorriso's Italian Restaurant | 719.686.1212 | 108 E Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Starbucks (Woodland Park) | 719.686.7850 | 320 W Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Subway | 719.687.3861 | 19600 US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Swiss Chalet | 719.687.2001 | 19263 US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
The Historic Ute Inn Restaurant | 719.687.1465 | 204 W Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Ute Pass Brewing Company | 719.686.8722 | 209 E Midland Ave. | Woodland Park | 80863 |
Wild Wings N’ Things | 719.686.9464 | 1079 US 24 | Woodland Park | 80863 |
+ Homes & Vacation Properties
BUSINESS | PHONE | ADDRESS | CITY | ZIP |
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Timber Wolf Realty
Leader of the Pack |
719.836.2000 | 691 Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Bristlecone Realty Group | 719.836.3606 | 195 N Main St. | Alma | 80420 |
Caniglia Real Estate Group, LLC. | 719.836.2766 | 2 S Main St. | Alma | 80420 |
Dynamic Properties of Colorado | 303.816.6000 | 12 Rosalie Rd. | Bailey | 80421 |
Bell Mountain Properties | 719.395.8220 | 310 Charles St. | Buena Vista | 81211 |
Jeni Friedrich, Sotheby's International Realty | 970.485.3837 | 601 Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
Scott Dodge, Sotheby's International Realty | 970.368.0420 | 601 Main St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
United Country Real Estate | 719.836.9026 | 970 Castello Ave. | Fairplay | 80440 |
BUSINESS | PHONE | ADDRESS | CITY | ZIP |
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South Park Historical Foundation | 719.836.2387 | 100 4th St. | Fairplay | 80440 |
South Park Bowl Bar & Grill | 719.836.4900 | 123 Frontage Rd. | Fairplay | 80440 |
South Park ATV | 719. 836.3442 | 1484 Park County Road#7 | Fairplay | 80440 |
American Safari Ranch | 719.836.2700 | 1484 Park County Road#7 | Fairplay | 80440 |
FACTS ABOUT THE SOUTH PLATTE DRAINAGE
The river is formed in Park County, Colorado, southwest of Denver in the South Park grassland basin by the confluence of the South Fork and Middle Fork, approximately 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Fairplay. Both forks rise along the eastern flank of the Mosquito Range, on the western side of South Park, which is drained by the tributaries at the headwaters of the river. From South Park, it passes through 50 miles (80 km) of the Platte Canyon and its lower section, Waterton Canyon. Here, it is joined by the North Fork before emerging from the foothills southwest of the Denver suburb of Littleton. At Littleton, the river is impounded to form Chatfield Reservoir, a major source of drinking water for the Denver Metropolitan Area.
In an arid region of the United States, the South Platte is marked with several dams. The first notable water impoundment on the South Platte is Antero Reservoir. "Antero" is derived from the Spanish word "first,"[citation needed] as it was the first dam on the South Platte River near the river's origin.
The next dam is Spinney Mountain Reservoir. At capacity Spinney Mountain covers 2,500 acres (10 km2). A bottom release dam, Spinney releases to the east of the inlet.
Two miles below Spinney Mountain Reservoir, the river enters Eleven Mile Reservoir, with a capacity of 97,000 acre feet (120,000,000 m3). The Eleven Mile Reservoir Dam drains into Eleven Mile Canyon, which runs through Forest Service land. Under the reservoir are three former Colorado towns, Howbert, Idlewild, and Freshwater Station, which were submerged to meet the water needs of Denver.[5]
From Eleven Mile Canyon, the South Platte runs northeast to Cheesman Reservoir, named for Denver water pioneer Walter S. Cheesman. At its completion in 1905, the dam was the world’s tallest, at 221 feet (67 m) above the streambed. The reservoir and related facilities were purchased in November 1918 by the Denver Water Board. Cheesman was the first reservoir of Denver's mountain storage facilities and has been designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Cheesman Reservoir feeds Cheesman Canyon. Six miles below Cheesman Reservoir is the town of Deckers; there, the river bends north for approximately 17 miles (27 km) to the confluence with the North Fork of the South Platte.
From the confluence, the river flows towards Denver and enters Strontia Springs Reservoir.
Below Strontia Springs the South Platte runs through Waterton Canyon before entering Chatfield Reservoir. Chatfield marks the seventh and final dam on the South Platte until it merges with the North Platte.
The South Platte River is a Gold Medal Western trout river on the Eastern Slope of Colorado. The river is well known for its wild trophy population of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout. As a result of the close proximity to Denver, the river sees thousands of fly fishing enthusiasts each year. With seven dams on the river, the South Platte is considered a tailwater fishery. Most of these dams are bottom released which allow for both stable water temperatures throughout the year, and year round fly fishing. Popular fly fishing stretches of the river include Waterton Canyon, Deckers, Cheesman Canyon and the Dream Stream.
Used with permission from Wikipedia, South Platte River under the WikiMedia Terms of Use agreement.