Gunnison River, Colorado
Scenic and trout photos
All images are by Dave McCoy unless otherwise noted and are all under copyright protection.


Rainbow Wall on the first day entering the Black Canyon, not named for the color of the rock!


Quinton Dowling with one of the most beautiful 'bows I have ever seen on the Gunny, this pic doesn't do it justice.


Quinton Dowling working a tailout just upriver of Boulder Garden.


The guest cabins at Gunnison River Farms, our take-out point after the 3-day float.


Lunch at Red Canyon just after leaving Ute Park.


Pteronarcys (Giant Salmon Fly) prepare to soon enter the belly of a large trout.


Something similar to this, hopefully even larger.


Quinton Dowling with a colorful Brown. If 'bows aren't willing to play, there are plenty of these to keep you busy.


Susan Dowling hooked up at Ute 2 during lunch on the second day.



On the last day, groups stay pretty tight as the rapid section draws near. A couple miles of class 3-4 whitewater where the BLM requires all commercial trips to be "in sight" of each other. This is probably the most scenic section of the floatable canyon.


At high water, the Gunny is a challenging course for experienced rowers, at low water, just plain tight.


Typically one night of the trip is spent within the couple mile stretch of Ute Park. This is where the canyon draws back, opens up and gains its namesake because the Ute Indians crossed the river here. This is the view from the hike in trail, one of 4-5 trails accessing the river from above.


The view as you near the river, looking up towards Buttermilk and the beginning of Ute Park.


Tom Collins lands himself a sizable brown.


The Gunnison flows into the Colorado up near the Utah border. Here the Colorado River as it leaves its namesake state.


The first snow of the year over Telluride, CO. Without question the most beautiful town in the state, trapped at the end of a canyon surrounded by the highest concentration of 14,000 ft. peaks in the lower 48 states.


Bridal Veil Falls tumbling out of the mountains to form the headwaters of the San Miguel River which flows right through the town of Telluride.


Avalanche control at the end of town in Telluride in the winter.


The Dolores River is one of Colorado's most technical fisheries with the reward being exceptional trout.


Leopard Creek is one of the San Miguels better known and larger tributaries. Many of the larger trout from the Mig head up here during high water allowing for some exciting fishing in highly contained environments.


Fishing the even hatch on Lost Lake outside of Crested Butte. Photo Natalie McCoy

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