TRAPPERS LAKE holds the
largest population of native Colorado River cutthroat trout in the
world! As the second largest natural lake in Colorado, this pristine
body of water is located within the Flattops Wilderness Area, but is
only a quarter-mile hike from the end of the road.
Trappers Lake lies about 9600 feet in
elevation, in the Flat Tops Wilderness of northwestern Colorado.
Towering rock walls provides a spectacular scenic backdrop for this
pristine lake. The glacier lake reaches depths of 180 feet and covers
an area of approximately 320 surface acres.
Trappers fishing season will vary based
on when the first thaw, normally it is around the first two weeks in
June. During these two weeks fishing is exceptional. As temps rise
fishing will subside, generally this happens during the first week of
temps reaching the 80's for four or five days. During this period
cutts will migrate in stream inlets and begin spawning. After this
period fishing becomes quite good, and normally continues on through
mid August.
Fishing is restricted to artificial flies
and lures, and cutthroat over 10 inches must be returned back into the
water immediately. Up to eight cutthroats 10 inches or less can be
kept. Fishing is prohibited in all inlets and upstream for one half
mile, and downstream to the falls, and within 100 feet of inlet and
outlet streams. Brook Trout at this time has no bag limit.
Location: From Buford, 24 miles
east on Highway 132. Meeker to Trappers Lake is 39 miles
on County Road 8
(Flat Tops Scenic Byway);
then 8 miles on Trappers Lake Road 205.
White River
The White River is a beautiful freestone river that
begins high in the Flat Tops Wilderness at Trappers Lake. The White
River flows from Trappers Lake down through the White River Valley which
includes the small towns of Buford and Meeker along Rio Blanco County
Road 8 and Colorado Highway 13. Meeker is the gateway to the White River
Valley. The river offers good
opportunities for cutthroat, brown, brook, and rainbow trout as well as
mountain whitefish. The White River flows west through Meeker and Rangely until it eventually flows into the Green River in Utah.
White River Access:
The White has nine public
access points between Meeker and Trappers Lake, starting with a downtown
stretch of riverfront from City Park to the 10th Street Bridge. Moving
upriver along County Road 8, other accesses by name and mile marker are
Nelson Prather (2.2), Wakara Ranches (4.6), Sleepy Cat (17), Lake Avery
Unit (19), Bel-Aire Unit (21) and three in the White River Forest at
mile markers 30.5, 36.3 and 43. Location: The river generally follows
County Road 8 east of Meeker.
White River National Forest Facts:
At approximately 2.3 million acres, the White River is one of the
biggest sections of the National Forest System. With 10 peaks over
14,000 feet, and eight Wilderness areas encompassing more than 750,000
acres, the Forest is world-reknowned for its scenery and recreational
opportunities.
