Goose Creek makes it easy. One of the only entirely private tailwater trout streams in the country, Goose Creek runs swift and clear. It starts at the southern edge of the 4UR property as a small waterfall below Lake Humphreys dam. As it flows north it gently twists and turns, resting now and again in deep pools until it joins the Rio Grande.

It’s a remarkable experience to stand in waders, playing with the line, catching fish. And catch fish we do, every day, at every station. Some stations are nestled in steep, alpine canyons. Other sections of the river run through wide, open pastures.

Every angler learns where he or she will fish the night before, when Aaron Christensen escorts a shake bottle from table to table after dinner. The lottery winner gets first pick of station, followed by other anglers until the lowest lottery draw selects. In the afternoon, the order is reversed. All stations are good, however, for the fish swim past them all. 

Guests may hire one of our dedicated fishing guides, or fish their stretch alone. It’s as you like it, here at 4UR Colorado Guest Ranch. And that’s how we like it.

We are currently in the middle of a kids stay free week at 4UR. It has been fun to see fathers and their children bond over the activity of fishing. It happens every year, and has been as long as humans have known to take from the bounty of the sea and stream. Imagine throwing dry flies to the big wild Browns and Rainbows in Goose Creek, or exploring the pristine high mountain stream for big Cutthroats. Come and start your next adventure! We use a lottery system that makes sure that each angler gets to pick a private station on the creek. You end up with solitude, peacefulness and a great chance to catch exciting fish. Of course this is also part of a fabulous horseback riding vacation that you will be able to partake in.

Our Head Guide Andy Lee at Station 1

We have a very fair manner in which we distribute access to our 20 “stations” or private 1/3 mile sections of the creek to our anglers. We use a lottery system to determine who gets to pick their station first. So as the week goes by, almost everyone will get a chance to have a nearly perfect place to fish.
We call our Goose Creek “nearly perfect” because it is some of the nations only private tailwaters, which means that Goose Creek’s drainage is quite unique. Flowing from the Weminuche Wilderness, it passes through only two pieces of private property before reaching the Rio Grande: our Rocky Mountain vacation spot and our neighbors upstream. Our neighbor’s reservoir feeds the creek from its cool waters via an 80-foot dam, making this creek one of only a handful of “private tailwaters” in America. Years of astute stream management and rigorous catch and release practices make for some surprisingly big, well-colored trout.

Expect to see a variety of special types of trout – rainbows, browns, snake river cutts, cutt-bow hybrids and even brookies. You may also take a guided fishing trip above timberline to Lost Lakes for rare Rio Grande cutts, or fish Station 21, a trophy pond in the ranch valley. All waters are catch and release, fly fishing only except for Walton Pond, which can be ideal for kids.

We hope to see you for a Western Vacation at 4UR ranch this summer!

We love our horses, and wide open spaces, but we also practice sustainable land practice, and natural horsemanship.

We have a delicious steak ride every week. Steak ride is when we jump on horseback and ride up the valley to a delicious cook-out dinner with our chef Wray Warner. But steak ride also means fine wine and cocktails, a delectable array of cheeses and snacks, along with big, juicy steak.

Our Rocky Mountain Vacations also include fly fishing in some of the most pristine waters you could hope for. In what is called “private tailwaters“, we have only catch and release fishing. So we give every angler the excitement of the catch.

Come and experience a more than a horseback riding vacation – 4UR ranch will bring you back in time while caring for the land so that it will be pristine for your grandchildren and ours.

Dining: We recruited our chef, Wray Warner, from the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole. Some of his specialties include unique home-made ice creams, and ambitious pasta, beef and fish dinner entrees. One of my favorites is a mushroom pasta that has been prepared to allow the delicate flavors of the fungi to come out.

It’s not just about dinner, breakfast and lunch are stunning as well. I love to start breakfast with the home-made granola and yogurt, along with hot, strong coffee. We also serve unique cook-to-order breakfast dishes. Breakfast is a very personalized meal, and we want you to feel right at home.

Even lunch is a special affair, esp. on Wednesdays when we hold our Mexican luncheon poolside. We have fajitas, chips, guacamole, cold Coronas and margaritas. Box lunches are also available to take out for your fly fishing trip.

Bathing: We have great “watering holes” – literally! Our pool is large and refreshing; there is plenty of deck space for lounging or playing games with family. We have tables if you want to sit in the shade umbrellas and have a cold drink or a snack. The pool is the place to be, if you ask me!
The hot springs are what Wagon Wheel Gap was originally famous for. In the early 1900s, General William Palmer founded the Wagon Wheel Gap Hot Springs Resort. The Hot Springs were thought to have medicinal qualities; we still have the historic bath house on property. You can still enjoy the Hot Springs, they are just adjacent to the pool and may still have the power to cure what ails you.
The sauna is here for you to enjoy as well – it is also in the pool area, and next to it is our massage parlor. This is relaxation central, and something that makes 4UR quite luxurious.

Catch a beauty in our "Private Tailwaters"

Fly Fishing Vacation: Our fly fishing is renowned as spectacular. We divide our pristine Goose Creek into 15 “stations”, each a 1/3 mile, which are assigned by lottery in the evening. This system keeps everything fair, and assures each fisher-person prime waters at a prime time nearly every day.

Along with Goose Creek, there are four stations on the Rio Grande and one in the Weminuche Wilderness. You may also take a guided fishing trip above timberline to Lost Lakes for rare Rio Grande cutts, or fish Station 21, a trophy pond in the ranch valley. All waters are catch and release fly fishing only, except for Walton Pond, which is a great place to start practicing with your little angler.

Goose Creek’s drainage is quite unique. Flowing from the Weminuche Wilderness, it passes through only two private properties before reaching the Rio Grande; the 4UR Ranch and our neighbors upstream. Our neighbor’s reservoir feeds the creek from its cool waters via an 80-foot dam, making this creek one of only a handful of private tailwaters in America. Andy Lee and Aaron Christenson have spent their years with us managing the stream rigorously. This, along with our catch and release practices make for some surprisingly big, well-colored trout. Look forward to seeing rainbows, browns, snake river cutts, cutt-bow hybrids and even brookies.

As you can see, 4UR Ranch is more than boots and dusty arenas – come here for something completely unique.