Summers is hands down the very best season to fish the Conejos. Our location presents a unique opportunity to fish in an area that escapes the crowded areas that come with summer, and offers a challenge to fisherman to experience Elk Creek and its variety of fishing for … I have a trip coming up the week of August 19th, my current plan is to hike the Elk Creek/Valle Victoria loop in the South San Juan Wilderness. Copyright 2020 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. The Conejos River Headwaters Loop is somewhat difficult to access, but it is extremely beautiful and remote. From a roadside trailhead in a switchback above the Conejos River Valley (a fly fisherman’s paradise), this hike begins with a 0.9-mile warm-up on the dirt road before bearing left onto more rugged doubletrack through a bushy meadow. Located approximately 50 miles southwest of Alamosa, CO and 30 miles north of Chama, NM, we are in the heart of the Rio Grande National Forest and the South San Juan Wilderness. Spring fishing is decent so long as you keep to the tailwaters, and fall is the best season for bigger catches since the approach of winter draws the grandaddy fish out from the depths to feed. Blue Lake Loop, South San Juan Wilderness, CO. Conejos River Headwaters Backpacking Loop, South San Juan Wilderness Area. Access to the wilderness is mainly from the north via … Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. Learn more about the Elk Creek and surrounding area at the official US Forest Service website. Some believe that it is still home to a few grizzlies, but … FISHING THE ELK CREEK AND BEYOND. The Conejos River is a 92 mile long tributary of the Rio Grande River, located in south-central Colorado. I talked to the one guy not fishing for a few minutes, then set my stuff down and took a lunch break. Created on December 22, 1980, when President Carter signed Public Law 96-560, the 127,721-acre South San Juan Wilderness is a geographically remote and primal territory. The Conejos, San Juan, and Blanco Rivers have their headwaters here. There is a reason the last known grizzly bear to live in Colorado called the South San Juan Wilderness … The South San Juan Wilderness lies on the Rio Grande National Forest near Platoro and Antonito Colorado. Saddle Creek is a fly-fishing only area, so if you are looking to work on your technique there are few better places in the state to get practice. The last known grizzly bear in Colorado was killed in the wilderness in 1979. South San Juan Wilderness Area. Numerous fishing access points and easements along the way provide access to some of the finest trout fishing to be had in Colorado. Welcome to Fish Creek Outfitters, where your adventure in the beautiful San Juan Wilderness begins! Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. The river snakes back and forth across the borders of the San Juan National Forest and the South San Juan Wilderness Area, making them slightly less accessible but still open to the public. We are proud to offer drop camps through our outfit to some of the most beautiful places to fish in the Rio Grande National Forest of the South San Juan Wilderness. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 5X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. Thank you to all our hunters & fishermen, as well as our great staff and horses. South San Juan Wilderness is a reserve in Colorado and has an elevation of 11,404 feet. Rainbow Trout Outfitters is proud to offer some of the premier hunting and fishing opportunities in the southern Colorado Rocky Mountains. South San Juan Wilderness – Aug. 2020: Trip Report. This post is also available in: EnglishFrançaisDeutsch日本語Located east of Pagosa Springs, the South San Juan Wilderness Area is administered by the San Juan National Forest. Best trails in South San Juan Wilderness, Colorado | AllTrails South San Juan Wilderness, CO 1/11 Tucked deep within a glacial bowl beneath two rugged 13,000-foot peaks, Crater Lake is one of the more accessible subalpine lakes in the Southern San Juans. The headwaters start up above the Platoro Reservoir, which is accessible via USFS Road 250N from Highway 17. I'll have 4 … We had an incredible 2019 fishing & hunting season. Forest-wide Regulations. Each fisherman will be asked to participate in a short orientation on riding and horsemanship. We are proud to offer drop camps through our outfit to some of the most beautiful places to fish in the Rio Grande National Forest of the South San Juan Wilderness. The origin of the name of the river is unknown, though why anyone would name it “Rabbit River” (translation) remains a mystery. The river snakes back and forth across the borders of the San Neighboring towns: Pagosa Springs, Southfork, Del Norte, Monte Vista, Summitville, Platoro, Chromo (Choma, New Mexico) Many call the South San Juan Wilderness Colorado's wildest corner. The Conejos offers great fishing and beautiful landscapes and vistas, but it is very important to respect private property when fishing in the area, as irresponsible anglers who trespass can cause access via private land and easements to disappear over time due to poor choices. In terms of accommodations, there are several ranch resorts in the area that cater specifically to anglers looking to fish the many trout filled waters of Colorado, and many of them are located quite close by the to the Conejos, too. Bar W Outfitters Colorado Licensed Outfitters providing guided elk and deer hunting, guided fly fishing, and wilderness pack trips for the adventurous sightseer, artist, or photographer in southern Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest and South San Juan Wilderness. The weight limit for the riders is 240lbs. South San Juan Wilderness Specific Regulations. While we specialize in drop camps, we also offer … View the DIY Fly Fishing Web Map to get turn-by-turn directions to the access points shown on the map above. The South San Juan Wilderness encompasses the southeastern extent of the San Juan Mountain Range, including a segment of the Continental Divide. A look at four of the seven highest peaks in the range, on the Continental Divide Interesting Recent History/Facts The last grizzly bear sighting in Colorado was within the South San Juan wilderness in 1979 (killed during a dramatic attack involving self-defense with arrow in hand), and some speculate that grizzlies may still roam the area. On September 23, 1979 a sow grizzly was killed near Blue Lake by a bow hunter. Located in Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests. The closest airport is the San Luis Regional, and flights in and out year round are fairly reasonable, though summertime tends to see an increase in both price and traffic. Camping, campfires, and restraining or grazing of recreational livestock are NOT permitted within 200 feet of Bear Lake, Blue Lake, Green Lake, and Red Lake. After I ate I grabbed some pictures and then hit the trail again. You can find the trails along USFS Road 250. The South San Juan Wilderness offers some of the best backpacking experience in Colorado, with more than 180 miles of established trails, including a 42-mile section of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The trail is a fairly gentle walk that offers scenic vistas of the Conejos Valley and gives access to several small fishing lakes. Last but not least, don’t forget to check out vacation rentals in the area, as you will often find hidden gems where you can stay in between trips to the river that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. South San Juan Wilderness from Mapcarta, the free map. If you are a fan of winter fishing, most experts recommend sticking to waters below the dam, and to try to fish on warmer days since the winter weather can be brutal. Summer cabins are popular in the region as well, and securing a rental is generally no problem provided you book sufficiently far enough in advance. Many fishing easements have also been added to private land along the Conejos, which has proven a major boon for both anglers and the owners and renters of summer cabins. If you are a fly fisherman, the South San Juan offers a tremendous opportunity for the fly-fishing purist. Rainbow Trout Outfitters is an equal opportunity service provider and employer and operates under a special use permit from the USDA Forest Service. … Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. Covid summer has made recreation around Santa Fe quite popular at basically all times, so I decided to explore the South San Juans instead a … The South San Juan Wilderness encompasses the southeastern extent of the San Juan Mountain Range, including a segment of the Continental Divide. Trout Fishing the Beautiful South San Juan Wilderness of Colorado August 2020 By Rex McMahon August 18, 2020 Tips and Tactiics 0 Comments OK, so the government authorities have still deemed the beach to be one of the most dangerous places in the world for COVID – 19. 1. That was a neat spot to have lunch. Our location presents a unique opportunity to fish in an area that escapes the crowded areas that come with summer, and offers a challenge to fisherman to experience Elk Creek and its variety of fishing for rainbows, browns, and cutthroats. The South San Juan wilderness is located in southern Colorado near the towns of Pagosa Springs, South Fork, and Antonito. Fished Elk Creek, David pulled in one brook trout. This short trail is mainly used to get to the Middle Fork Conejos Trail, North Fork Conejos Trail, and El Rito Azul Trail - which in turn provide access to the Continental Divide Trail - in the Grande and San Juan Wilderness of Colorado, License # 3160, Unit 81... 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