Canyon County Overnight
Enjoy a guided 2 day overnight kayaking/raft trip through the impressive sandstone walls of Dominguez Canyon. Soak up the surroundings from your raft and/or command your own kayak, while support rafts carry all the amenities for a night on the river. Single person and tandem kayaks are available for this adventure, ideal for novice kayakers.
Named for the Spanish Jesuits that first explored the area in 1777, Dominguez and Escalante Canyons are rich in history, wildlife, and scenery. The class II Gunnison River gently carves its way through Dominguez canyon creating a wilderness feeling. Cottonwood stands along the river provide nesting habitat for herons and songbirds, while deer, desert bighorn sheep, and large game can be seen along the banks.
Native American rock-art, and spectacular desert flora and fauna can be found on numerous side-hikes making for a rich experience on the edge of canyon country.
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE TAXES & FEES
Deluxe Float n' Fish
A step- up from our standard 2 day trip, the 2 day DELUXE provides a more intimate experience with the Gunnison River fishery. Smaller group size, additional amenities and services, and lighter rafts allow you to spend more time exploring the pools and runs of the Gunnison River Gorge.
You won't be rushed to set up camp after chasing big fish all day. Our guides will set-up camp and prepare meals for you! Sit back, tell stories, and rest-up for another day in this spectacular setting.
A true wilderness experience, this 14 mile river section combines incredible wildlife and scenery with class III-IV whitewater through one of the most spectacular canyons in Colorado.
Join us on a hike to the put-in from the canyon rim, 600 feet above the Gunnison River. From there, enjoy the pool-drop rapids below the Black Canyon National Park as we float the river through the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness.
Black Canyon Overnight
The ideal way to see the Gunnison Gorge and Black Canyon - from the inside! A true wilderness experience, this 14 mile river section combines incredible wildlife and scenery with class III-IV whitewater through one of the most spectacular canyons in Colorado.
Join us on a hike to the put-in from the canyon rim, 800 feet above the Gunnison River. From there, enjoy the pool-drop rapids below the Black Canyon National Park as we float the river through the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness.
The "Gold Medal Waters" of the Gunnison Gorge are famous for its world-class Rainbow and Brown trout fishing, insect hatches, geology, and wildlife, but sees moderate use because of its remote location, and challenging access.
Canyon County Multi-Day
Enjoy a guided 3 day overnight kayaking/raft trip through the impressive sandstone walls of Dominguez Canyon. Soak up the surroundings from your raft and/or command your own kayak, while support rafts carry all the amenities for a night on the river. Single person and tandem kayaks are available for this adventure, ideal for novice kayakers.
Deluxe Float n' Fish Multi-Day
The Deluxe Trip format is designed with one thing in mind, you - the client. Due to excellent customer feedback and our desire to provide the most comprehensive high end product available, we are pleased to anounce the lastest additions to the Gunnison Gorge Deluxe format including:
Our Deluxe trip also provides a more intimate experience with smaller client group sizes, additional amenities and services, and a dedecated gear boat allows for lighter rafts and inturn you to spend more time exploring the pools and runs of the Gunnison River Gorge. Our gear boat goes ahead to set-up camp and prepare for our arrival! Both you and your guide can now focus on fishing as there is no rush to set up camp, why not chase big fish all day?
Join us for the ideal way to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge- from the inside! a true wilderness experience, this 14 mile river section combines wildlife and scenery with class 111-1V whitewater through one of the most spectacular canyons in North America. We drive from the RIGS fly shop in Ridgway to the trail head at the canyon rim. From there, we hike the 1.1 mile trail to the river. After gearing up and reviewing trip considerations, we start floating and fishing the pools and runs of the Gunnison Gorge.
The "Gold Medal Waters" of the Gunnison Gorge are famous for it's world class Rainbow and Brown trout fishing. This fishery comands serious respect as the CDOW conducts population census on a annual basis. There are 8,700 catchable fish per mile and over 200 fish per mile over 18", add 425 lbs per sample acre and you have something special. World renowned for the "Stone Fly Hatch", the Gunny also plays host to many "other" fine insect hatches making for a true bug factory. While the Gunnison River sees moderate use, the Gorge, because of it's remote location and chalenging access recieves the least angling presure of all the floatable sections.
This unique desert environment also plays host to a diverse array of wildlife including Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Elk and although seldom seen many preditors inhabit the canyon as well as a wide variety of birds of prey inluding Golden Eagles and Osprey. If you can take your eye off the fly for a moment, you'll witness breath taking geology as some of the oldest rock in North America is exsposed making for stunning scenery. Don't forget your camera as you join us for a unforgetable experience.
Standard Float n' Fish Muti-Day
Join us for the ideal way to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge - from the inside! A true wilderness experience, this 14 mile river section combines wildlife and scenery with class III-IV whitewater through one of the most spectacular canyons in Colorado.
The RIGS Standard Trip is very popular with our customers, we might just as well call it the deluxe because it truely rivals anything else out there (Look @ "The 2009 Deluxe trip" for upgrades and format differences). On the Standard trip we combine two clients and a guide per boat and divide the gear up accordingly as there is no deadicated gear boat. The client group size is limited to 8 persons per launch (6 on the Deluxe format).
The "Gold Medal Waters" of the Gunnison Gorge are famous for its world-class Rainbow and Brown trout fishing. This fishery comands serious respect as there are 8700 catchable fish per mile and over 200 fish per mile over 18 inches, add 425 lbs per sample acre and you have something special. World Renowned for the "Stone Fly Hatch", the Gorge also plays host to many "other" fine insect hatches making for a true bug factory. While the Gunnison River sees moderate use, the Gorge, because of its remote location and challenging access recieves the least angling presure of all the floatable sections.
This unique desert environment also plays host to a diverse array of wildlife including Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Elk although seldom seen many prediators inhabit the Canyon as well as a wide variety of birds of prey including Golden Eagles and Osprey. If you can take your eye of the fly for a moment, you'll also get witnessing breathtaking geology as some of the oldest rock in North America is exposed making for stunning scenery. Don't forget your camera as you come join us for a unforgetable experience.
Fish n' Camp
RIGS newest section of permitted water and a traditional Guides favorite, the lower sections of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River offers low pressure and a spectacular setting. Early Season Stonefly nymph fishing is exceptional, with a myriad of potential for additional late afternoon hatches. This section, from Red Bridge down river, turns into a classic granite canyon similar to the lower Gunnison River. Aggressive Brown and Rainbow Trout dominate over 5 miles of easily accessible water and opportunities for solitude are great. We provide all the camping gear, food and entertainment for this trip back in time, when fly fishing was a true back country experience!
Wilderness Fish n' Camp
High alpine fishing at its best! With their headwaters protected in the Big Blue Wilderness, the three different forks of the Cimarron River offer endless fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
"You'll be amazed by the diversity of landscape, from alpine tundra to majestic spires, pinnacles and castles blocking the sun to dark, green forests carpeting steep mountains. And water, water everywhere."
Backcountry Anglers Multi-Day
A combination trip of two of our most popular resources equals "the best of the best" in high alpine fishing access and remote camping opportunities. Spend three full days fishing a diversity of waters in the heart of the Uncompahgre Wilderness. This trip includes a loop tour of both the Cimarron River and its tributaries as well the choice sections of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. We provide all the camping gear, food and entertainment for this trip back in time, when fly fishing was a true back county experience!
The lower section of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River offers low pressure and a spectacular setting. Early Season Stonefly nymph fishing is exceptional, with a myriad of potential for additional late afternoon hatches. This section, from Red Bridge down river, turns into a classic granite canyon similar to the lower Gunnison River. Aggressive Brown and Rainbow Trout dominate over 5 miles of easily accessible water and opportunities for solitude are great.
With their headwaters protected in the Big Blue Wilderness, the three different forks of the Cimarron River offer endless fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
