Sitting at nearly 9,000
feet above sea level, Ute Trail River Ranch sits in the Tarryall Mountains amidst wooded hillsides,
rolling meadows and imposing rock outcroppings. The Ranch is surrounded by the Pike National Forest and is
contiguous to the Lost Creek Wilderness.
The Tarryall River, which begins high up on the Ten-Mile Range and flows down the valley to its confluence
with the South Platte River, meanders through Ute Trail River Ranch for two miles. These two miles of private
river access provide first-rate fishing opportunities to guests of the Ranch. The river twists and turns its
way downstream cascading over beaver dams with rushing waters below, meandering over cobbled sections punctuated
by riffles with pocket water, snaking through a small canyon with deep pools.
Ute Trail River Ranch was featured on "Fly Fishing America" in the 1995 season. The
Ranch won acclaim for its carefully managed river habitat and variety of healthy, feisty fish. On average, the rainbow
and brown trout found here range in size from 10" - 16" and seldomly reach trophy-size. Occasionally, anglers
may catch a trout in the 18" - 22" size that likely has made its way downstream from the Tarryall Reservoir
and neighboring ranch above, both of which stock larger fish.
Ute Trail River Ranch restricts fishing on its private water exclusively to Fly Fishing with
fly rods and reels and we adhere strictly to Catch & Release practices. Fishing licenses are required
to fish on the Ranch and are sold here in our small fly shop, the Tradin' Post. We also carry locally hand-tied
flies that are designed specifically for fishing on the Tarryall River and the surrounding regional waters.
Angling access is not included in
your overnight lodging reservation and must be reserved separately. Please call us at 719 . 748 . 3015 for details about
river conditions, prices and availability.
The Ranch splits its private water into two sections for anglers to reserve while guests of the Ranch.
Option 1 is the "Cross Hill"
section that starts at the footbridge and winds upstream for one mile to the Ranch's boundary fence. This section is
diverse and offers a little bit of everything: fast riffles below the beaver dams; deep pools behind the dams; deep, undercut
banks; and, shallow water rolling over gravel bars.
Option 2 is the "Ute Creek" section that snakes its way downstream from
the footbridge to the Ranch's lower boundary at the livestock bridge. This section flows over cobbled stream punctuated
by riffles with pocket water; deep pools dotted through a small canyon; and, another beaver dam with slower water above the
dam and fast riffles below.
