The Poudre is the closest real canyon river to north Denver, and Fort Collins makes it an easy day with a good lunch. CO-14 follows the river, so you can pull off and fish. Here is a one-day plan for the lower canyon that works most of the year, plus a second morning if you stay over.
Right now
Live from USGS gauge 06752000 and National Weather Service.
- Drive
- About 1 hour 15 minutes from Denver to the canyon mouth via I-25 and US-287
- Gauge
- Poudre at the canyon mouth near Fort Collins
- Fish
- Brown and rainbow trout in pocket water
- Best months
- September to November; winter middays in the lower canyon
- Fees
- Gateway Natural Area $8 per vehicle (card only); pull-offs free
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs at Gateway and on city trails
The plan
Day 1: The lower canyon
- MorningDrive up I-25 and stop at a Fort Collins fly shop for flies and the current report.
- Late morning to 3 p.m.Take US-287 north to Ted's Place and turn west on CO-14. Fish the pull-offs in the first few miles, short drifts behind every boulder. In winter, pick the sunny stretches.
- AfternoonMove up to Gateway Natural Area if the pull-offs are busy. It has restrooms, parking and access where the North Fork comes in.
- EveningBack to Old Town Fort Collins for food and a beer.
Day 2 (optional): In town
- MorningWalk the Poudre River Trail from Lee Martinez Park and fish the slower in-town water. Best in cooler months.
- MiddayLunch in Old Town, then the drive home before rush hour.
Adjust for the season
- Spring: Blue-winged olives and midges before runoff. Once snowmelt starts, usually by late May, the river rises fast.
- Summer: Runoff into early July, then dry-dropper fishing. CO-14 is busy with rafters and campers on weekends, so start early.
- Fall: Prime time: low, clear water and active browns, plus fall color in the canyon.
- Winter: Fish 11 to 3 in the lower canyon's slower, deeper pools with small nymphs and midges. Watch for ice on shady pull-offs.
Where to park
CO-14 pull-offs, lower canyon
- West of the US-287 junction at Ted's Place. Park fully off the road; it's narrow and curvy. Fish signed public or Forest Service land.
Gateway Natural Area
- About 15 miles from Fort Collins. $8 per vehicle daily pass, sold onsite, card only. Open dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs allowed.
Lee Martinez Park
- City park on the Poudre River Trail in north Fort Collins, for the in-town water.
All public access along the river is signed. Between signs, assume it is private.
Fly shops
- St. Peter's Fly Shop Poudre specialists since 1992, in a historic house in Old Town. Reports, guides and classes. Directions
- Elkhorn Fly Rod & Reel Fly shop and guide service in Fort Collins. Directions
Where to eat after
- Odell Brewing Fort Collins brewery with a big patio and food trucks. Directions
- New Belgium Brewing The original New Belgium taproom, a short drive from Old Town. Directions
- Old Town Square Restaurants and patios within a few blocks. Directions
If the river is blown out
If the Poudre is high or off-color, the Big Thompson tailwater below Olympus Dam in Estes Park is about an hour away and usually fishable. Closer in, the in-town Poudre clears before the canyon does.
Want a guide?
A local guide puts you on the right water fast, and a float covers miles you can't wade. Tell us your dates and we'll match you with a local guide.
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