Groundhog Reservoir Fishing
A 587-acre Colorado reservoir in Dolores County at 8,724 feet.
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The short version on Groundhog Reservoir
The CPW outline of Groundhog Reservoir encloses about 587 acres in Dolores County. Elevation on the Fishing Atlas reads 8,724 feet. On the Fishing Atlas, the property is Groundhog Reservoir SWA. Around 16 miles separates the water from Rico. CPW manages it out of the Southwest Region.
Expect native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and trout, according to CPW. There are 1 boat ramp on its shore. Boat use on file: Motor boats (gasoline). Access is easy, pressure medium, per the atlas. Winter note: ice fishing listed as yes.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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CPW sources tie these fish to Groundhog Reservoir; others may swim there too.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Boat ramps at Groundhog Reservoir
- Groundhog Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
Where to fish from the bank at Groundhog Reservoir
- Groundhog Reservoir fishing access near Ricoeasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,724 ft
More places to launch near Groundhog Reservoir
- Dan Noble SWA on Miramonte Reservoir near Norwood (south)Miramonte Reservoir, 12 miles north
- Dan Noble SWA on Miramonte Reservoir near Norwood (north)Miramonte Reservoir, 13 miles north
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado limits that apply at Groundhog Reservoir
| 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 |
| Smallmouth bass | No bag or possession limit | 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 | No bag or possession limit | 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 |
Read the west of the Continental Divide rows of the statewide chart for Groundhog Reservoir. The chart above is the baseline at Groundhog Reservoir; a brochure entry can override it.
Rules that change at Groundhog Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| In the Nash Creek and Groundhog Creek inlets upstream for 0.5 miles: | Fishing prohibited April 15–July 15. | p. 23 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
CPW stocking report entries for Groundhog Reservoir
Trout report entries for Groundhog Reservoir: 2 listings, ending August 15, 2025.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 15, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 31, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Colorado stocking.
Sizing Groundhog Reservoir up against the reservoirs nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundhog Reservoir | 587 | 8,724 | 1 | yes | |
| Miramonte Reservoir | 12 miles north | 429 | 7,701 | 2 | |
| Navajo Lake | 15 miles east | 8 | 11,159 | 0 | |
| Twin Spruce Ponds | 17 miles south | 35 | 7,292 | 0 | yes |
| Trout Lake | 23 miles east | 130 | 9,715 | 0 | yes |
| McPhee Reservoir | 23 miles southwest | 4,289 | 6,927 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Close to Groundhog Reservoir
Backup lakes when Groundhog Reservoir is slow
- Miramonte Reservoir12 miles north
- Navajo Lake15 miles east
- Twin Spruce Ponds17 miles south
- Trout Lake23 miles east
- McPhee Reservoir23 miles southwest
Shops worth the stop before Groundhog Reservoir
- Telluride Flyfishersbait and tackle shop, Telluride, 25 miles
- Telluride Anglerfly shop, San Miguel, 28 miles
Guide businesses near Groundhog Reservoir
- Telluride Fly Fishers LLCfly fishing guide, Telluride
- Telluride Fly Fishing Company, Incfly fishing guide, Telluride
Towns that work as a base camp for Groundhog Reservoir
- Mountain Village26 miles
- Telluride28 miles
- Mancos31 miles
County pages touching Groundhog Reservoir
- Dolores Countyseat: Dove Creek
Reels from Piscifun that suit Groundhog Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the species of Groundhog Reservoir apart by photo
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: ColtonOrbaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Groundhog Reservoir: the questions Colorado anglers bring
Which Colorado county holds Groundhog Reservoir?
Look in Dolores County, CPW Southwest Region, about 16 miles from Rico.
What size is Groundhog Reservoir on CPW maps?
Roughly 587 acres, at about 8,724 feet.
Which ramp is closest at Groundhog Reservoir?
1 boat ramp, including Groundhog Reservoir SWA.
What might a Colorado angler hook at Groundhog Reservoir?
CPW records show native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and trout.
Which limits apply at Groundhog Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. The brochure adds a water-specific rule, shown above.
What does a CPW license cost for a trip to Groundhog Reservoir?
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.
Does CPW stock Groundhog Reservoir?
CPW records 2 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest August 15, 2025.
How far is the nearest tackle shop from Groundhog Reservoir?
Telluride Flyfishers is roughly 25 miles off.
Does Groundhog Reservoir freeze for anglers?
The Fishing Atlas shows ice fishing listed as yes; check ice yourself before stepping out.
Hitch the boat and head for Groundhog Reservoir
Read the limits above, then pick a ramp.