Colorado is one of the premier fly fishing destinations in North America, and you do not have to drive to the Western Slope to experience it. With Gold Medal trout waters just over an hour from Denver, guided fishing trips in Colorado offer first-timers and seasoned anglers alike the chance to wade into world-class rivers without the long haul. Whether you are casting your first line or looking to fish a stretch most guides cannot legally access, Downstream Adventures puts you on the water with expert guides who know every bend and riffle.
From peaceful walk-and-wade sessions on Clear Creek to full float fishing excursions drifting the Upper Colorado River, our guided fly fishing trips in Colorado are designed for all skill levels.
In this guide, we break down the two trip formats, what to expect on the water, where we fish, and everything you need to know before you go.
What Is a Guided Fly Fishing Trip, and Is It Right for You?
If you have never picked up a fly rod, the idea of a guided fishing trip can feel intimidating. The truth is, a guided trip is specifically designed to remove every barrier between you and a great day on the river. Your guide handles all of the logistics, gear selection, location scouting, reading the water, matching the hatch, so you can focus entirely on the experience.
On a guided trip with Downstream Adventures, all equipment is provided. That means fly rod and reel, waders and wading boots, flies, and all terminal tackle are included. You show up ready to fish. For beginners, guides spend the first stretch of the trip covering casting fundamentals, how to wade safely, how to read the water for likely fish-holding spots, and how to set the hook. Most first-timers are landing fish within the first hour.
Experienced anglers benefit from a guided trip in a different way. Rather than spending time scouting unfamiliar water, you arrive with a guide who fishes these rivers every single day of the season. They know which runs are producing, which flies are working, and in Downstream Adventures’ case, they can take you to water most visiting anglers will never access. More on that below.
Who is a guided trip for? Complete beginners who want expert instruction, intermediate anglers looking to improve technique, experienced fishers who want local knowledge and Gold Medal water access, couples or families looking for a calmer alternative to whitewater rafting, and anyone who wants a hassle-free day on the river with all gear provided. |
Colorado River Float Trips vs. Walk & Wade Trips
Downstream Adventures offers two distinct formats for guided fishing trips in Colorado, and the right choice depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Both are beginner-friendly, both run on world-class water, and both include fully guided instruction.
Colorado River Float Fishing Trip
The float fishing trip puts you in a drift boat on the Upper Colorado River near Kremmling. You and up to one other angler cast from the boat as your guide rows you through some of the most productive stretches of the river, covering far more water than you could on foot. This format is ideal for guests who want a scenic, immersive experience, part fishing adventure, part Colorado River float trip, with the added bonus of expert fly fishing instruction along the way.
Float fishing trips run as a half-day on the Upper Colorado River. Pricing starts at $550 per boat for one to two anglers. Guests must be at least 12 years old. All equipment is included, and departures run from May through September out of the Downstream Adventures Kremmling outpost at 200 W. Park Ave.
Walk & Wade Guided Fishing Trip
The walk-and-wade trip is a more intimate, on-foot experience. You and your guide step directly into the river, either Clear Creek Canyon or the Upper Colorado, and work specific pools, riffles, and runs together. This format offers more hands-on instruction and is a great choice for guests who want to develop their technique in a focused way, or who simply love the feel of wading in a mountain stream.
Walk-and-wade trips run as a half-day with morning and afternoon departures at 9 AM and 2 PM. Pricing is $300 for one angler, $400 for two, and $500 for three. Guests must be at least 10 years old. Trips run May through September, with Clear Creek departures meeting at 3440 Alvarado Rd in Dumont, Colorado, just 45 minutes from Denver.
Quick comparison: Float Trip — Drift boat on the Upper Colorado River | 1–2 anglers | $550/boat | Ages 12+ | Kremmling | Half-day. Walk & Wade — On-foot wading on Clear Creek or Colorado River | 1–3 anglers | $300–$500 | Ages 10+ | Empire or Kremmling | Half-day. |
What to Expect: A Day on the Water with Downstream
One of the most common questions we hear from first-time fishing guests is simply: what actually happens on the trip? Here is what a typical half-day guided fishing trip with Downstream Adventures looks like from arrival to takeout.
Arrival and gear setup. You meet your guide at the outpost — either Dumont for Clear Creek wade trips or Kremmling for Colorado River trips. The guide fits you with waders and wading boots, rigs your fly rod, and walks you through the day’s plan: which section of river you will fish, what the fish are feeding on, and what the conditions look like.
On-water instruction. Once you are on the river, your guide tailors the instruction to your level. Beginners work through casting fundamentals, the overhead cast, the roll cast, mending the line, while learning to read the water for current seams and holding lies. Intermediate and experienced anglers focus more on presentation, drift quality, and hatch-matching. The instruction is continuous and conversational, not a formal lesson.
Fishing time. The majority of the half-day is spent actually fishing, with your guide actively coaching you through each drift, each take, and each hookset. On float trips, the guide rows you through productive runs while you cast from the boat. On wade trips, you and the guide move through the canyon together, working runs and pools on foot. Float trips operate with a 2:1 guest-to-guide ratio to ensure a personal, attentive experience.
Where We Fish: Gold Medal Water and a Stretch No One Else Can Take You
Not all guided fishing trips in Colorado are created equal. The quality of the water matters enormously, and Downstream Adventures fishes two of the most productive trout rivers in the state.
The Upper Colorado River — Gold Medal Trout Water
The Upper Colorado River near Kremmling holds a Colorado Parks & Wildlife Gold Medal water designation, a classification reserved for stretches of river that consistently produce large trout in exceptional numbers. On the Upper Colorado, that means healthy populations of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, many of which reach impressive size thanks to the river’s rich aquatic insect life and relatively low fishing pressure compared to the more famous tailwater fisheries further south.
The scenery is half the draw. Floating the Upper Colorado means drifting past towering canyon walls, open ranch land, and some of the most undisturbed Rocky Mountain wilderness accessible from Denver in a single day. Bald eagles, great blue herons, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope are common sights along the river corridor.
Clear Creek Canyon — Rugged and Accessible
Clear Creek is best known as a whitewater destination, but the canyon holds a solid trout population that most visitors never know about. The walk-and-wade fishing experience here is dramatic, you are casting in a steep granite canyon with water so clear you can often spot the fish before you cast. For anyone looking for guided fly fishing near Denver, Clear Creek is the most accessible quality option in the state, with trips departing from Empire just 45 minutes from the city.
Gore Canyon — An Access Opportunity Most Guides Cannot Offer
Here is the detail that sets Downstream Adventures apart from nearly every other Colorado River fishing guide operation: Downstream Adventures holds commercial access to fish Gore Canyon of the Colorado River. Gore Canyon is a remote, pristine stretch of the Upper Colorado that most anglers, and most guide services, cannot legally access for commercial fishing trips. The canyon is known among experienced Colorado anglers as some of the most productive and least-pressured water in the region. If you are an experienced angler looking for something genuinely off the beaten path, this access is a rare opportunity. Ask our team about Gore Canyon availability when booking.
Fly Fishing Tips for First-Timers: What to Know Before You Go
You do not need prior fly fishing experience to have a great guided trip. But a little preparation goes a long way. Here is what our guides recommend before you arrive at the river.
Get your Colorado fishing license. All anglers ages 16 and older are required to hold a valid Colorado fishing license. Licenses are easy to purchase online through Colorado Parks & Wildlife and can be obtained the morning of your trip if needed. Do not leave this to the last minute on busy summer weekends.
Dress for the water, not the air temperature. Mountain rivers run cold even in July. Downstream Adventures provides waders and wading boots, so you will not get wet, but wear quick-dry pants or shorts underneath your waders and bring a long-sleeve sun shirt. High-altitude UV is intense even on overcast days, so sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential.
Hydration matters at altitude. The Kremmling and Empire areas sit above 7,000 feet. Bring a water bottle and plan to drink more than you think you need, especially on warm summer days. Starting well-hydrated makes a noticeable difference.
You do not need to know how to cast. Guests with zero fly fishing experience are welcomed on every guided trip. The guides have taught hundreds of beginners and are patient, encouraging instructors. If you have cast before, even in a backyard, that is a bonus, but it is absolutely not a requirement.
Combine Fishing and Rafting: Make a Full Day of It
One of the most popular ways guests experience Downstream Adventures is by combining a rafting trip with a fishing trip on the same visit, or across two days with an overnight stay at the basecamp lodging. The Kremmling outpost is uniquely positioned for this: the Upper Colorado River rafting trips and the float fishing trips both depart from the same location, making it easy to experience both sides of the river in a single day or weekend.
A classic combination is a morning Upper Colorado River rafting trip followed by an afternoon walk-and-wade fishing session. You spend the morning reading the rapids and the afternoon reading the water for trout, two completely different ways of experiencing the same river. Families with mixed interests find this format particularly well-suited: the kids who want action get their rapids in the morning, while the group settles into the quieter rhythm of fishing after lunch.
For guests who want to make a weekend of it, Downstream Adventures’ basecamp lodging in Dumont offers on-site cabins and yurts with a Stay & Play discount, book lodging and receive 10% off your rafting or fishing trip. The Dumont basecamp is centrally located between the Clear Creek and Kremmling outposts, making it a natural hub for a multi-day Colorado river adventure. Ask about gift cards if you are looking for an outdoor experience to give, they are popular for Father’s Day, birthdays, and anniversaries.
Stay & Play — Save 10%: Book a cabin or yurt at Downstream Adventures’ Dumont basecamp and receive 10% off your rafting or fishing trip. Available for all trips May through September. |
Book Your Guided Fly Fishing Trip Near Denver
Whether you are a complete beginner looking to try fly fishing for the first time or an experienced angler ready to explore Gold Medal water with a guide who knows every productive run on the river, Downstream Adventures has the right trip for you. Guided fishing trips near Denver run May through September on Clear Creek and the Upper Colorado River, with morning and afternoon departures available for walk-and-wade trips.
Summer weekends fill quickly, especially July and August. Book your departure early to secure your preferred date and time. If you have questions about which trip format is right for your group, our team is happy to help, call us at (303) 848-4595 or reach out through the contact form on our website.
Ready to get on the water? Book your Colorado River float fishing trip or walk-and-wade guided fishing trip!
FAQ — Guided Fly Fishing Trips Near Denver
Do I need a fishing license for a guided trip in Colorado?
Yes — all anglers ages 16 and older are required to hold a valid Colorado fishing license. Licenses can be purchased quickly online through Colorado Parks & Wildlife before your trip. Your guide will remind you prior to your departure date, but we recommend purchasing ahead of time to avoid any last-minute stress on the morning of your trip.
What kind of fish will I catch on a guided Colorado River fishing trip?
The Upper Colorado River holds healthy populations of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, many of which reach trophy size due to the Gold Medal water designation and the river’s exceptional aquatic insect life. Clear Creek also holds a strong trout population in its canyon stretches. Your guide will match fly selection to current hatch conditions to give you the best possible chance on the water.
What is the difference between a float fishing trip and a walk-and-wade trip?
Float fishing puts you in a drift boat on the Upper Colorado River, covering several miles of river while casting from the boat. Walk-and-wade trips involve stepping directly into the river with your guide and working specific pools and runs on foot. Both formats are beginner-friendly. Float trips feel more like a river adventure combined with fishing; wade trips are more intimate and technique-focused.
How far are the fishing trips from Denver?
Clear Creek walk-and-wade trips depart from Empire, Colorado, approximately 45 to 50 minutes from Denver — the closest quality guided fly fishing option to the city. Colorado River float fishing trips depart from Kremmling, approximately 90 minutes from Denver and a short drive from Winter Park, Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs.
When is the best time of year for fly fishing near Denver?
The prime window for guided fishing trips in Colorado is June through August, when water temperatures are ideal and hatches are most active. May is excellent for experienced anglers who do not mind cooler conditions and want fewer crowds. September is a beautiful time on the river — the crowds thin considerably, fall foliage begins to turn, and Brown Trout move into their fall feeding patterns. Downstream Adventures runs trips May through September.
Can I book a guided fishing trip if I have never fly fished before?
Absolutely. Most guests on guided trips are beginners. Your guide spends the first portion of the trip teaching casting fundamentals, how to read the water, and how to set the hook. You do not need to practice beforehand — everything is taught on the water. Most first-timers are landing fish within the first hour.
What is included in the trip price?
All necessary equipment is provided: fly rod and reel, waders and wading boots, flies, and all terminal tackle. Expert guide instruction is included for the full duration of the trip. Guests should bring a valid Colorado fishing license (ages 16+), sunscreen, water, snacks, and a camera.
