Ouray/Silverton advice

[Mark]

I'm planning a week long tent camping trip to Ouray area in late July. First time to area. Seeking advice on good wading streams. Also advice on camping spots along a river. 

Is anyone familiar with Mineral Creek near Silverton?

Amy advice greatly appreciated.

Mark

[netboy]

The Uncompahgre River below Ridgeway Reservoir has some good wading water and lots of trout. It is about 20 miles north of Ouray just past the town of Ridgeway. Pa-Co-Chu-Puk State Park has a great campground and access to the river. The San Miguel River also has some good wading water and is about 15 miles west of Ridgeway. 

[Mark]

Yes, I read about the state park. Do you think we would need reservations in late July? We may not nail down our dates until a few weeks in advance. Any other campgrounds with showers? Buddy bringing the wife for her first trip to CO. I did read public shower in Ouray if needed. Guessing the developed campgrounds stay pretty busy in summer?

I will research the San Miquel. Are you familiar with Mineral Creek near Silverton. There are dispersed camping areas there and looks like good access and wadeable. We're seniors so looking for easy wading. Any other streams? We would love to find a small stream with camping like we're use to in the Ozarks. 

Also, we're not fly fishermen, mostly fish the 11 pt white ribbon with any no bait or size restrictions and limit of 4 using power eggs, minnows, maybe occasional rooster tail. Do you know of any areas for us bait chuckers? 😁

Any good trout lakes? What type of fishing in the reservoir? 

Thanks for advice

[netboy]

The Uncompahgre is catch and release, artificial lures only. They also have a small lake where you can keep 4 per day and I think it is artificial lures only.  It is heavily stocked so it was easy to catch dinner using a small spinner. The creeks and streams around Ouray and Silverton suffer from bad water quality due to seepage from the old mining operations. That was the case last time I was out there, which was 10 years ago. They may be in better shape now???

 

[steve l]

If you want a neat side trip check out the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Trackway just outside of Ouray. It's quite a climb (up, up, more up, and then for a change even more up. The trail has some minor exposure), taking you to 134 consecutive prints from a sauropad. It is the longest continuous trackway in the world, and the prints are like 150 million years old. Very cool!

[Mark]

Wosh I could, Steve. I'm 67 and had my share of health issues. Sounds very cool. 

[Dewayne French]

This might be of interest to you  also. Unless your just set on that area. but we go to Creede, South Fork, Lake city area and there are lots of areas to fish both wade and lake. The Rio Grande actual starts between Creede and Lake city great pull offs to stay the night and camp grounds also. 

Ouray and Silverton are great places also. Just have to watch out for all the tourist traps. We try to avoid those and do more of the mountain lakes and stream areas. Those small stream usually have decent brook trout fishing if you have never done that. Both areas are great to spend the summer in and away from our 100 degree days. Which we are far from now ⛄

[Mark]

Yeah Dewayne, I've done some reading on Lake City and South Fork areas. We will definitely consider. Thanks for tip.

[netboy]

Another great day trip in the area is Mesa Verde National Park.

 Mesa Verde National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

[Mark]

Yep, was thinking same.