Your Four Seasons Fishing Destination in the Colorado Mountains

The Central Rockies Fishing Wonderland

Tucked away in the central Rockies of Colorado, you’ll find North Park, one of the three largest intermountain basins of Colorado, alongside Middle Park and yes, South Park. Synonymous with Jackson County, many people might never have heard of North Park, but they will probably recognize the area based on the name of one town: Walden, CO. 

So if you ask someone if they have been to North Park, they might not know, but there’s a good chance they’ll know about Walden. And if they get that sparkle in their eye when they hear the name, nine times out of ten it’s because they know one of the most well-kept secrets among anglers in the Rocky Mountains. The Walden area simply has the best fishing in Colorado.

Four Season Fishing

Is that a big claim to make? We wouldn’t boast about it if we didn’t think it was true. Just about any fisherman worth their spinners and powerbait who has cast a line in Colorado knows about North Park. They’ve fished Lake John, the Gold Medal waters of Delaney Buttes and the headwaters of the North Platte river.

Our lakes, rivers and streams also have the distinction of being part of the best four season fishing in the central Rocky Mountains. There’s plenty of resources throughout North Park for fishing equipment, licenses, and bait. Find out where to find fishing equipment on your visit here.

High Country Lake Fishing

North Park has a lot of lakes to choose from to meet the demand of anglers who are obsessed with pulling in trophy sized lake trout or those elusive high altitude mackinaw and cutbows. Whether you are dragging a line behind a boat at Lake John, shore fishing in Delaney Lakes, or shore fishing Hidden Lakes, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to campgrounds right next to the lake and casting your line in the morning and evening when the fish are jumping. 

Big Creek Lake is one of Colorado’s largest natural lakes, sitting at around 9,000 ft in elevation. Hike in and fish deep mountain lakes like Lake Katherine, Blue Lake, and Lake Agnes for more of a challenge. Ranger Lakes is a great place to start to get familiar with the kinds of fish that are stocked in North Park. The Colorado State Forest State Park has lots of great fishing in the creeks, beaver dams, and reservoir of the Park with plenty of lake and brook trout. 

One of a Kind Fly Fishing Experience

From Spring to Fall (or whenever the rivers ice over) North Park has the shallow creeks and rivers that make fly fishing a dream. The fish aren’t too choosy when it comes to the kind of flies you cast either. In summer, the different kinds of forage fish have ranges from mayflies to water beetles, mosquitos, moths, and a wide range of insects that your tied flies will look like a treat for a hungry trout in channels and eddies. 

In Spring and Fall, the scarcity of flying insects makes fish especially eager to make surface hits on flies. Higher volume rivers during runoff might pose a challenge to anglers in Spring, but in Fall these fish are fattening up for the long winter ahead. The bigger sport fish stalk the deeper channels and undercuts if you know where to look. 

Must Stop Shop: North Park Anglers

Also known as Jackson County’s second Chamber of Commerce, North Park Anglers started in 2001. Since then, it has since claimed its place among the most knowledgeable, approachable, and welcoming fly fishing shops you’ll come across. And one you definitely won’t want to miss. 

Today, Scott Graham runs the operation, catering to not only locals but visitors alike with the same reputation for service and dedication to the sport of angling he has provided for over twenty years. An Orvis Endorsed Outfitter, North Park Anglers goes beyond the quality and care you expect from Orvis and takes it to a higher level. They even won Orvis’s coveted Outfitter of the Year in 2015.

From April-October, you’ll find the staff available seven days per week 7am-5pm during peak season with reduced hours September-November, Tuesday-Saturday on shoulder seasons. The shop is the kind of place you’ll want to stop at first, whether it’s to get a fishing report on what anyone knows about any of the hot spots to fish in the county to what fish are hitting which flies.

North Park Anglers has hundreds of tied flies to choose from as well as material to tie your own, boots and shoes, waders and nets, and rods and reels. Any serious angler—or even novice who wants that edge for a successful trip needs to check out this little shop on Main Street in Walden, CO.

Along with gear and equipment, they offer memberships with access to members only private fishing areas, guided fishing trips, whitewater fishing trips, and more. Check out their website to learn more and be sure to include them on your stop over in Walden.

Ice Fishing Oasis

When winter hits hard in the Colorado mountains, the lakes freeze over and the fish forage in weedy lakebeds underneath the ice. Several lakes throughout Jackson County are large enough and deep enough to accommodate conditions ideal for ice fishing.

In January and February, depending on weather and ice conditions, the Lake John Resort and North Park Area Chamber of Commerce sponsor two annual ice fishing contests at Lake John. Even in the winter months, anglers can set up their shelters, get comfy on their chairs or buckets, and reel in some monsters lurking under the ice. Lake John Resort has a general store, RV hookups, and other services for visitors fishing the ice.

Winners can get fishing swag, cash prizes, and the prestige that comes with beating out dozens of competitors on the hunt for the biggest fish in the lake. This year, January 10th and 11th, and February 7th mark the dates for the ice fishing contest. Adult entry fees are $55 and youth tickets are $15. Prizes range from cold hard cash to fishing equipment, propane heaters, coolers, and more. Door prizes are given hourly along with “Catch of the Hour” prizes.

Places to Stay in Walden

Plan ahead and book your lodging in a hotel, VRBO, or AirBnB vacation rental property in Walden, CO. Choose from a wide selection of vacation rentals, ranging from quaint to unique, and anywhere between single occupancy or large groups of visitors. Check out this article on rental cabins, or these articles on the Old Homestead and Powderhorn Cabins.

Reserve your rooms for seasonal events early as rooms tend to fill up quickly. Nearly everything is within walking distance of lodging in Walden, but if you don’t want to brave the weather, there are plenty of places to park—for free! 

Check out these places to stay in Walden, CO

• Antlers Inn: (970) 723-8690
• Caribou Crossing Motel: 970-501-6076
• Sleepy Moose Inn: (970) 440-1614
• North Park Inn and Suites Call: (970) 723-4271
• Chedsey Motel Call: (970) 723-8201
• Lake John Resort (970) 286-1269

Try All Four Seasons!

For anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts, North Park never gets old. So plan your trip today, no matter what season you plan to visit! There’s still plenty of time before winter sets in to flyfish the rivers and streams of Jackson County, and even more time to get ready for your next adventure whether it’s ice fishing or gearing up for next summer! Book your stay today and we’ll see you soon!

Have You Heard About Our Holiday Giveaway?

How would you like to come to North Park on the weekend of December 12th-14th, 2025? It’s the biggest celebration of Winter with all the fixin’s! Click the link to learn all about how to enter. You could be our winner!