Fly Fishing: Weekend Trip (2 Day)

Trip Details

Itinerary

Day 0: Plan on meeting for 1-1.5 hours the night before your trip departs to double-check all gear and make sure backpacks are packed and ready to go for an early morning departure. Note: Some companies include this day as part of the total trip length, thus making it a four-day trip. However, we only include it as Day 0 to help with organization and acclimatizing to the higher altitudes in Colorado.

Day 1: Meet early morning and depart for trailhead. We will need to stop at the horse packer’s to drop gear for the horses and then continue to the trailhead. This day starts on the south-eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail begins at 8451′ under the foliage of Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines and follows a nicely flowing river up to our camp at a sub-alpine lake situated below the Continental Divide and the Mighty Mt. Alice. This is a great hike where the day is spent ascending through a thick canopy of trees with the occasional glimpse of the valley below and the mountains above. After arriving at camp, we will spend the afternoon fly-fishing around Thunder Lake. Elevation gain: 2110′. Distance: 7 miles.

Day: 2: This day will be spent fly fishing around Thunder Lake and the inlet and outlet streams of the Lake. We often get up early and fish at dawn. We then take a break and make a large lunch combined with a mid-day rest. Later, we fly fish for the afternoon when the weather calms and fishing heats up again. Camp at same location.

Day 3: After breakfast, we pack the bags for the horses to transport back to trailhead. We’ll be fly fishing through the morning around the Lake and then after lunch on the hike down to the trailhead, on the same route we ascended Day 1. For most of the hike, we’ll fish along the descent route, especially the last 2 miles before the trailhead for some great river angling. Drive back to Estes Park, Boulder, or Denver. Elevation loss: -2110′. Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty Description:

Moderate – On moderate trips, you will hike 3-6 miles with a 25-35 pound backpack, remaining on maintained trails. Elevation gain/loss may be as much as, but not more than 2250 feet. For a moderate trip, you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light daypack. Altitudes range from 7,000 – 10,500′.

What to Bring: Sent with trip confirmation.

Included: The services of a professional backpacking guide; Rocky Mountain National Park permit and backcountry camping permits; transportation between Boulder and the wilderness trailheads; horse-drop at campsite; all food during the backpacking trip; a re-supply drop, if necessary; gear for water purification and cooking; bear canister, tent, medical kit; CB radio and contingency and emergency support; and all terminal tackle and equipment (rod, reel, waders).

Not included in our rates: Meals while in the front country (breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day), fishing license ($9 – $21), laundry, alcoholic beverages, hotel overnight before your trip and at trip’s conclusion, personal equipment like tent, AC for tent camping, airbed etc (sleeping bag, pad, backpack – these items are available to rent), and gratuities for your guide(s) – while this is at your discretion, the recommended amount is 20%.