Access Site
CO
Rio Grande River State Wildlife Area (Del Norte Fishing Easements)
Source: colorado_parks_and_wildlife Updated 1 year ago
City: Del Norte, CO
County: Rio Grande County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 37.68872057, -106.45971316
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Saguache Creek near Saguache, CO
21.2 mi away
Sand Creek near Dollar Lake, CO
25.5 mi away
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Rio Grande
23 runs (6 nearby)Difficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
II
This location is on this run
05. South Fork to Del Norte
20.9 mi
17 ft/mi
II
Downstream from here (44.7 mi to put-in)
06. Alamosa to Lasauses
20.1 mi
15 ft/mi
II-III+
Upstream from here (13.4 mi from take-out)
04. Wagon Wheel Gap to South Fork
11.4 mi
21 ft/mi
II-III
Upstream from here (23.9 mi from take-out)
03. Creede to Wagon Wheel Gap
10.2 mi
II-III
Upstream from here (32.7 mi from take-out)
02. Box Canyon to Creede
23.7 mi
24 ft/mi
III-IV
Upstream from here (47.3 mi from take-out)
01. Box Canyon (CO)
8.1 mi
38 ft/mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
II-III+
620 mi away
7. Lower Canyons: La Linda to Dryden Crossing (83.5 miles)
84.3 mi
5 ft/mi
I-II
56 mi away
07. Lasauses to Lobatos Bridge
20.0 mi
3 ft/mi
II-III
64 mi away
01. Lobatos Bridge(Colorado) to Lee Trail
24.0 mi
5 ft/mi
II
64 mi away
08. Lobatos Bridge to Lee Trail
21.0 mi
7 ft/mi
II-IV
77 mi away
02. Lee Trail to Chiflo Campground
9.9 mi
47 ft/mi
V
85 mi away
03. Chiflo Campground to Little Arsenic Trail
7.8 mi
69 ft/mi
II-III
89 mi away
04. Red River confluence to John Dunn Bridge
8.4 mi
12 ft/mi
III-IV
95 mi away
05. John Dunn Bridge to Taos Junction Bridge (Lower Taos Box)
15.0 mi
31 ft/mi
II
106 mi away
06. Taos Junction Bridge to Quartzite River Access
6.6 mi
III
108 mi away
07. Quartzite River Access to County Line River Access
4.4 mi
12 ft/mi
III
127 mi away
08. Otowi Bridge to Cochiti Reservoir
22.3 mi
II-III
590 mi away
1. Hoodoos: Redford to Colorado Canyon (15.75 miles)
16.0 mi
6 ft/mi
II+
600 mi away
2. Colorado Canyon: Rancherias Canyon to Lajitas (21 miles)
21.2 mi
6 ft/mi
II(III)
610 mi away
3. Santa Elena Canyon: Lajitas to Santa Elena Canyon River Access (20 miles)
20.6 mi
7 ft/mi
I-II
621 mi away
6. Rio Grande Village to La Linda (34.5 miles)
34.6 mi
4 ft/mi
I-II
635 mi away
5. San Vicente & Hot Springs Canyon: Solis Landing to Rio Grande Village (19 miles)
19.4 mi
II
640 mi away
4. Mariscal Canyon: Talley to Solis Landing (10 miles)
10.2 mi
12 ft/mi
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
The Rio Grande River State Wildlife Area near Del Norte, Colorado offers a public boat ramp and river access for kayakers, canoeists, and small motorized boats. The boat ramp is located on the southeast side of the County Road 17 bridge, providing direct access to the Rio Grande. This section of the Rio Grande is considered gold medal trout water, known for its abundant and sizable fish.
The river in this area is generally deeper than upstream sections, so a combination of dry and dropper flies is recommended for anglers. The river is wadeable at times, with a fishing easement located roughly midway between South Fork and Del Norte. Paddlers and boaters should be aware of the river's character, as the Rio Grande can have variable flows and conditions depending on the season.
Overall, the Del Norte Fishing Easements provide an excellent access point for those looking to explore the Rio Grande by boat or paddle craft. The boat ramp offers a convenient put-in, with nearby parking and restroom facilities. Visitors should check regulations and be prepared for the unique challenges of this stretch of the Rio Grande.
The river in this area is generally deeper than upstream sections, so a combination of dry and dropper flies is recommended for anglers. The river is wadeable at times, with a fishing easement located roughly midway between South Fork and Del Norte. Paddlers and boaters should be aware of the river's character, as the Rio Grande can have variable flows and conditions depending on the season.
Overall, the Del Norte Fishing Easements provide an excellent access point for those looking to explore the Rio Grande by boat or paddle craft. The boat ramp offers a convenient put-in, with nearby parking and restroom facilities. Visitors should check regulations and be prepared for the unique challenges of this stretch of the Rio Grande.
Nearby Recreation Areas
Penitente Canyon
Located within