The lower Piedra River spans from the Southern Ute Indian Reservation all the way through the town of Piedra, CO and onto Second Box Canyon. There is a ton of water to fish. It holds a very high number of trout, mostly rainbows and browns ranging anywhere from 10-16 inches. A few trophy class brown trout can also be caught here. While the majority of the lower section is very steep getting from the road down to the water can be inaccessible in most places. There are a few campgrounds that allow for much better access. Once you get down to the water the hiking is easier. Hiking from the road to the river is not advised as it can be dangerous. A beautiful drive up the First Box Canyon will lead you to the confluence of the confluence of the First fork and the lower Piedra rivers. The water remains pristine and gorgeous as it is more of an “effort” to drive all the way back. From there you can hike up or down, use the hiking trail to find more pristine water than you know what to do with.

You can also find access much below this confluence and even spanning as far south as the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. If you plan on fishing that far south you must obtain a Tribal fishing permit to fish on designated Tribal waters. A Colorado State fishing license is not required to fish on Tribal waters but a tribal permit is.

To check out all the fishable waters around the Piedra River, click here on the River Explorer ->