Fishing · NW Larimer County
Cache la Poudre River
Colorado’s only Wild & Scenic river — miles of roadside wild-trout water up the Poudre Canyon.
Toggle USGS Topo / Terrain / Satellite / Street (top-right) · red = special-regulation water, confirm current rules · waters © CPW Colorado Fishing Atlas
The Cache la Poudre is the heart of the fishing up here — Colorado’s only federally designated Wild and Scenic River, a classic freestone stream tumbling out of the high peaks and down through the granite of the Poudre Canyon. It runs a healthy population of self-sustaining wild trout, mostly brown along with rainbow and cutthroat, from the headwaters all the way down toward Fort Collins.
What makes the Poudre special is how much of it you can reach: Highway 14 follows the river for miles up the canyon, so you can pull off almost anywhere, scramble down to the water, and fish pocket water, riffles, and deep boulder runs. It fishes best from late spring through early fall once runoff drops, though the lower stretches can produce even in winter. Just know that several sections are Wild Trout Water with special regulations — be sure which water you are standing in before you cast.
The Water
Type
Wild & Scenic freestone river
Trout
Wild brown, rainbow & cutthroat
Access
Roadside along Highway 14
Best
Late spring–fall
Good to Know
- A valid Colorado fishing license is required — and several stretches are Wild Trout Water with special regulations (artificial flies and lures only, reduced or catch-and-release limits). Check which section you are on; see the regulations on our main fishing page.
- Much of the river is easy roadside access off Highway 14, so you can fish a lot of water in a day.
- Runoff (roughly May into June) blows the river out; it settles and fishes beautifully from July through October.
- Respect private land along the canyon, and watch the current — the Poudre runs cold and fast, especially in spring.
What’s Biting & What’s Stocked
The current stocking, the species, ice conditions, and the full Northwest Larimer fishing atlas — refreshed weekly — live in the app.
Coming soon — Larimer Wilds Fishing: offline maps, live GPS, and what’s stocked for every water up here, right in your pocket.
Built by Many Hands — Give a Little Back
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Shop the Collection →This fishery doesn’t sustain itself. Every trout is stocked and every acre stewarded by the public agencies we lean on for this guide — if you love these waters, please pitch in for them too:
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife — the stocking, the fishery & the Colorado Fishing Atlas Donate →
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest (USFS) — the public land & lakes themselves Support →
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- Google & USGS — location, ratings & topographic maps
Fishing details compiled by the Red Feather Lakes Travel Guide from the sources above. Photography by us — more of our own water images coming as we fish them.