Colorado Gold Medal Waters
The streams and lakes CPW rates as its best trout water, with the reaches and mapped miles.
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What makes a Colorado Gold Medal water
Gold Medal Waters are the highest quality cold-water habitats and have the capability to produce many quality-sized (14 inches or longer) trout. CPW has established criteria and management guidelines to support the public interest in angling, observing and protecting these significant cold-water fishery resources. Gold Medal Waters are defined as any river or lake which is producing a standing stock of at least 60 pounds per acre and at least 12 trout that are 14 inches or longer per acre on a sustained basis. River segments designated as Gold Medal Waters must be a minimum of two miles in length, and lakes must be a minimum of 50 acres.
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), p. 3, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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| Stream | Gold Medal reach |
|---|---|
| Animas River | From Lightner Creek to Rivera Crossing bridge. |
| Arkansas River | From the confluence with the Lake Fork of the Arkansas, near Leadville, downstream to Parkdale at the U.S. 50 bridge crossing above the Royal Gorge. |
| Blue River | From Dillon Reservoir dam to Hamilton Creek Road bridge. ▶ From Green Mountain Reservoir dam to the Colorado River. |
| Colorado River | From Fraser River to Troublesome Creek. ▶ From Canyon Creek (Grand Co.) to Rock Creek. |
| Fryingpan River | From Ruedi Reservoir dam to the Roaring Fork . |
| Gore Creek | From Red Sandstone Creek to Eagle River. |
| Gunnison River | From Almont to the U.S. 50 bridge. ▶ From 200 yards downstream of Crystal Reservoir dam to the North Fork of the Gunnison. |
| North Platte River | From the south boundary of Routt National Forest to Wyoming (Northgate Canyon). |
| Rio Grande | From the Colo. 149 bridge at South Fork downstream to the Rio Grande Canal diversion structure. |
| Roaring Fork River | From the Fryingpan River to the Colorado River. |
| South Platte River | From the confluence of the Middle and South Forks to the Spinney Mountain Reservoir inlet. ▶ From the Spinney Mountain Reservoir outlet to the Eleven Mile Reservoir inlet. ▶ From Cheesman Reservoir dam to the south boundary of the Wigwam Club property. ▶ From the north boundary of the Wigwam Club property to the Scraggy View picnic ground. ▶ Middle Fork, from the Colo. 9 bridge to the South Fork confluence. |
| Taylor River | From Taylor Park Reservoir dam to Almont. |
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), p. 3, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado Gold Medal lakes
- North Delaney Butte Lake233 acres, Jackson County
- Spinney Mountain Reservoir2,002 acres, Park County
- Steamboat Lake1,012 acres, Routt County
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), p. 3, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Gold Medal miles on Colorado river pages
- Arkansas RiverLake Fork of the Arkansas to Parkdale (108.4 mi)
- Colorado RiverFraser River to Troublesome Creek (23.3 mi); Canyon Creek to Rock Creek (24.5 mi)
- Gunnison River200 yds. below Crystal Res. dam to North Fork (29.9 mi); Almont to US 50 bridge (12.6 mi)
- Roaring Fork RiverFryingpan River to Colorado River (26.5 mi)
- Middle Fork South Platte RiverHighway 9 bridge to South Fork confluence (25.6 mi)
- South Platte RiverCheesman Res. to south boundary of Wigwam Club (3.2 mi); N. boundary of Wigwam Club to Scraggy View picnic (10 mi); Confluence of Middle/South Forks to Spinney (5.3 mi)
- Taylor RiverTayler Park Reservoir dam to Almont (20.2 mi)
- Rio GrandeCO149 bridge to Rio Grande canal diversion (19.8 mi)
- Blue RiverGreen Mountain Res. to Colorado River (15.6 mi); Dillon Res. to Hamilton Creek Road bridge (3.3 mi)
- Fryingpan RiverReudi Res. dam to Roaring Fork River (14.3 mi)
- North Platte RiverSouthern boundary of Routt NF to Wyoming boundary (5.2 mi)
- Animas RiverLightner Creek to Rivera Crossing bridge (4.2 mi)
- Gore CreekRed Sandstone Cr. to Eagle River (4 mi)
Miles computed from the CPW Gold Medal Streams layer line geometry (Fishing Atlas), retrieved October 25, 2026.
A camera look beside Colorado Gold Medal Waters
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Victoria Stauffenberg, Public domain
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Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Colorado Gold Medal waters: reader questions
How many Gold Medal streams does Colorado list?
12 stream entries in the 2026 brochure.
Which lakes carry the Gold Medal label?
North Delaney Butte Lake in Jackson Co., Spinney Mountain Reservoir in Park Co. and Steamboat Lake in Routt Co.
What size trout define a Gold Medal water?
Water capable of producing many quality-sized trout, which CPW defines as 14 inches or longer.
How many Gold Medal miles are mapped?
361.5 miles on 13 river pages here, from the CPW layer.
Which river has the most Gold Medal miles?
Arkansas River, about 108.4 miles.
Do Gold Medal waters have special limits?
Many reaches carry special regulations such as flies and lures only or a reduced trout limit; each river page lists its rows.
Do I need a stamp to fish Gold Medal water?
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
Are Gold Medal waters stocked?
Gold Medal status rests on wild and quality fish; the stocking report lists catchable trout by water, and the river pages show any listings.