Salida sits right on the Arkansas, with Gold Medal water above and below town and a dozen signed public access sites within 20 minutes. Here is a two-day plan that works most of the year, with the timing adjusted by season below.
Right now
Live from USGS gauge 07093700 and National Weather Service.
- Drive
- About 2.5 to 3 hours from Denver on US-285
- Gauge
- Arkansas River near Wellsville, just below Salida
- Fish
- Mostly brown trout, plus rainbows
- Best months
- Mid-March to late May, September to November; winter middays work
- Fees
- Some recreation-area sites charge a day-use fee
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome in the recreation area and most patios in town
The plan
Day 1: Below Salida (Bighorn Sheep Canyon)
- MorningDrive down US-285. Stop at a Salida fly shop for flies, the current report and a license if you need one.
- Late morning to 3 p.m.Fish the canyon below town. It sits lower and gets more sun, so it warms up first. Start at Salida East and work down to Wellsville or Rincon if it's crowded.
- EveningDinner downtown by the river.
Day 2: Above Salida (Big Bend to Browns Canyon)
- MorningCoffee in town, then head north on US-285 toward Stone Bridge and Big Bend. Big Bend is one of the flies-and-lures-only stretches near Salida, with a lot of public easement water.
- MiddayIf you want to keep going, Hecla Junction at the bottom of Browns Canyon is known for brown trout. You'll need to walk upstream, and public land is on the east bank there.
- AfternoonLunch on a patio, then the drive home before dark.
Adjust for the season
- Spring (March to May): Blue-winged olives first, then the big caddis hatch, which reaches Salida around late May in a normal year. Bring an elk hair caddis and caddis pupae.
- Summer: Runoff in June, then rafts everywhere in Browns Canyon. Fish early and late, and lean on the canyon below town. Hoppers along the banks from mid-July.
- Fall (September to November): Prime time. Browns are active and the rafts are gone. Nymph the riffles, and throw streamers on cloudy days.
- Winter: Fish 11 to 3, when the sun is on the water. Small midges and BWO nymphs in slow water below Salida.
Where to park
Salida East
- Recreation-area site just downstream of town. Easy first stop on Day 1.
Rincon
- On US-50 about eight miles east of Salida at mile marker 231. The turn is on the north side, on a curvy stretch. Day-use fee site.
Stone Bridge
- At the north end of CO-291 near US-285. The access is on the upstream side of the bridge.
Big Bend
- A few miles downstream of Stone Bridge. Flies and lures only on this stretch; check CPW signs.
Hecla Junction
- Turn east off US-285 onto County Road 194 between mile markers 135 and 136, about a mile north of CO-291. Drive 2.4 miles to the end.
All public access along the river is signed. Between signs, assume it is private.
Fly shops
- ArkAnglers / Arkansas River Fly Shop Fly shop and guide service on US-50 west of town. Also has a shop in Buena Vista. Directions
- The Next Eddy Fly shop and guide service downtown. Rentals and fishing reports. Directions
Where to eat after
- High Side! Bar & Grill Patio on the river. Dogs welcome outside. Directions
- Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub Pizza and house beer. Dog-friendly patio. Directions
- Amica's Pizza Downtown pizza and brewpub. Dog-friendly patio. Directions
- Soulcraft Brewing Brewery with food and a dog-friendly patio. Directions
- Tres Litros Beer Company Neighborhood brewery downtown. Dogs welcome outside. Directions
- Boathouse Cantina Mexican food by the river. Dogs at the sidewalk tables. Directions
If the river is blown out
If the river is high or muddy, drive 20 minutes north and fish the in-town water at Buena Vista River Park, or call a shop for which stretch is clearest. In late spring and early summer, a guided float is often the best way to fish high water.
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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