Rich Creek is a popular backpacking and hiking area within Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area. It is part of an eleven mile loop trail that goes up Rich Creek and then crosses over a low saddle and then down Rough and Tumbling Creek. Although the trail may be busy, especially during weekends, few hikers stop to fish.
This is a great area but does require a three mile hike to access the meadow where the fishing is a little easier. Rich Creek connects with the South Fork of the South Platte and this is where the Rich Creek Trail-head begins. There is also an access trail from Weston Pass Campground. The lower part of Rich Creek is heavily wooded and fishing is a little beyond challenging. It's very difficult to hike off the trail along the creek with tall willows, fallen trees and swampy conditions, but there are fish for the highly adventurous.
Three miles up the easy to moderate trail is the beginning of the meadow that stretches for another three miles. There are somewhere around 30-40 beaver ponds with sections of creek connecting these pools. Here you will find our native trout, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout.
All of the Greenback Cutthroats we encountered were eager to take our fly. The average size was 3-4 inches with a few reaching 8 inches in length. The 2-3 foot high brush allowed for concealment and plenty of open space for easy casting. The main challenge was casting in the wind. This area sits above 10,000 feet in elevation and clouds, storms, and weather come and go quickly. Be a good Boy Scout and plan on bad weather just in case.
Although we did not see the moose ourselves, hikers later told us they saw some in the area. So keep your eyes open and check out the wildlife, not just the fish, in this gorgeous wilderness area.
