I take a week off every August to cool off and relax in Colorado, flying into Denver and then renting a car and venturing wherever the winds lead us. This year I am looking for recommendations on where you would choose to fly fish if you could pick any location within Colorado. Any tips or guidance would truly be appreciated.

Wyoming

Creede, South Fork, Pagosa Springs.

He's flying into Denver, Wyoming is 1 1/2 hrs away with just as good of fishing and a whole lot less folks to deal with.
Avoid I-25 at rush hour , it's a mess.

We have good local beer too !!

I am partial to the Yampa river as I have a second home in Steamboat Springs. It is a quality fishery versus a quantity. If I use a guide I use Straightline Sports in Steamboat. I do a lot of fishing with Rocky Mountain angling club and they have properties all around the state to be accessed. There is also one called rarewaters that is similar but I have not used them yet. August can be a tough as it is still pretty warm up there.

Any headwater stream in the high country will suit you well. Every single one of them about 9000’ or more will be good. Hop on I-70, head west until you’re in the mountains. The opportunities are endless.

This is actually a good point. Laramie is a good starting point and it isn’t much further than where you will start to find fish in the Rockies from Denver.

I think it’s also worth mentioned that you’d be best suited to rent a high clearance vehicle (4x4) if you can get it to get to the best fishing. The best fishing is generally down some rough forestry service roads and even 4x4/ATV only roads.

The South Platte. The Dream stream,Eleven mile canyon and cheesman canyon.

I appreciate all the responses. I will definitely dig into you folks recommendations deeper.

Yep, but the tires will be junk on it, be careful on the rough roads.

I just got back from a week in Buena Vista, about an hour or so on the other side of Colorado Springs. I don't fly fish but I do love to fish and I saw PLENTY of great looking places to fly fish and there are numerous fly shops in all the towns around there. They also have several mountain lakes within an hours drive if you wanted a change of scenery. I caught a bunch of decent sized rainbows on ultra-lite spinning gear on a small lake about 30 minutes from Buena Vista. Plus, when you are done with the fishing, the town of Buena Vista (and nearby Salida) are very cool.

That place might be the most overrated gold medal water I’ve ever been on. Ridiculous amounts of pressure, fish are tough to catch, wind is always blowing like crazy.