Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County Fishing
Special regulation water in Pitkin County.
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Getting to know the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
The Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County cuts its stream channel across Pitkin County. Norrie is the closest Census place to the channel, roughly 6 miles away.
The atlas marks 1 reach as regulated water, near 5.5 miles.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Gold Medal and regulated reaches of the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Confluence with the North Fork of the Fryingpan River / Headwaters | 5.49 | rule text in the brochure |
Fish a regulated Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County reach by its own rule, not the statewide chart.
The Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County in the special regulations
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Cunningham Creek | Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately. | p. 17 |
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.
CPW special fishing regulation and Quality Waters layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Finding the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
No ramp or atlas location sits on the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County; reach it from public land and road crossings with care for private banks.
Ramps a short tow from the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
- Matchless Ramp on Turquoise LakeTurquoise Lake, 11 miles
- Boat Ramp on Sylvan LakeSylvan Lake, 14 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Bag limits on the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
| 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 |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, 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 |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
On the CPW drainage map, the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County lies west of the Continental Divide. Colorado streams stay open all year; on the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County the bag is the variable.
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.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado limits.
For the salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Neighbors of the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
Colorado lakes in the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County neighborhood
- Nast Lake4 miles
- Timberline Lake5 miles
- Virginia Lake5 miles
- Ivanhoe Lake5 miles
Fly shops and bait stores around the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
- Wild Willow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 18 miles
- Pomeroy Sportsbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 18 miles
- Aspen Flyfishing Incbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 18 miles
- Colorado Angling Companybait and tackle shop, Minturn, 19 miles
- Minturn Anglersfly shop, Minturn, 19 miles
Paid guides within reach of the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
- Aspen Trout Guides, Inc.fishing guide, Aspen
- Elk Mountain Expeditions LLC / Elk Mountain Anglingfishing guide, Aspen
- Aspen Flyfishing Guide Service Incfly fishing guide, Aspen
Communities within reach of the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
- Leadville15 miles
- Minturn16 miles
- Aspen18 miles
- Edwards20 miles
Creeks around the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
- Ivanhoe Creek3 miles
- North Fork Fryingpan River3 miles
- Homestake Creek6 miles
- Glacier Creek6 miles
the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County and the counties around it
A Piscifun kit for days on the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the species of Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County apart by photo

Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain

Photo: Engbretson, Eric, Public domain

Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0

Photo: Hardyplants, CC0 1.0
Planning notes for the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County
Where would I look for the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County on a Colorado map?
Its Colorado basin takes in Pitkin County.
Is the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County Gold Medal?
Yes, 1 reach carry their own rules.
Does a USGS station report flows on the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County?
No gauge reports for it.
Is the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County mostly private?
CPW maps no access here; much of it may be private.
Is the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County flies and lures only?
1 reach carry special rules; read the reach table and brochure entry. The brochure entry reads: Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
Can an out-of-state visitor buy a license for the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County?
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.
Is there a fly shop near the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County?
Drive 18 miles to Wild Willow Outfitters.
Which species does CPW list for the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County?
Its fish are not listed.
Which Colorado town sits nearest the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County?
Base yourself in Norrie, roughly 6 miles away.
Put the Cunningham Creek, Pitkin County on this season's list
Flows and rules are on this page; check both.

