Fishing

Rocky Mountain is a wonderful place to fish, especially for trout—German brown, brook, rainbow, cutthroat, and greenback cutthroat—but check at a visitor center about regulations and closures. No fishing is allowed at Bear Lake. To avoid the crowds, rangers recommend angling in the more-remote backcountry. To fish in the park, anyone 16 and older must have a valid Colorado fishing license, which you can obtain at local sporting-goods stores. See cpw.state.co.us for details.

Tours and Outfitters

Estes Angler. This popular fishing guide arranges fly-fishing trips from two to eight hours into the park's quieter regions, year-round. The best times for fishing are generally from April to mid-November. Equipment is also available for rent. 338 W. Riverside Dr., Estes Park, Colorado, 80517. 970/586–2110; 800/586–2110; www.estesangler.com. From $149. Daily 8–6.

Kirks Fly Shop. This Estes Park outfitter offers various guided fly-fishing trips, as well as backpacking, horseback, and llama pack trips. The store also carries fishing and backpacking gear. 230 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park, Colorado, 80517. 970/577–0790; 877/669–1859; www.kirksflyshop.com. From $149. Daily 7–7.

Scot's Sporting Goods. This shop rents and sells fishing gear, and provides instruction trips daily from May through mid-October. Clinics, geared toward first-timers, focus on casting, reading the water, identifying insects for flies, and properly presenting natural and artificial flies to the fish. 870 Moraine Ave., Estes Park, Colorado, 80517. 970/586–2877; 970/443–4932; www.scotssportinggoods.com. From $220. June–Aug., daily 8–8; May and Sept.–mid-Oct., daily 9–5.