Big Thompson River

About

Below town, the Big Thompson runs through its canyon along Highway 34, with turnouts you can pull into and trout you can fish for. It's the river you meet on the drive up, and it's worth a stop.

After it leaves Estes Park, the Big Thompson follows Highway 34 east through the canyon, so access is mostly from the road. The river starts in Rocky Mountain National Park and flows through town before it heads down the canyon. People fish for browns and rainbows, and spots like the east end of Lake Estes just past Olympus Dam and the first bridge and turnout on the north side of the highway are known access points. In the canyon, the river also gets rafted and floated when the water is right. May through October is the usual fishing window.

Pull over only at real turnouts. The road is narrow and the traffic doesn't slow down for you. The water is cold and quick, so keep kids and dogs away from the edge unless you know the spot. If you plan to fish, check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for current rules and a license before you drop a line. I'd go on a weekday morning, when you can actually hear the river.