High Elevation Hunting & Fly Fishing
Remote wilderness, Unforgettable memories.
Make sure you have hunting & fishing licenses
Big Game & Fun Fly Fishing
The Crystal River Valley is the perfect backdrop for a truly unique Western experience. The wild outdoors is just steps away. Redstone is almost entirely surrounded by public land. For visitors, that means you don’t have to go far to see wildlife, fish, and pristine forest.
Hunting
Redstone is part of a renowned big game hunting unit in Colorado. It’s a challenging remote environment for hunting with high elevation and sometimes long distances to cover to reach game. If you are capable and willing the experience is like no other. Be sure you understand regulations and have proper licenses. There are several outfitters offering hunting trips in the Redstone Area.
Game: Mule Deer, Elk, Bear, Mountain Goat, and Big Horn Sheep
Equipment: Archery, Muzzle Loader, Rifle
Season: Several Seasons & Dates depending on game and equipment
Local’s Tip
Make sure to check the Colorado Division of Wildlife for more information on hunting regulations and tags.
Fishing
The Crystal River is the only true freestone river (unimpeded by a dam) that remains in Colorado, and it runs approximately 35 miles between Marble and Carbondale. In Carbondale, it joins the Roaring Fork River. In this stretch of the Crystal River near Redstone, you will mainly find Rainbow and Brown Trout, as well as Rocky Mountain Whitefish. There are also a few Cutthroat and Brook Trout present. Both the Cutthroat and Brook Trout become more prevalent in the upper stretches of the Crystal River above Marble and towards its headwaters at Schofield Pass.
Like all rivers in Colorado, the Crystal River is a checkerboard of private and public property. There are many pullouts along Highway 133 providing easy access to fishermen and people wanting to dip their toes. Private property is generally well-marked, so if you see signage marking private property, please respect it.
As a fishery, the Crystal River is not designated as an official Gold Medal river like the neighboring Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers. However, it offers unique and quality fishing experiences in it’s own right. The Crystal is not nearly as crowded as other rivers in the vicinity. It’s easy to find solitude here.
Fishermen who cover water tend to catch more fish, since the fish on the Crystal are often not as pressured, picky, or educated as fish in other area rivers. General attractor nymphs throughout the year like Princes, Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, and small stonefly patterns fish well. During the summer and fall months attractor dries like Stimulators, Caddis, Green Drakes, Humpies, PMDs, and small grasshopper patterns should all be in a fly fisherman’s box.
It's important that every fisherman does what they can to protect the fishery on the Crystal River. Limit the number of fish kept and practice catch and release whenever you can. Due to extreme fluctuations in water levels from being a freestone river--as well as a smaller population of aquatic insects--the Crystal doesn’t have quite the number of fish per mile that our local Gold Medal rivers do.
Please pinch your barbs down—whatever type of fishing you do—and if you fish with spinning gear, please consider cutting off treble hooks so that only one hook remains. Respecting and preserving our resource means more fun for everyone when they go fishing.
Where to Fish:
The Preserve at the Redstone Inn offers fly fishing for a fee on approx. 1 mile of private river behind the Inn, starting just upstream of Redstone’s south bridge.
Public Access points along Highway 133. Please respect private property.
Guides are encouraged, and you can book one or buy gear at a local outfitter.
Other Fishing Close By:
Redstone is a great base camp for fishermen who want to not only enjoy fishing the Crystal, but also want to be close enough to fish the Roaring Fork or Colorado (where float fishing trips occur), or the Frying Pan. Since Redstone is only 20 minutes from Carbondale, you can enjoy lodging in a place that’s truly in the mountains, and be close enough to have many fishing options.
Fishing License:
Make sure to purchase a Colorado Fishing License!
Outfitters:
