The Dolores River

Loacted 45 minutes form Telluride, and 1.5 hours from Durango, the Dolores river valley is amazing!

It is designated as "WILD AND SCENIC" by the US congress. 

This freestone tailwater has Snake River cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout in self-reproducing populations, but is supplemented with fingerling plantings. The high desert countryside is rugged and bleak, resembling nothing like a setting for a trout stream — that's part of the charm. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. Deer, turkeys, eagles, even bears.

The river is fishable year-round, but spring runoff makes the river brownish-red and swollen. Upstream sections freeze over in winter, but the feeding lanes on the tailrace close to the dam can be productive. Summertime brings great dry-fly fishing, and fall has excellent fishing for large browns.

The Dolores is a challenging river with solid hatches and tremendous holding water, but too many anglers make the mistake of not taking the fish seriously. The clear water and educated trout mean that you should use long leaders, be cautious, and match the hatch.

 The Dolores River
Below McPhee is a small clear flowing, classic stream that flows out from McPhee Reservoir before heading downstream into the slickrock country of Utah. The valley is rimmed by scrub oak and Ponderosa pines and guarded by large sandstone formations. The river banks are lined by old Cottonwood trees and on any given day you can run across deer, elk, wild turkeys, mountain lions or rattle snakes. And if you're lucky, maybe a feisty brown trout.