Huerfano River Fishing
Special regulation water in Huerfano County.
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The Huerfano River, condensed for anglers
Colorado maps trace the Huerfano River, a river, through Huerfano County. For a base, Gardner sits roughly 15 miles off.
Roughly 5.4 regulated miles sit in 1 reach. CPW lists access at Huerfano SWA.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Trout rules along the Huerfano River
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Lily Lake inlet / Lily Lake outlet / Headwaters / US Forest Service boundary | 5.4 | printed in the brochure only |
CPW layers these Huerfano River reach rules on top of the statewide limits.
Printed rules naming the Huerfano River
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| From the headwaters downstream to the USfs boundary: | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag and possession limit for trout is 2. | p. 25 |
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.
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- Huerfano SWASWA, 530.2 acres
The Huerfano River 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.
Targets on the Huerfano River
The Huerfano River roster is drawn from CPW listings.
CPW Quality Waters species, state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Map of the Huerfano River
CPW maps no access point on the Huerfano River, so plan walk-in fishing on public ground.
Boat ramps in reach of the Huerfano River
- Boat Ramp on San Luis LakeSan Luis Lake, 18 miles
- Mountain Home Reservoir SWA near Fort Garland (north)Mountain Home Reservoir, 20 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Fish legal to carry home from the Huerfano River
| 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 10, possession 10, 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 |
| 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 | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | 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 Huerfano River counts as in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages water. For unregulated water on the Huerfano River, 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.
The Huerfano River on the stocking report
Report history for the Huerfano River: 2 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest September 19, 2025.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| September 19, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 15, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast 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.
Within a short drive of the Huerfano River
Further reservoirs a short haul from the Huerfano River
- Lilly Lake Lower8 miles
- Deadman Lake #2 (Upper)18 miles
- San Luis Lake18 miles
- Mountain Home Reservoir20 miles
Fishing outfitters by the Huerfano River
- River Sister Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Colorado City
Where to stay for a the Huerfano River trip
- Alamosa30 miles
- Walsenburg34 miles
Other moving water near the Huerfano River
- Medano Creek10 miles
- Little Medano Creek10 miles
- Cold Creek13 miles
- Smith Creek14 miles
Which county pages list the Huerfano River
- Huerfano County
Piscifun reels and grips for the Huerfano River
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Reservoirs and creeks near Huerfano River in photos
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: JustTooLazy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: PEO ACWA, CC BY 2.0
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Colorado anglers ask this about the Huerfano River
Which Colorado county holds most of the Huerfano River?
Head for Huerfano County.
How does CPW manage trout on the Huerfano River?
Catchable trout go in (2 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest September 19, 2025).
How much runoff is the Huerfano River carrying today?
No flow station is on it.
Where is public access on the Huerfano River?
Start at Huerfano SWA.
Are there reach rules on the Huerfano River?
Yes, 1 reach are regulated; see the table above. Printed rule: Artificial flies and lures only. Bag and possession limit for trout is 2.
Which CPW license do I buy for the Huerfano River?
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 Huerfano River get supplies?
Pack supplies; no listed store is within 30 miles.
What might a Colorado angler hook on the Huerfano River?
CPW lists trout.
Where can I find a bed close to the Huerfano River?
Gardner sits about 15 miles off.
How often does the Huerfano River show up on the CPW trout report?
2 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest September 19, 2025.
Spend a Colorado morning on the Huerfano River
CPW limits and live flow sit above.