Other (fishing & exploration)

Fishing is one of the oldest recreational pursuits in the Gunnison Basin, and is an important contributor to the local tourism economy.

Here are some resources to learn more:

Fishing

• Colorado Trout Unlimited has several chapters in the basin and is involved in numerous projects to protect and restore streams there. The Gunnison Angling Society has monthly meetings and is a great source for fishing in the region. The Gunnison Gorge Anglers is the Trout Unlimited chapter that serves Delta, Montrose, Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Telluride.
• Where to fish in the Gunnison Region (information from the Colorado Fishing Network)
• Where to fish in the Uncompahgre Region (information from the Colorado Fishing Network)
• The interactive Colorado Fishing Atlas from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
• Information on Kokanee Salmon and Lake Trout fishing in Blue Mesa Reservoir from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
• Trouts Fly Fishing has detailed river reports within the whole basin, with supplemental information on the best seasons to fish, flies to use, and access for most streams in the Gunnison River Basin
• The authoritative Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing  licensure, legal, and regulatory information can be found here.

Birding

Areas along rivers and streams are some of the best places to view birds and other wildlife.

• To learn about birdwatching trips and habitat projects in the Gunnison Basin, check with the Delta based Black Canyon Audubon Society.
• Delta County regularly hosts large flocks of Sandhill Cranes in lake and wetland areas. Eckert Crane Days celebrates the cranes’ arrival each spring.

Exploring

The Gunnison Basin’s many canyons provide spectacular views and numerous opportunities to hike alongside rushing water. The Gunnison Basin’s many canyons provide spectacular views and numerous opportunities to hike alongside rushing water.

• Perhaps the most spectacular views of the Gunnison River can be had at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, where the canyon reaches a depth of over 2,700 feet.
• The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area provides access to many miles of hiking trails through the red rock canyons of the Uncompahgre Plateau.
• The Ouray Trail Group provides information on many trails along alpine tributaries to the Uncompahgre River.

Camping and RV Sites

Freecampsites.net is a user-sourced webpage that reloads campsites and RV sites as you move your locator through the map. It displays both free campsites, as well as some pay campsites, but it is not exhaustive. The user comments on the website can be a great reference and a resource to help determine in the campsite is great for your family over the weekend, or if it’s really only ideal for a quick sleepover in a pinch while traveling through.

Most municipalities have a RV and/or camping park of some sort, and most National Parks have fee-based camping or RV sites. A quick internet search can reveal the camping information for National Parks and within municipalities. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a great webpage which can be utilized to find and reserve campsites in state parks.

As a rule of thumb, information on camping in wildlife or conservation areas (such as Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area) or on BLM or USFS public land can be harder to locate, and is left off this website for those who desire to go through longer internet searches to find those potentially quieter places.