The Upper Rio Grande area offers some of the best fishing in Colorado. Gold Medal waters on the river and an abundance of creeks, lakes, and reservoirs provide year-round opportunities for the avid fisherman! Online and in-person, check with knowledgeable outdoor shops, license vendors, fishing lodges, guides and outfitters.

South Fork boasts the longest stretch of Gold Medal Waters in the entire state. Nearly 20 miles of the Rio Grande River receive this designation from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. These designations are given out sparingly and represent the highest quality aquatic habitat in Colorado – your best chance to catch a trophy trout! Gold Medal waters support recreational fishing, by keeping fish in the water and letting them grow to a larger size. Brown and rainbow trout fishing is good from the Rio Grande Reservoir downstream to Del Norte. The section of water between South Fork and Del Norte provides the best location for catching trophy brown trout.

There are several access point for the Rio Grande, please consult state guide book, and observe all posted private property markers. When fishing any Gold Medal waters, be sure that you know what the possession limits for the area are and the type of fish allowed. This information can be obtained through the Colorado Fishing Season Information printed, by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Rio Grande, Spanish Río Grande del Norte, or (in Mexico) Río Bravo, or Río Bravo del Norte, fifth longest river of North America, and the 20th longest in the world, flows through the state of New Mexico then forming the border between the U.S. state of Texas and Mexico. Rising as a clear, snow-fed mountain stream more than 12,000 feet above sea level in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Rio Grande descends across steppes and deserts, watering rich agricultural regions as it flows on its way to the Gulf of Mexico at Brownsville, Texas. The total length of the river is about 1,900 miles.

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

The Rio Grande operated as a separate division of the Southern Pacific until 1992. Today, most former D&RGW main lines are owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad while several branch lines are now operated as heritage railways by various companies.

The San Luis Valley is a rich agricultural area, and as such the line was initially only built west across the flat section of the valley, reaching South Fork in 1881. By 1883 this had been extended westward as far as Wagon Wheel Gap with the intentions of reaching the Creede minin district. However, the railroad found itself financially over-extended due to the rapid expansion during the early 1880s, and decided to postpone further construction. By 1889, operations had been cut back to Del Norte, on account of little to no traffic and heavy snows on the west end of the line.

In the 1880’s, the Denver and Rio Grande Railway was in a building frenzy throughout Colorado.
One of the most beautiful areas was on the headwaters of the Rio Grande River at a mountain pass known as Wagon Wheel Gap. Hot springs in this area, as well as the cool summers at its 8,500 foot elevation, made it a perfect resort area for the friends and guests of General William Jackson Palmer, president of the railroad.

A rail line was extended to this spot from the end of the line in Del Norte. With mining demands high, the line was extended to the mountain mining town of Creede a few years later. This line was active through 1985 when the last few cars of ore were carried out. The line that carried hundreds of thousands of passengers and millions of dollars worth of silver ore fell quiet.

Roll forward to the Spring of 2000 when the Denver & Rio Grande Historical Foundation purchased this 21.6 mile line of scenic mountain meadows, rivers and 1,000 foot cliffs. This area is well known for its scenic vistas, historic towns and mines, fishing, hunting and just a wonderful get-away-from-it-all place.
The Line has been cleaned of brush, small trees and rocks. Ties and rails are being placed where needed.