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Animas River 12 mi
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain 
La Plata County 12 mi
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Vallecito Reservoir 17 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Dolores River 36 mi
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0
Colorado trout streams
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Hermosa Creek Fishing
Special regulation water in La Plata County.
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Animas River: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
Colorado streams
The Hermosa Creek, condensed for anglers
Colorado maps trace the Hermosa Creek, a stream, through La Plata County. For a base, Durango sits roughly 12 miles off.
Roughly 9.3 regulated miles sit in 2 reaches. CPW lists access at San Juan National Forest. There are 1 active gauge on the channel.
1counties
9.3regulated miles
1USGS 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
Trout rules along the Hermosa Creek
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Headwaters / Confluence with East Cross Creek | 9.23 | printed in the brochure only |
| 0.06 | brochure lists the rule |
CPW layers these Hermosa Creek reach rules on top of the statewide limits.
Printed rules naming the Hermosa Creek
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| From the headwaters downstream to the confluence with East Cross Creek (except 100 feet upstream and downstream of the artificial waterfall [fish barrier] located 0.1 miles below the East Fork of Hermosa Creek confluence): | Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately. | p. 24 |
| 100 feet upstream and downstream of the artificial waterfall (fish barrier) located 0.1 miles below the East Fork of Hermosa Creek confluence: | Fishing is prohibited. | p. 24 |
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.
Public access
Getting to the water on the Hermosa Creek
- San Juan National ForestNational Forest
The Hermosa Creek crosses private ranches; the parcels above are where the public may fish.
CPW Fishing Atlas fishing location property names and Quality Waters access notes, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Flow
Live gauges on the Hermosa Creek
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Hermosa Creek Near Hermosa, Co. | 302 cfs, 4.56 ft gage height | Nov 2 7:30 am Not updated since Nov 2, 2026. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 1:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Snowmelt drives the Hermosa Creek: flows peak in late spring and drop through summer.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; Hermosa Creek Near Hermosa, CO.
Access
Map of the Hermosa Creek
CPW maps no access point on the Hermosa Creek, so plan walk-in fishing on public ground.
Boat ramps in reach of the Hermosa Creek
- Haviland Lake SWAHaviland Lake, 7 miles
- Vallecito Reservoir boat rampVallecito Reservoir, 16 miles
- Pastorius Reservoir SWAPastorius Reservoir, 16 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Fish legal to carry home from the Hermosa Creek
| 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 |
For the statewide limits chart, the Hermosa Creek counts as west of the Continental Divide water. For unregulated water on the Hermosa Creek, read the rows above.
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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Within a short drive of the Hermosa Creek
Further reservoirs a short haul from the Hermosa Creek
- Haviland Lake7 miles
- Henderson Lake9 miles
- Lemon Reservoir10 miles
- Pastorius Reservoir16 miles
Tackle counters on the way to the Hermosa Creek
- Duranglersfly shop, La Plata, 11 miles
- San Juan Anglersfly shop, Durango, 11 miles
- San Juan Anglerfly shop, Durango, 11 miles
- Anasazi Angler Incfly shop, Hesperus, 23 miles
Fishing outfitters by the Hermosa Creek
- Duranglers, Inc.fishing guide, Durango
- Fish and Fungi LLCfishing guide, Ignacio
- Fisher Guide Servicefishing guide, Bayfield
- Cole Glenn Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Durango
- Durango Fly Fishing LLC.fly fishing guide, Durango, (970) 799-5246
- Heads Up Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Ignacio, (970) 984-8433
Where to stay for a the Hermosa Creek trip
- Durango12 miles
- Bayfield20 miles
- Mancos25 miles
- Mountain Village34 miles
Other moving water near the Hermosa Creek
- Clear Creek, La Plata County5 miles
- Castle Creek5 miles
- Deep Creek, La Plata County9 miles
- Animas River12 miles
Which county pages list the Hermosa Creek
Piscifun
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In photos
Reservoirs and creeks near Hermosa Creek in photos
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers
Colorado anglers ask this about the Hermosa Creek
Which Colorado county holds most of the Hermosa Creek?
Head for La Plata County.
How does CPW manage trout on the Hermosa Creek?
CPW manages 2 reaches under special rules.
How much runoff is the Hermosa Creek carrying today?
Check 1 USGS gauge in the band above.
Where is public access on the Hermosa Creek?
Start at San Juan National Forest.
Are there reach rules on the Hermosa Creek?
Yes, 2 reaches are regulated; see the table above. Printed rule: Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
Which CPW license do I buy for the Hermosa Creek?
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.
Where do anglers on the Hermosa Creek get supplies?
Duranglers, roughly 11 miles from the mapped point.
What might a Colorado angler hook on the Hermosa Creek?
No species field exists for it.
Where can I find a bed close to the Hermosa Creek?
Durango sits about 12 miles off.
Spend a Colorado morning on the Hermosa Creek
CPW limits and live flow sit above.