colorado-river

Colorado River is a river in Colorado.

It ranks #4 among the 17 waters of Colorado in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called Upper C, Grand River and Upper Colorado River.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: rainbow trout and brown trout.

USGS GNIS record: 45730.

It shares a watercourse with Green River, Utah and Blue River, Colorado.

Stretches: Gore Canyon, Middle Colorado, Parshall, Glenwood Canyon and Lower Colorado.

Access points: Pumphouse, Breeze Unit and Paul Gilbert.

Radium (access). It is fishable and launchable. Take-out for Pumphouse and put-in for Rancho Del Rio float.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

It is upstream of Rancho Del Rio.

It is downstream of Pumphouse.

Rancho Del Rio (access). It is fishable and launchable.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

It is downstream of Radium.

Dotsero (confluence). Eagle River joins the Colorado here; also recorded on the Eagle River. Boundary of Middle and Lower Colorado (Orvis).

State Bridge (access). It is fishable and launchable. Order relative to Rancho Del Rio not stated in the fetched source.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

Byers Canyon (feature). It is fishable.

It is on the stretch Parshall.

Devereaux Road (access). It is fishable and launchable.

It is on the stretch Lower Colorado.

Gore Canyon Trail (access). It is fishable.

It is on the stretch Gore Canyon.

Grizzly Creek (access). It is fishable and launchable. Exit in Glenwood Canyon (Orvis).

It is on the stretch Glenwood Canyon.

Hot Sulphur Springs (feature). It is fishable. Upstream end of the Parshall section.

It is on the stretch Parshall.

Lone Buck (access). It is fishable. Named on Orvis' Colorado River page; no section asserted.

Needles Eye (feature). Rapid on the Pumphouse to Radium float.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

No Name (access). It is fishable and launchable. Exit in Glenwood Canyon (Orvis).

It is on the stretch Glenwood Canyon.

Red Gore Canyon (feature). Named on the Radium to Rancho Del Rio float.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

Sheephorn Canyon (feature). Named on the Radium to Rancho Del Rio float.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

Sunset Ranch (access). It is fishable.

It is on the stretch Parshall.

Yarmony Rapid (feature). Rapid on the Radium to Rancho Del Rio float.

It is on the stretch Middle Colorado.

Float: Pumphouse to Radium, from Pumphouse to Radium, 4.2 miles.

Float: Radium to Rancho Del Rio, from Radium to Rancho Del Rio, 5 miles.

Sourced from 3 independent fly sites.

Sources: blog.vailvalleyanglers.com (retrieved 2026-10-20), blog.vailvalleyanglers.com (2) (retrieved 2026-10-20), blog.vailvalleyanglers.com (3) (retrieved 2026-10-20), edits.nationalmap.gov, fishcolorado.com, fishcolorado.com (2), fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com (2), fishingreports.orvis.com (3) and Vail Valley Anglers (retrieved 2026-10-20).

Hatches

Salmonfly (Pteronarcys)

Stage: nymph, adult. Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May hatching
Jun hatching
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

May, Jun, per Vail Valley Anglers
Jun, per Vail Valley Anglers
May, per blog.vailvalleyanglers.com
May, Jun, per blog.vailvalleyanglers.com
Jun, per Vail Valley Anglers

Reported start dates vary across one shop's pages: late May to early June, early June (water about 50F, lasting under a week), end of May, and late May to June. Radium canyon is early June but lighter. Dry-fly action can be slow because trout gorge on nymphs.

Sources: Vail Valley Anglers, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com, blog.vailvalleyanglers.com