The Colorado Luxury Fly Fishing Ranch Vacation of a Lifetime.
The 4UR Ranch is the perfect destination for private fly fishing in the Colorado Rockies. Six and a half miles of private tailwater wind through the ranch — an exclusive experience few can match. 4UR stands apart with Goose Creek, one of the only fully private trout streams in the American West, managed under the traditional English station system with a long history of conservation. Thoughtful stream management and catch-and-release practices keep the ranch’s waters among the finest fly fishing in Colorado and beyond. As Ernest Ingersoll wrote in 1884, “I know of no place in Colorado where the fly-fisher will have better sport.”
The English Beat System
Our fly fishing waters are divided into 22 private stations or “beats”, chosen each evening by lottery. Each station — a quarter to a third of a mile — is reserved exclusively for one guest per session, so there’s no need to rush out early. At 4UR, your station is waiting for you.
As dinner winds down, a guide brings a shake bottle table to table, and guests draw numbered marbles to set the order — highest draw picks first for morning, with the order reversing for afternoon. This ensures everyone gets privacy and prime water each day.
Stations range from tight canyons and meandering hay meadow streams to larger water on the Rio Grande and trophy ponds, so every lottery position delivers great fishing.
Drawing marbles is a beloved family tradition, often left to the kids — just remember, once you draw, there’s no putting it back. The lottery keeps every day fresh and exciting.
The Waters
From private tailwater and river to trophy ponds and wilderness lakes, the 4UR Ranch offers water for every type of fly fisherman — and the privacy to make it an ideal family vacation, at any skill level.
Goose Creek: The main attraction, with fifteen stations winding through the valley. Lower stations sit in meadows flanked by willows; higher ones cut through canyons and big, meandering bends. Home to rainbows, browns, Rio Grande cutthroats, cutt-bow hybrids, and brookies in the higher reaches.
The Rio Grande: Guests also fish both banks of the legendary Rio Grande, just 40 miles below its source near Creede. Four stations here reveal what locals have long known: the upper Rio Grande’s fisheries are little known but among the best in the West.
Lost Lakes: 50 miles northwest, at over 10,000 feet, these pristine, secluded lakes make for a special still-water adventure. The all-day guided trip runs by Suburban to the trailhead, then 4-wheel drive for the rugged final mile — overflowing with cutthroat and rainbow trout, and a great way to get kids hooked on the sport, miles from the nearest paved road.
Soda Creek Pond: Fed by Goose Creek and stocked with large trout — a great spot for a trophy catch with your son or daughter.
Walton Pond: A small lake for young ones learning the craft — the only water on the property where kids may use a spinning rod to get started.
Guides and Lessons
Some guests prefer an experienced hand to show them the 4UR waters and introduce them to the sport. Our guides bring experience from fisheries across the country — knowledgeable, patient, and enthusiastic, they make your week of fishing one to remember.
Whether you’re catching your first fish or refining your cast in tight water, our guides help you make the most of your trip. Each morning after breakfast, they meet you at the lodge to gauge the day’s goals — sometimes a casting lesson on the lawn, sometimes a drive up-valley to a higher station. Either way, they’ll make your fly fishing vacation ideal.
Hatches
There is no need to rush out to your beat each morning, our hatches usually start around 9am and slow down around 1pm. We have a softer hatch later in the afternoon near 4pm that lasts for a couple of hours.
- Early to mid June – Stonefly’s and Caddis
- Mid to late June – PMD, Green Drakes
- July – Caddis, Callibeatis, PMD, Grey Drakes
- August – Hoppers, midges, Caddis
- September – Midges, Blue Wing Olive and Terrestrial’s
For the Kids
During the heart of summer, the 4UR Ranch has always been a great destination for families with kids. Our daily children’s program makes fishing fun, turning young novices into seasoned anglers in no time — with time on Walton Pond learning to cast, and the option to bring their catch back for dinner.
Equipment
We recommend 3-5 weight rods for Goose Creek and 5/6 weight for the Rio Grande. Sage rods and Redington waders are available to loan, and our full-service fly shop stocks flies, tippet, and other essentials. We also carry fly fishing apparel and rain gear — shirts, hats, and pants from Patagonia, Ouray, Fish Pond, and Smith sunglasses. Have a request before you arrive? Call 719-658-2202 and we’ll try to accommodate it.
What to Bring:
- Fly Fishing Rods (3,4,5,6 weight)
- Waders/Hip Boots – we do have loaners
- Fishing Hat
- Sunglasses (Polarized preferred)
- Good Sunscreen (the sun can cause a burn quickly at altitude)
- Long Sleeve Fishing shirts (we recommend shirts infused with UV protection and bug repellent)
- Bug Repellant with Deet
- Rain Gear
- Fly Fishing Net (large enough to accommodate 24″ trout)
fyi… we’ve found that the favorite fly for our waters anytime of the season is a Parachute Adams!
From our Guides’ point of view:
“Fishing the big water is always an exhilarating challenge. The Rio’s fish are healthy — brown trout in the 16-18 inch range, plus large rainbows moving in and out of Goose Creek. Timing the salmon-fly hatch early in summer is always exciting, and fishing only gets better from there. But nothing beats watching a big brown come up and eat your salmon-fly in an explosive strike.
While Goose Creek and the Rio Grande are a spectacular part of the ranch, they wouldn’t be quite what they are without the guides. We spend countless hours on the water tracking which hatches are happening and when, matching flies to attract the fish. That knowledge, paired with years of experience learning where the fish hold, makes all the difference. There’s something breathtaking about fighting a 20-inch rainbow amid stunning, untouched mountain peaks.”
– Ben Christensen
Off Property Float Trips on the Rio Grande
If you’d like a broader experience of the upper Rio Grande’s fisheries, we’re happy to arrange a guided float trip with one of the great local outfitters. Just call before you arrive, and we’ll reserve a spot with our neighbors at Rio Grande Anglers, Ramble House, or South Fork Anglers.
More Than Fishing, It’s an Experience!
Whether you’re casting for the first time or you’re a seasoned angler, the private waters of 4UR Ranch offer an unforgettable fly fishing experience. Join us and discover the peace, challenge, and pure joy that only a day on the river can bring.
Want a glimpse of what’s waiting? Watch our video to see the experience in action.