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Rio Grande 39 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Blue Mesa Reservoir 48 mi
Photo: MichaelKirsh, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Ridgway Reservoir 44 mi
Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain 
Platoro Reservoir 45 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 $79.99
Road Canyon Reservoir Fishing
A 151-acre Colorado reservoir in Hinsdale County at 9,278 feet.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo, nearby stand in for Road Canyon Reservoir: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Hinsdale County
Road Canyon Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Road Canyon Reservoir spreads over roughly 151 acres of Hinsdale County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 9,278 feet above sea level. Road Canyon Reservoir SWA manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in City of Creede, near 15 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southwest Region water.
CPW records brook trout, cutbow, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, splake and trout in this water. Launching happens at 1 boat ramp. The boating entry reads Motor boats (gasoline). CPW calls access easy; pressure runs high. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as yes.
151acres
9,278feet elevation
1boat ramps
6species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Fish CPW lists for Road Canyon Reservoir
Tap a fish to open its Colorado page, with limits and records, from Road Canyon Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Launching a boat at Road Canyon Reservoir
- Road Canyon Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, condition good, CDOW
Atlas fishing locations at Road Canyon Reservoir
- Road Canyon Reservoir fishing access near City of Creede, Road Canyon Reservoir SWA 2accessible fishing area
- Road Canyon Reservoir fishing access near City of Creede, Road Canyon Reservoir SWAaccessible pier, easy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 9,278 ft
When the Road Canyon Reservoir ramp is crowded
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake UpperBrown Lake Upper, 4 miles north
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake LowerBrown Lake Lower, 4 miles north
- Rito Hondo Reservoir SWARito Hondo Lake, 9 miles north
- Creede SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CPW, 15 miles east
- USFS boat ramp on Williams Creek ReservoirWilliams Creek Reservoir, 18 miles south
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Harvest rules for Road Canyon 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 |
| 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Road Canyon Reservoir sits east of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Road Canyon Reservoir.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Stocking
Trout stocking dates at Road Canyon Reservoir
CPW put Road Canyon Reservoir on its weekly catchable trout report 1 listing; the most recent listing is dated August 8, 2025.
1listings in 2025
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 8, 2025 | 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.
Compare
How Road Canyon Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Canyon Reservoir | 151 | 9,278 | 1 | yes | |
| Brown Lake Upper | 4 miles north | 140 | 9,799 | 1 | |
| Continental Reservoir | 8 miles north | 375 | 10,272 | 0 | |
| Rio Grande Reservoir | 8 miles west | 1,078 | 0 | yes | |
| Rito Hondo Lake | 9 miles north | 39 | 10,236 | 1 | |
| Love Lake | 11 miles southeast | 3 | 10,022 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
The ground surrounding Road Canyon Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Road Canyon Reservoir
- Brown Lake Upper4 miles north
- Continental Reservoir8 miles north
- Rio Grande Reservoir8 miles west
- Rito Hondo Lake9 miles north
- Love Lake11 miles southeast
Where to buy line and lures near Road Canyon Reservoir
- Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Creede, 15 miles
Outfitters who fish Road Canyon Reservoir
- Fish Creek Outfitting LLCfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Kaufman Team LLC DBA Williams Creek Anglerfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Pagosa Troutfittersfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Sport Fish Colorado LLCfishing guide, Lake City
- Wolf Creek Anglersfishing guide, South Fork, (719) 873-1414
Beds and gas close to Road Canyon Reservoir
- Pagosa Springs36 miles
- Telluride37 miles
- Mountain Village39 miles
County guides that cover Road Canyon Reservoir
- Hinsdale Countyseat: Lake City
Piscifun
Piscifun tackle sized for Road Canyon Reservoir
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In photos
Reservoirs and creeks near Road Canyon Reservoir in photos
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: MichaelKirsh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
Before you drive to Road Canyon Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Road Canyon Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Hinsdale County, CPW Southwest Region, about 15 miles from City of Creede.
How many acres does Road Canyon Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 151 acres by the CPW outline, at about 9,278 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Road Canyon Reservoir?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Road Canyon Reservoir SWA is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Road Canyon Reservoir?
CPW lists brook trout, cutbow, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, splake and trout.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Road Canyon Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Road Canyon Reservoir on a short license?
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.
When did CPW last list Road Canyon Reservoir for trout?
The report carries 1 listing on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025); latest August 8, 2025.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Road Canyon Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Rod & Reel, 15 miles.
Can I drill holes at Road Canyon Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as yes; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Road Canyon Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.