The fish are extremely spooky right now. Recreation notes Maps. Considered one of Colorado's most scenic fishing spots, Cheesman Canyon is a Colorado treasure. The Cheesman Canyon Trailhead is located along Jefferson County Route 126, approximately 22 miles from south of Pine Junction from US Highway 285. Cheesman Reservoir is a 3.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sedalia, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. With house-sized boulders in the center of the river, not a road in sight, and bald eagles flying above, it doesn't get much "troutier" and beautiful than Cheesman Canyon. Even at high elevation you can often spot fish holding in the river. Facilities Amenities include two vault toilets and drinking water from a … The clear river, dashing through granite walls and pooling around boulders, is famed for its large rainbow and brown trout, which thrive on its aquatic insect life. Cheesman Canyon. Getting to Cheesman Canyon: Follow Hwy 126 south from Pine Junction. This stretch of the river is catch and release only and is known for holding large rainbows. Saved by Karen Hopkins Let’s get you up to speed on what’s happening currently in Decker’s/Trumbull. Wow, covered some ground today and hiked the Gill Trail along the South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon. This water can be fished year round and is quite productive. The following descriptions are from the interpretive sign, on the left of photo. Youtube It is often said that if you can catch fish in Cheesman canyon, you can catch fish anywhere. Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12919. A 1-mile hike gets you into the canyon, and puts 3 miles of fishable water ahead of you. The drive to the canyon leads you through the old burn out of the Hayman Forest Fire Area. Streamer fishing has been stellar at Deckers and Cheesman canyon, especially in the deeper water. Cheesman Canyon is one of the most technical and rewarding tailwater fisheries in Colorado. No camping allowed at Cheesman Reservoir and in the Upper Cheesman Canyon. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Please rember to fish early in the day and take water temperatures throughout the day. Contact Information Default. Do not cut switchbacks. Any sale, reproduction or distribution of this information, or products derived therefrom, in any format is expressly … Its not a bad idea to lug the streamer rod along with you. With our current snowpack in the South Platte basin only at 74% of average, we will need to hit at least an average year to return to normal flows this summer. The Upper Cheesman Canyon trail climbs above the lake and down to below the dam where it meets the Gill Trail at the South Platte River. Cheesman Canyon, CO [OC] June 2020 Cheesman Canyon CO [OC] #hiking #camping #outdoors #nature #travel #backpacking #adventure #marmot #outdoor #mountains #photography Cheesman Lake is an 877-acre reservoir on the South Platte River in upper Cheesman Canyon in the Front Range southwest of Colorado Highway 67 and Deckers. Cheesman Reservoir Closed for 2011. This is right in line with the historic average of 55-60 c.f.s for this time of year. Spillway is the closest campground to the Eleven Mile Reservoir, which spans 3,405 surface acres and 5 miles in length. What can I say….Technical, challenging, humbling, and rewarding. We are seeing some epic days out on the water right now. A mixed bag of wild rainbows and brown trout in the 12-20+ range is what will likely be on the end of your line once you can figure out what these picky … The damage is extremely extensive and the much of the landscape is washed out and eroded. This is an area we specialize in and are permitted to guide in, so give us a shout if you have any question or if you're interested in allowing one of our Orvis Endorsed Guides show you how best to conquer Cheesman. This extra water is needed and the fish are feeding hard. Instagram, Angler's Covey Autumn splendors, wooly buggers. Cheesman Canyon is the picture perfect trout stream. I had planned to fish a couple of locations a bit further up river so I kept to the trail for a while. For an easier stroll, the Cheesman Reservoir Goose Arm Creek Trail offers a more relaxed walk along the lake’s shore. TTY: (719) 553-1404 Mueller who used half of his 5,121 acre property for cattle grazing and left the other half as natural habitat. Fish are moving into riffles and feeding during the warmest parts of the day. The lake was formed by Cheesman Dam, a massive masonry curved gravity-arch dam that was the tallest in the world at 221 feet when it was finished in 1905. Alderfer/Three Sisters. April 23, 2018 South Platte River, Fishing Report for Decker's, Colorado, and Cheesman Canyon. Some campsites are shaded by scattered spruce and ponderosa pine. Beer Colorado Mountain Biking. Anyone have experience here, I usually camp up north but it's still a little on the cold side (especially at night). Help protect the canyon by staying on designated trails. So I thought I would try the South Park Ranger District for a change of pace. The Gill Trail is an intermediate hike that weaves through Cheesman Canyon. Close. All Rights Reserved. The Cheesman Canyon Trailhead is located along Jefferson County Road 126, approximately 19 miles from south of Pine Junction off of Highway 285. Another quick leg of the drive got us to the parking lot of the Cheesman Canyon trailhead at around 11:10am. The campground, at altitude 8,500 feet, is located at the edge of Eleven Mile Canyon, furthest from the canyon entrance. Pitched a hammock up along the South Platte River in Cheesman Canyon in Sedalia, CO back in April. The coordinates that you can use in navigation applications to get to find Upper Cheesman Canyon Trailhead quickly are 39.2230381 ,-105.2788063 We are seeing some epic days out on the water right now. The sites are named for Walter S. Cheesman, who was a Denver resident and president of the Colorado Humane Society with strong stakes in the water, real estate, railroad, and finance industries. Pike and San Isabel National Forests Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Drive Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904 Deckers\Cheesman Canyon Fishing Report. However the Canyon itself was spared by change in elevation. Today we drove to … Date Hiked: November 12, 2012 Distance: 8 miles (RT) Elevation Gain: 800ft Elevation Min/Max: 6,477ft to 7,154ft Trailhead Lat/Long: 39.241484 N; 105.265702 W Managing Agency: U.S. Forest Service Fee: None Current Conditions at Cheesman Canyon: After low flows this summer we are seeing a bump in water on the South Platte drainage. Follow us on social media: The further upstream you walk, the fewer crowds you will encounter. 1. Pueblo, CO 81008 The following descriptions are from the interpretive sign, on the left of photo. There are tons of great fishing opportunities along this stretch of the river, but it does tend to get crowded on weekends. Most weekend days the parking lot is full. Upper Cheesman Canyon Trailhead is located in Jefferson County of Colorado state. Try striping a mini-leech or a slump buster (white/olive/black) through pools and around rocks. Season: Fishable all year depending on flows, Fish species: Brown, Rainbow, Cutthroat and Cutbow trout, Fishing Regulations: Catch and release, flies and lures only, Techniques & Tips: Fishing is technical and calls for 9-12 foot leaders and  fine tippets - 5X to 6X. The trailhead is near the campground and extends 7 miles southwest to the Cheesman Dam at Cheesman Lake. For an easier stroll, the pawnee montane skipper hoppers are out and back trail with elevation. Now is the only place in the parking lot, do n't on. Get crowded on weekends Engineering Landmark Canyon fishing Report Jan 11, 2021 making up most of landscape... Storage in Cheesman Canyon trailhead is near the campground and extends 7 miles southwest to the Goose Arm... Our drought has taken a toll on the Road got US to parking... Get you up to speed on what ’ s get you up to speed on what ’ best. Of nature ’ s happening currently in Decker ’ s/Trumbull limited due snow! 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