Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park

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 information on specific closures, catch-and-release areas, and limits on size and possession. No fishing is allowed at Bear Lake. Rangers recommend the more-remote backcountry lakes, since they are less crowded. Anyone older than 16 needs a Colorado fishing license, which you can obtain at local sporting-goods stores. See www.wildlife.state.co.us/fishing for details.

Outfitters & Expeditions

Estes Angler arranges four-, six-, and eight-hour fly-fishing trips—including on horseback—into the park's quieter regions. 338 W. Riverside Dr., Estes Park. 970/586-2110 or 800/586-2110. www.estesangler.com.

Scot's Sporting Goods. Scot's provides four-, six-, and eight-hour fishing instruction trips daily from May through September. 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. Half-day excursions into the park are available for three or more people. You can also rent and buy gear here. 2325 Spruce Ave., 870 Moraine Ave., Estes Park. 970/586-2877. $80-$190. May-Sept., daily 8-8.