Big Fish
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Big Fish open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Big Fish is a river fishing spot in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Blanco Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the site sits right beside Himes Peak Campground, about 0.1 mile away, which makes it an easy pairing for an overnight stay. Summer is the most comfortable time to fish here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Yampa show July highs around 79°F with lows near 46°F, and June and August run close behind. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the fishing spot, so temperatures at Big Fish run cooler. Several other destinations are within a few miles. Boulder Lake is about a mile away, and Lake Of The Woods, a lake fishing spot, is about 1.4 miles off. Trappers Lake/Shephards Rim Campground is roughly 2.8 miles away, and the North Fork White River, a canoeing route, is about 3.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Flat Tops Wilderness Guides16 mi away
- Glenwood Canyon Resort32 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Big Fish
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
32° / 7°
12 wet
Feb
34° / 9°
11 wet
Mar
43° / 17°
10 wet
Apr
52° / 24°
11 wet
May
62° / 33°
10 wet
Jun
74° / 40°
8 wet
Jul
79° / 46°
10 wet
Aug
77° / 45°
11 wet
Sep
70° / 37°
9 wet
Oct
57° / 27°
8 wet
Nov
42° / 17°
9 wet
Dec
32° / 8°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yampa, CO, 21.1 mi away at 7,857 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more waters worth the drive
SEE
Cross Creek
~29 min drive
SEE
Lake Of The Woods
~2 min drive
SEE
East Lost Lake
~7 min drive
East Lost Lake is an 8-acre lake near Gypsum, Colorado, at about 10,322 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Sable Lake
~9 min drive
Sable Lake is an 8-acre lake near Meeker, Colorado, at about 9,861 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Long Lake
~9 min drive
Long Lake is a 6-acre lake near Gypsum, Colorado, at about 10,477 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Star Lake
~9 min drive
Star Lake is a 18-acre lake near Gypsum, Colorado, at about 11,196 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Marvine Lakes
~13 min drive
Marvine Lakes is a lake near Meeker, Colorado, at about 9,319 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Marvine Lakes
~14 min drive
Marvine Lakes is a lake near Meeker, Colorado, at about 9,307 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Upper Island Lake
~15 min drive
Upper Island Lake is an 8-acre lake near Gypsum, Colorado, at about 11,194 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
SEE
Deer Lake
~15 min drive
