Gunnison River Pleasure Park
When you really need to unplug
The Gunnison River fly fishing float trip is one of the most picturesque three-day float fishing trips in the West, world-renowned for its fantastic fishing, remarkable scenery and lack of crowds.
Gunnison River is designated as Gold Medal Water and Wild Trout Water, with more fish per mile than any other Colorado river! With an abundant population of German Brown and Rainbow trout, there are endless opportunities for hooks on this 14-mile stretch of river. The Gunnison Gorge also features Class III rapids, ramping up the adventure a couple more notches.
Our three-day remote wilderness adventure will be packed with float fishing, walk and wade fishing, camping in remote sites, time for relaxation, hearty camp meals, and much more. Don’t miss your chance to embark on this remote wilderness adventure!
The Gunnison River fishing trips are great for individuals, couples or small groups of no more than 8 people who want to eat, sleep and breathe fly fishing for three days. We fly fish during times that many other angles have to pack up their rod, with early morning and evening fly fishing.
Venturing this far into the Colorado wilderness can be a logistical nightmare to plan on your own. When you book your trip with Arkansas River Tours, we take care of all the details, so all you have to do is pack up your camp gear and enjoy the trip!
This trip is most rewarding for anglers that have a basic foundation of how to fly fish - but if you have beginners in your group, your fly fishing guide will be happy to accommodate them with closer casting and basic instruction.
Location: Gunnison River Pleasure Park
Requirements: Minimum age requirement 12+
Trip Length: 3 Days
Adventure Level: A reel good time
The Gunnison River fly fishing float trip is one of the most picturesque three-day float fishing trips in the West, world-renowned for its fantastic fishing, remarkable scenery and lack of crowds.
Gunnison River is designated as Gold Medal Water and Wild Trout Water, with more fish per mile than any other Colorado river! With an abundant population of German Brown and Rainbow trout, there are endless opportunities for hooks on this 14-mile stretch of river. The Gunnison Gorge also features Class III rapids, ramping up the adventure a couple more notches.
Our three-day remote wilderness adventure will be packed with float fishing, walk and wade fishing, camping in remote sites, time for relaxation, hearty camp meals, and much more. Don’t miss your chance to embark on this remote wilderness adventure!
The Gunnison River fishing trips are great for individuals, couples or small groups of no more than 8 people who want to eat, sleep and breathe fly fishing for three days. We fly fish during times that many other angles have to pack up their rod, with early morning and evening fly fishing.
Venturing this far into the Colorado wilderness can be a logistical nightmare to plan on your own. When you book your trip with Arkansas River Tours, we take care of all the details, so all you have to do is pack up your camp gear and enjoy the trip!
This trip is most rewarding for anglers that have a basic foundation of how to fly fish - but if you have beginners in your group, your fly fishing guide will be happy to accommodate them with closer casting and basic instruction.
Location: Gunnison River Pleasure Park
Requirements: Minimum age requirement 12+
Trip Length: 3 Days
Adventure Level: A reel good time
Gunnison River Pleasure Park
When you really need to unplug
The Gunnison Gorge averages 7,000 fish per mile made up of rainbow and brown trout. You will be fishing from the boat and wading from shore during this trip
This river has some amazing campsites with sandy beaches and shaded areas. During our Colorado overnight fly fishing trips, camping out in the middle of nowhere under the millions of stars is a treat that not many get to experience.
This tour encompasses adventure at its finest. Accessing the river requires a 7-mile rough 4×4 trail followed by a 1.5 mile hike down into the gorge. Once in the gorge, you will journey through the remote canyon navigating various class III whitewater and stunning geography.
Your three-day Gunnison Gorge fly fishing adventure starts with a meetup at Gunnison River Pleasure Park. Aim to get to our meeting spot by 7:15 am for a prompt start.
Our team will have already organized the raft gear, prepped the meals, and planned the campsites, so you don’t have to worry about details. We will provide each guest with a large dry bag to securely pack all of their personal gear so everyone has everything they need for the trip. If you need camping or fishing gear, we’ll make sure you’re outfitted in top-of-the-line gear for rent. Once our guides check you in, it’s time to suit up in our provided life jackets and head to the put-in.
After we tackle the rugged 7-mile 4×4 trail, everyone carries their personal gear on a beautiful mile-long hike down the Chukar Trail to the river. If guests need assistance with their personal gear arrangements can be made. The narrow canyon carves through the polished Proterozoic schist and gneiss formations for a beautiful natural gateway to kick off the trip!
Each day we spend in Gunnison Gorge will have about 5-7 hours of fishing. Some fishing holes are only reachable by raft, so you can access some of the best fishing on the river. Other fishing holes are perfect for relaxing wade fishing with a view. Depending on how the fish are biting, you can swap between float fishing and wade fishing throughout the day.
Day 1
You’ll meet your trip leader at Pleasure Park at 7:00 am to gear up and set off. A rough 4×4 trail will take you to wilderness and drop you off above the river gorge, where you’ll hike about a mile to the river.
Once you arrive at the river, the rest of the guide crew will be waiting for you with everything prepped for the trip. The day will be filled with float and wade fishing, whitewater rapids, and a stop for a riverside lunch. You’ll conquer class III rapids like Boulder Garden, Jumpin’ Jack Splash, Cable Rapid, and Grand Finale. When the water is calm, we will relax on a sunny float, stop for a cooling dip in the water, go on leg-stretching hikes and enjoy riverside meals that your guide will prepare with fresh ingredients.
Once we arrive at camp, we either continue fishing or start setting up camp. After camp is set up, you’ll enjoy apps and drinks with a riverside view. Enjoy camp how you want – wade fishing, hiking, or simply relaxing in the wilderness. We highly recommend taking advantage of the unique opportunity for a golden-hour wade fish! After a delicious guide-made dinner, you can enjoy a campfire under the stars.
Day 2
We wake up bright and early for another day of unparalleled fly fishing! We serve coffee and breakfast bright and early so we can cast out before the crowds of day rafters make their way down the river. With only a few river miles to float to the next camp, you and your crew will fish all of the holes, pocket water and river banks. When you’re not fishing, you’ll be hitting some class-III rapids, enjoying a hike break and relaxing at another beautiful riverside camp with guide-made meals and a cozy campfire.
Day 3
With another early coffee and breakfast, we immediately hit the river. This stretch is full of fun whitewater before passing into the impressive Hall of the River King section of the river. This stretch of the river has perfect conditions for fishing. After a while, the river opens up into a canyon where the Smith Fork flows in – which is typically some of the best fishing of the trip. We end the trip in the early afternoon and the take out will have your car there waiting for you.
Gunnison River Fly Fishing
This three-day float fly fishing trip will grant you access to fishing holes that are impossible to reach by car or foot for some of the best remote Brown and Rainbow trout fishing you can experience. The Gunnison Gorge averages 7,000 fish per mile, making it one of the most sought-after fly fishing destinations in the West.
Float fishing is the only way to access several prime holding areas in the canyon, but there will also be plenty of fantastic wading opportunities along the way. Our three-day Gunnison Gorge fly fishing trips provide ample time to walk-wade early in the morning and late into the evening after a day of fishing from our rafts.
Each day we leisurely make our way from campsite to campsite, stopping at secluded world-class fishing holes along the way. Our guides will select scenic remote campsites where they prepare wholesome meals from fresh ingredients as you converse about the day’s events. You can spend sunset lounging by the fire or continue to fish during the evening hatch.
What’s included:
What’s not included:
Gunnison Gorge Views
The Gunnison Gorge, just downstream from Black Canyon National Park in western Colorado, is a breathtaking 14-mile wilderness journey that is home to one of Colorado’s top Gold Medal fisheries.
Black Canyon National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area are known for offering exceptionally remote natural beauty, so you can feel like the only group on the river. The river winds through endless craggy canyons and hills that glow pink and purple during magic hour. The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful when you float from fishing hole to fishing hole.
We recommend staying in Hotchkiss, CO or Delta, CO the night before for easy access to the Gunnison River Pleasure Park.
We have select dates for this river and they range between May and September. Check out our calendar for open dates!
Per the forest service regulations, we are only allowed 12 people per campsite and this includes staff members. Up to 8 guests can attend per launch.
Transportation to and from the river, meals, PFD/life jacket and splash jacket. Fishing gear and camping gear are available for rent. A fishing license is required for this tour. You can obtain one at Colorado Parks & Wildlife!
We will provide you with a dry bag to pack all of your personal gear into. Please remember that you have to carry all of your personal gear down into the gorge so don’t over pack!
We recommend staying in Hotchkiss, CO or Delta, CO the night before for easy access to the Gunnison River Pleasure Park.
We have select dates for this river and they range between May and September. Check out our calendar for open dates!
Per the forest service regulations, we are only allowed 12 people per campsite and this includes staff members. Up to 8 guests can attend per launch.
Transportation to and from the river, meals, PFD/life jacket and splash jacket. Fishing gear and camping gear are available for rent. A fishing license is required for this tour. You can obtain one at Colorado Parks & Wildlife!
We will provide you with a dry bag to pack all of your personal gear into. Please remember that you have to carry all of your personal gear down into the gorge so don’t over pack!
We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch customer service and are here to assist you in any way we can. Let us know how we can help!
If you'd prefer, email us at info@arkansasrivertours.com or call 1.800.321.4352.
Since our inception in 1973, Arkansas River Tours has been committed to providing the safest, highest-quality river trips available.
Phone: 1.719.942.4362
info@arkansasrivertours.com
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