TLDR

Ten days, wheels down to wheels up in Denver, hitting Colorado's most diverse fisheries. You'll chase green drake hatches on the Roaring Fork (days 1-3), hunt trophy browns and rainbows on the Colorado and Frying Pan (days 4-5), hike to alpine lakes for Rio Grande cutthroats and lakers (days 6-7), and finish with Yampa River smallmouth, pike, and trout action (days 8-10). Best timing: late June through mid-July. Monitor real-time Colorado flows before you go.

Why Colorado Has It All

Most anglers think Montana when they plan Western fly fishing trips. They're missing the point.

Colorado has everything you need within a 5-hour drive of Denver. Alpine lakes at 12,000 feet with native cutthroat. Technical tailwaters with 20-inch rainbows. Freestone rivers with green drake hatches that rival anywhere in the West. And the Yampa River, Colorado's last free-flowing major river, with smallmouth bass, northern pike, and wild trout all in the same day.

This 10-day trip hits the diversity. You'll fish four distinct ecosystems, target six species, and experience everything from technical dry fly fishing to streamer stripping for pike. All starting and ending in Denver.

The Route Overview

• Days 1-3: Roaring Fork Valley - Green drake hatches, trophy trout
• Days 4-5: Frying Pan River & Colorado River tailwaters
• Days 6-7: San Juan Mountains - Alpine lakes, Rio Grande cutthroats, lakers
• Days 8-10: Yampa River - Smallmouth, pike, and wild trout

You'll base out of four towns:

• Glenwood Springs/Basalt (Days 1-3)
• Basalt (Days 4-5)
• Creede/Lake City (Days 6-7)
• Steamboat Springs/Craig (Days 8-10)

Total driving time is about 17 hours spread across the trip - plenty of windshield time but nothing crazy.

Days 1-3: Roaring Fork Valley - Green Drake Central

The Fishing

Pick up your rental car at DIA and drive straight to Basalt (3.5 hours). You're here for the green drake hatch, Colorado's most famous mayfly event.

Green drakes start hatching around June 15th in Glenwood Springs and progress upstream over 3-4 weeks. By late June, the hatch is prime in the Basalt and Aspen sections. These are big mayflies (size 10-12) that create aggressive surface feeding.

The Roaring Fork fishes best at 400-800 CFS. Track current Colorado conditions before you go - if runoff is still high, focus on the Frying Pan River instead (covered below).

Fish mornings with hoppers and ants, then switch to green drake patterns at dusk. Cloudy afternoons can also produce strong hatches. Bring 5-6 weight rods and expect aggressive 14-18 inch rainbows and browns.

Where to Stay

Basalt is perfect - cheaper than Aspen, close to the best fishing, and has good restaurants. Try the Riverside Grill for burgers or Matsuhisa for sushi (if you're feeling fancy). For tacos, hit El Paisano Market in Basalt - cheap, authentic, huge portions.

Pro Tips

• Stop at Taylor Creek Fly Shop in Basalt for current hatch reports
• The green drake hatch happens fast - sometimes just 45-60 minutes at dusk
• Bring waders even in late June - mornings can be cold

Days 4-5: Frying Pan River - Trophy Tailwater Trout

The Fishing

The Frying Pan River is a 14-mile tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir, and it's one of Colorado's best trophy trout fisheries. The state record brown trout (30.25 lbs) came from the Frying Pan in 2009.

Fish here are selective and educated. You'll need 6X or 7X tippet, size 18-22 flies, and good presentations. I learned this the hard way - spent three hours getting refused with 5X tippet, switched to 7X, and started hooking fish immediately. But the reward is 16-22 inch rainbows and browns in clear water.

Target flows are 200-400 CFS - the Frying Pan fishes well year-round because it's dam-controlled. Morning hatches include PMDs (Pale Morning Duns) and caddis. Afternoons can be slow - that's when you nymph deep with size 18-20 midge patterns. Green drakes also hatch at dusk if you time it right.

Fish the "Toilet Bowl" stretch near the dam for the highest trout density, or hike downstream to the Basalt confluence for less pressure and bigger fish.

Alternative: Colorado River Tailwater

If you want variety, spend one day on the Colorado River below Williams Fork Reservoir near Parshall (1.5 hours from Basalt). This is a blue-ribbon tailwater with excellent PMD and caddis hatches. It's also less pressured than the Frying Pan. Look for 300-600 CFS flows.

Where to Stay

Continue staying in Basalt - you're 20 minutes from the Frying Pan.

Pro Tips

• The Frying Pan is catch-and-release flies and lures only
• Bring a light 4-weight rod for technical presentations
• Fish early morning (6-9am) and late evening (6-9pm) for best action

Days 6-7: San Juan Mountains - Alpine Lakes and Rio Grande Cutthroats

The Fishing

This is where the trip gets wild. Drive from Basalt to Creede (4 hours), stopping for lunch in Salida at Amica's Pizza (wood-fired, amazing).

The San Juan Mountains around Creede and Lake City have dozens of alpine lakes between 10,000 and 12,500 feet. Many are stocked with Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Colorado's state fish) and lake trout. Some hold brook trout that run 2-4 pounds because they're the only fish in the lake eating all the food.

Day 6: Hike to Rio Grande Cutthroat Lakes

Start with easier access lakes around Creede. Wheeler Geologic Area has several alpine lakes within 2-3 mile hikes. Pack a 3-4 weight rod, foam beetles, hoppers, and small streamers.

Rio Grande cutthroats are aggressive - they'll smash dry flies in the surface film. Fish inlet and outlet streams first, then work the deeper water with streamers.

Day 7: Lake City - Hunt for Lake Trout

Drive to Lake City (1 hour from Creede) and hike to one of the deeper alpine lakes near Sloan Lake or Williams Creek Trail. You're hunting lakers (lake trout) now.

Lake trout cruise deep - 15-30 feet - but they'll come up for streamers and big nymphs. Use sinking line or weighted flies. A white or olive Woolly Bugger size 4-6 works great. Lakers can run 5-10 pounds in Colorado's high alpine lakes.

You can also fish for brook trout and cutthroats in shallower water. Bring both a floating line and sinking line if you're serious about lakers.

Where to Stay

Creede is small and quirky - stay at the Creede Hotel or an Airbnb. For tacos, hit Arp's Smokehouse BBQ (not tacos, but the brisket is unreal). Kip's Grill has solid burgers.

Lake City is even smaller. Book ahead.

Pro Tips

• Alpine lakes fish best July through September, but early July works if snowpack is low
• Bring bear spray and check trail conditions before hiking
• Pack light - you're hiking at elevation with a rod
• License requirement: Colorado fishing license covers all alpine lakes

Days 8-10: Yampa River - The Grand Finale

The Fishing

This is the wildcard section that makes the trip. Drive from Creede/Lake City to Steamboat Springs (3 hours). You're here for the Yampa River, Colorado's last major free-flowing river.

The Yampa runs through Dinosaur National Monument and hosts an incredible diversity of fish: smallmouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish, and wild rainbow and brown trout. All in the same river.

Day 8-9: Yampa Smallmouth and Pike

Float or wade the Yampa between Hayden and Craig. July flows should be 500-1,500 CFS - perfect for wading and fishing.

Smallmouth bass hang in rocky runs, eddies, and behind boulders. Fish size 4-8 poppers, Clouser Minnows, and Woolly Buggers. Smallmouth fight harder than trout pound-for-pound - expect aggressive topwater strikes and acrobatic jumps. Fish run 12-16 inches with some 18+ inch trophies.

Northern pike lurk in slower back eddies and weed beds. Use big streamers (size 2-4), wire leader to prevent bite-offs, and strip fast. Pike can run 20-35 inches on the Yampa. Bring a 6-7 weight rod with some backbone.

Day 10: Yampa Trout

Before you drive back to Denver, spend the morning fishing for wild trout in the upper Yampa near Steamboat Springs. This section holds wild rainbows and browns in the 12-16 inch range. Fish PMD and caddis hatches, or nymph with stonefly patterns.

Then drive back to Denver (3 hours) and catch your flight home.

Where to Stay

Steamboat Springs is a ski town with good summer lodging options. Stay downtown and walk to restaurants. For tacos, hit Café Diva (upscale) or Backdoor Grill (casual). Steamboat Smokehouse has great BBQ.

Craig is smaller and cheaper - stay here if you want to be closer to the best Yampa bass/pike water.

Pro Tips

• The Yampa fishes best for smallmouth and pike in July-August when water temps are 65-75°F
• Bring a wire leader for pike - they'll bite through fluorocarbon
• You can combine species: trout in the morning, smallmouth in the afternoon, pike at dusk
• Consider hiring a guide for one day - local knowledge on the Yampa is huge
• Don't miss the Steamboat rodeo! Grab pizza and beers at Mountain Tap Brewery, then walk over to beat the parking crunch

Gear List

Rods:

• 5-6 weight for the Roaring Fork, Yampa trout
• 4 weight for the Frying Pan (technical)
• 3 weight for alpine lakes (optional but nice)
• 7 weight for pike (or use your 6-weight with heavy tippet)

Lines:

• Floating lines for most fishing
• Sinking line or sinking tips for alpine lake trout

Flies:

• Green drake patterns (size 10-12)
• PMDs (size 16-18)
• Hoppers, ants, beetles (size 10-14)
• Streamers: Woolly Buggers, Clouser Minnows (size 2-8)
• Nymphs: Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, midge patterns (size 16-22)
• Poppers for smallmouth bass (size 4-8)

Other:

• Waders and wading boots
• Shorts and wet wading boots (for Yampa in July)
• Polarized sunglasses
• Bear spray for alpine lakes
• Wire leader for pike
• Colorado fishing license (buy online before you go)

Flow Management Strategy

This trip requires adaptive planning. Runoff, hatches, and fish activity all depend on flows and water temperature.

Before You Go:

Use RiverReports to monitor the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, Colorado River, and Yampa. Set up flow alerts for your target rivers so you get notified when conditions are prime.

Target Flows:

• Roaring Fork: 400-800 CFS (green drakes)
• Frying Pan: 200-400 CFS (year-round)
• Colorado River (Parshall): 300-600 CFS
• Yampa River: 500-1,500 CFS (smallmouth/pike)

If the Roaring Fork is blown out (>1,200 CFS), skip it and spend more time on the Frying Pan or Colorado River tailwaters. If the Yampa is too low (<300 CFS), focus on trout in the upper sections near Steamboat.

Hatch Timing:

Green drakes hatch late June through mid-July on the Roaring Fork. If you're going earlier (mid-June), you'll catch them in Glenwood Springs. Later (mid-July), fish the Aspen section.

PMDs hatch on most Colorado rivers from late June through August - you'll hit them regardless of timing.

What Makes This Trip Special

You're fishing six species in 10 days: rainbow trout, brown trout, Rio Grande cutthroat, lake trout, smallmouth bass, and northern pike. That's a Colorado grand slam.

You're also experiencing extreme diversity. Technical dry fly fishing on tailwaters. Aggressive green drake hatches on freestone rivers. Backcountry alpine lake hiking. Warm-water bass and pike fishing. It's like four different trips compressed into 10 days.

And it's all accessible from Denver. No flights to Montana, no border crossings into Canada. Just rent a car, drive, fish, eat tacos, repeat.

Trip Budget Estimate

• Flights: $300-600 (depending on your origin city)
• Rental Car (10 days): $400-600
• Lodging (9 nights): $900-1,500 ($100-150/night Airbnb or hotels)
• Food: $500-800 ($50-80/day)
• Fishing License: $116 (nonresident annual) or $56 (5-day)
• Flies and Gear: $100-200
• Gas: $200-300

Total: $2,500-4,000 depending on lodging and food choices

Add another $400-800 if you hire a guide for one or two days on the Frying Pan or Yampa.

Fly Shops to Visit

Stop at these shops for local beta, flies, and support:

• Taylor Creek Fly Shop (Basalt, CO) - Roaring Fork and Frying Pan intel
• Vail Valley Anglers (Basalt, CO) - Green drake specialists
• Ramble On Fly Fishing (Creede, CO) - Alpine lake and Rio Grande info
• Steamboat Flyfisher (Steamboat Springs, CO) - Yampa River experts
• Duranglers (Durango, CO) - If you extend south into the San Juans

Alternative Options

If you have extra time or want to swap days, consider the South Platte (Deckers), Blue River (Silverthorne), Arkansas River (Salida), or Gunnison River (Black Canyon) - all within 1-3 hours of the main route.

Resources & Further Reading

Hatch Information:

• Green Drake Hatch: Everything You Need to Know
• Colorado PMD Hatches
• Yampa River Fishing Guide

Alpine Lake Resources:

• Colorado Alpine Lake Fishing
• Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

Flow Monitoring:

• Colorado River Flows
• Set Up Flow Alerts

Local Resources:

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife - Fishing
• Colorado Fly Fishing Reports

Start Planning

This trip requires timing. Green drakes are fickle, alpine lakes depend on snowpack, and the Yampa fishes best in summer. You need real-time flow data.

Use RiverReports to track the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, and Yampa as your dates approach. Set up flow alerts for your target CFS ranges.

When you're standing on the Roaring Fork at dusk watching 18-inch rainbows sip green drakes, or hooking a 4-pound Rio Grande cutthroat at 12,000 feet, or stripping streamers for 30-inch pike on the Yampa - you'll understand why Colorado has it all.

The best part? It's all within 5 hours of Denver. Start tracking flows now.