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Garfield County 11 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Colorado River 26 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Harvey Gap Reservoir 7.1 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Rifle Gap Reservoir 13 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado trout streams
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Elk Creek, Garfield County Fishing
Special regulation water in Garfield County.
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Harvey Gap Reservoir: Piper from Colorado, CC BY 2.0
Colorado streams
Arriving on the Elk Creek, Garfield County: what it is like
The Elk Creek, Garfield County, a stream, drains part of Garfield County. Under a mile separates the mapped point from New Castle.
Special regulations cover 1 reach, roughly 0.2 miles.
1counties
0.2regulated miles
0USGS gauges
0atlas access points
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Special regulations
Regulated sections of the Elk Creek, Garfield County
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 bridge / confluence of Colorado River and Elk Creek | 0.2 | rule in the CPW brochure |
The atlas maps where each regulated reach of the Elk Creek, Garfield County starts and ends; the rule itself is the brochure entry for the water.
What the brochure says about the Elk Creek, Garfield County
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| From the confluence with the Colorado River upstream to the U.S. 6 bridge in New Castle: | Fishing prohibited March 15–May 31 and from Oct. 1–Nov. 30. | p. 21 |
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.
Access
Where the Elk Creek, Garfield County runs
Expect to hike to the Elk Creek, Garfield County; no access point is on file.
Backup boat ramps near the Elk Creek, Garfield County
- Boat Ramp on Harvey Gap ReservoirHarvey Gap Reservoir, 7 miles
- Boat Ramp on Rifle Gap ReservoirRifle Gap Reservoir, 12 miles
- Roaring Fork SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, condition good, CDOW, 15 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Harvest rules for the Elk Creek, Garfield 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 |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts the Elk Creek, Garfield County west of the Continental Divide. Statewide numbers apply on the Elk Creek, Garfield County wherever no reach rule is posted.
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.
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Around the Elk Creek, Garfield County on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near the Elk Creek, Garfield County
- Harvey Gap Reservoir7 miles
- Rifle Gap Reservoir13 miles
- Rifle Pond, South14 miles
- Meadow Lake17 miles
Stores that stock up the Elk Creek, Garfield County trips
- Gearhead Outfitters, 205 West 6th Streetsporting goods store, Glenwood Springs, 11 miles
- Roaring Fork Anglersfly shop, Glenwood Springs, 12 miles
- Gold Medal Nets LLCbait and tackle shop, Glenwood Springs, 12 miles
- Timberline Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Rifle, 13 miles
- Alpine Anglingbait and tackle shop, Carbondale, 20 miles
Hiring a guide for the Elk Creek, Garfield County
- Alpine Anglingfishing guide, Carbondale, (970) 963-9245
- Alpine Angling/Adventure Travel,Incfishing guide, Carbondale
- Elevated Angling, LLCfishing guide, Carbondale
- Into The Wild Kayak Fishing Adventures LLCfishing guide, Carbondale
- Scotts High Country Anglers LLCfishing guide, Parachute
- Crystal Fly Shop & Decorfly fishing guide, Carbondale, (970) 963-5741
- Harcourt Fly Fishing 3G LLCfly fishing guide, New Castle, (970) 404-1339
Nearest towns to the Elk Creek, Garfield County
- New Castleunder a mile
- Silt6 miles
- Glenwood Springs11 miles
- Rifle12 miles
Rivers within reach of the Elk Creek, Garfield County
- Canyon Creek8 miles
- East Elk Creek8 miles
- Mitchell Creek11 miles
- Rifle Creek12 miles
the Elk Creek, Garfield County on the county pages
Piscifun
Piscifun gear to pack for the Elk Creek, Garfield County
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In photos
A camera tour of the water by Elk Creek, Garfield County
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
The Elk Creek, Garfield County, question by question
Where in the state is the Elk Creek, Garfield County?
It runs through Garfield County.
Does the Elk Creek, Garfield County have special trout rules?
It has 1 reach with special trout rules.
Is the Elk Creek, Garfield County wadeable right now?
It is ungauged; nearby Colorado river pages carry flows.
How do Colorado anglers get down to the Elk Creek, Garfield County?
Nothing mapped; use a land-status map.
What is the trout limit on the Elk Creek, Garfield County?
1 reach follow their own rules, listed above. CPW prints: Fishing prohibited March 15–May 31 and from Oct. 1–Nov. 30.
Is a CPW license required to fish the Elk Creek, Garfield 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.
How far is the nearest shop from the Elk Creek, Garfield County?
Gearhead Outfitters (11 miles).
Which sport fish does CPW tie to the Elk Creek, Garfield County?
CPW publishes no species list for it.
Which town works as a base for the Elk Creek, Garfield County?
Under a mile away is New Castle.
Plan a float or wade on the Elk Creek, Garfield County
Check the gauge and reach rules before you go.