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Ridgway Reservoir 41 mi
Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain 
Rio Grande 40 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Blue Mesa Reservoir 45 mi
Photo: Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Vallecito Reservoir 35 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Brown Lake Upper Fishing
A 140-acre Colorado lake in Hinsdale County at 9,799 feet.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Ridgway Reservoir: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hinsdale County
Getting to know Brown Lake Upper
Its mapped shoreline gives Brown Lake Upper close to 140 acres, all charted in Hinsdale County. At around 9,799 feet, it is high-country water. CPW files it under Brown Lakes SWA. The closest town on the Census list is City of Creede, some 15 miles away. It belongs to the CPW Southwest Region.
Its fish on the CPW roster: brook trout and rainbow trout. Boaters have 1 boat ramp to choose from. CPW sets the boating rule as Motor boats (gasoline). The Fishing Atlas rates access as medium and fishing pressure as low. Through the ice season: ice fishing listed as yes.
140acres
9,799feet elevation
1boat ramps
2species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Which fish Brown Lake Upper holds
These Brown Lake Upper species rest on CPW listings and records, not a full net survey.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Ramps CPW maps at Brown Lake Upper
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake Upperboat ramp, universal-water ramp, condition good, CDOW
Fishing access points at Brown Lake Upper
- Brown Lake, Upper fishing access near City of Creedemedium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 9,799 ft
Backup boat ramps near Brown Lake Upper
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake LowerBrown Lake Lower, 1 mile northeast
- Road Canyon Reservoir SWARoad Canyon Reservoir, 4 miles south
- Rito Hondo Reservoir SWARito Hondo Lake, 5 miles north
- Creede SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CPW, 15 miles east
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Fish legal to carry home from Brown Lake Upper
| Species | Bag and possession | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White and black crappie | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Bluegill and other sunfish | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Tiger muskie | Daily bag 1, possession 1; at least 36 inches long | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts Brown Lake Upper east of the Continental Divide. Waters stay open day and night all year in Colorado; the chart rows set the bag at Brown Lake Upper.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Compare
Brown Lake Upper beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Lake Upper | 140 | 9,799 | 1 | ||
| Road Canyon Reservoir | 4 miles south | 151 | 9,278 | 1 | yes |
| Continental Reservoir | 4 miles north | 375 | 10,272 | 0 | |
| Rito Hondo Lake | 5 miles north | 39 | 10,236 | 1 | |
| Rio Grande Reservoir | 9 miles southwest | 1,078 | 0 | yes | |
| Lake San Cristobal | 11 miles northwest | 327 | 9,001 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Around Brown Lake Upper on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near Brown Lake Upper
- Road Canyon Reservoir4 miles south
- Continental Reservoir4 miles north
- Rito Hondo Lake5 miles north
- Rio Grande Reservoir9 miles southwest
- Lake San Cristobal11 miles northwest
Stores that stock up Brown Lake Upper trips
- Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Creede, 15 miles
Hiring a guide for Brown Lake Upper
- Fish Creek Outfitting LLCfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Sport Fish Colorado LLCfishing guide, Lake City
- Wolf Creek Anglersfishing guide, South Fork, (719) 873-1414
- Telluride Fly Fishers LLCfly fishing guide, Telluride
- Telluride Fly Fishing Company, Incfly fishing guide, Telluride
Nearest towns to Brown Lake Upper
- Telluride35 miles
- Mountain Village37 miles
- Ridgway38 miles
Brown Lake Upper on the county pages
- Hinsdale Countyseat: Lake City
Piscifun
Piscifun gear to pack for Brown Lake Upper
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In photos
Photo views of fishing water near Brown Lake Upper
Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
Colorado anglers ask this about Brown Lake Upper
In what part of the state is Brown Lake Upper?
Hinsdale County, CPW Southwest Region, about 15 miles from City of Creede.
Is Brown Lake Upper a big reservoir?
About 140 acres, at about 9,799 feet.
Can a trailered boat get onto Brown Lake Upper from a mapped ramp?
There are 1 boat ramp; Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake Upper heads the list.
Are trout part of the fishery at Brown Lake Upper?
Expect brook trout and rainbow trout.
What bag limit does the CPW chart set at Brown Lake Upper?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Is a CPW license required to fish Brown Lake Upper?
Fishing two lines at once takes the $14.24 second-rod stamp on top of the license; adult residents pay $44.87 for the license and nonresidents $124.01.
Has CPW listed Brown Lake Upper for stocking recently?
No listing on the CPW trout report since 2024.
Which store on the list is nearest Brown Lake Upper?
Rod & Reel, about 15 miles away.
Is Brown Lake Upper an ice fishing spot?
Its winter entry reads ice fishing listed as yes; drill test holes first.
Put Brown Lake Upper on this season's list
License prices and the full limits chart are on one page.