The Dream Stream is a few miles of river in open high-country prairie, and it holds some of the biggest trout near Denver. It's technical and it's windy, but one good fish here makes the drive worth it. Here's a day built around it, with Eleven Mile Canyon as the backup.
Right now
Live from USGS gauge 06695000 and National Weather Service.
- Drive
- About 2 to 2.5 hours from Denver
- Water
- Short tailwater between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile reservoirs
- Rules
- Flies and lures only, catch and release
- Fish
- Big rainbows and browns, including lake-run fish spring and fall
- Best months
- Spring and fall for lake-run fish; it's fishable most of the year
- Heads up
- Wide open and very windy. Bring layers.
The plan
The day
- Early morningLeave early. If you're coming through Lake George on US-24, stop at the fly shop for flies and the report, and grab breakfast at the cafe next door.
- MorningPark at the free lot where County Road 59 crosses the river. If it's full, keep going to the lots off Spinney Mountain Access Road. The water is similar everywhere, so pick the emptiest lot.
- MiddayFish slow and small: midges and scuds under an indicator, or eggs and streamers when lake-run fish are in. Keep your profile low; the fish see you on the open banks.
- AfternoonIf the wind gets bad, drive to Eleven Mile Canyon, which is more sheltered, and finish the day there.
Adjust for the season
- Spring: Lake-run rainbows and cutthroat move up from Eleven Mile. Prime time, and busy.
- Summer: Lower, clearer water and technical fishing. Early mornings, small flies and long leaders.
- Fall: Lake-run browns and kokanee. The state can close parts of the river in fall, so check CPW before you go.
- Winter: Cold and windy, with ice on the reservoirs. Spinney Mountain State Park closes to day use while the reservoir is iced over, so use the County Road 59 lot.
Where to park
County Road 59 lot
- The most-used lot is free and open all year, where County Road 59 crosses the river on the way to Spinney. Directions go to the park; the river crossing is just before it.
Spinney Mountain Access Road lots
- More lots after you cross the river. Lots inside the state park need a state parks pass.
Eleven Mile Canyon (backup)
- County Road 96 south from Lake George. About $10 per vehicle day-use fee at the entrance.
All public access along the river is signed. Between signs, assume it is private.
Fly shops
- Tumbling Trout Fly Shop Fly shop and guide service in Lake George, with guide permits on the Dream Stream and Eleven Mile. Check hours before you go. Directions
Where to eat after
- Gold Water Cafe Breakfast, lunch and coffee next to the fly shop. Good stop on the way in. Directions
If the river is blown out
When the wind is howling or the Dream is crowded, Eleven Mile Canyon is 20 minutes away and more sheltered. The fly-only water runs from the dam down to Springer Gulch.
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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