Quartz Creek is a place of redemption for anglers who are always complaining about how Colorado is too crowded with people.  If you want to find solitude and chase some wild trout through even more wild and rugged country, Quartz creek is your place.  Home to cutthroat trout, this highly willowed and brush encompassed creek makes for a dry fly fishing adventure.  Productive fishing begins when you get to Quartz valley and can access quartz creek trail as well as several other trails to get more of the san juan wilderness.  There are a few camping spots up there as well, but only a few.  I suspect you wouldn’t see many people up there unless it’s a weekend or holiday that brings everyone up to the mountains.

The fishing isn’t overly difficult once you get there.  Avoiding the foliage on the banks is the hardest part, but overall the fish are eager and willing to take most dry fly offerings so any high floating dry fly should put you on fish without much trouble.  The fish are small to medium size not getting over 14” but are wild trout which is extra fun.  Please treat these fish with the upmost care and practice catch and release every time.  Wet your hands before touching fish and release them quickly, using a rubber net if possible.  It is getting more and more rare to find places like this in the mountains with wild trout and with more and more people coming and exploring these areas, they are always at a greater risk.  With that said, proper management and catch and release of this area on your part will maintain this area.  Leave no trace, catch and release and pack out what you pack in plus anything else others left behind.  Enjoy the epic adventure, it’s not for the faint at heart!