The Los Pinos River is a freestone river in Colorado, listed as Special-regulation trout water by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 2 guides and 2 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Durango & the San Juan.
The Los Pinos River in La Plata County, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Los Pinos River is a freestone river in Colorado. Our destination hub Durango & the San Juan is 18 mi away in a straight line and lists it among its waters.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Los Pinos River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Los Pinos River with 1 USGS gauge, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Los Pinos River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Gold Medal WaterThe Animas River from Santa Rita Park, Durango, Colorado. Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Colorado · about 18 mi
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Vallecito ReservoirNavajo Lake from Navajo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Vallecito Reservoir.
Colorado · about 16 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Vallecito CreekThe Piedra River in Hinsdale County, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Vallecito Creek.
Colorado · about 22 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Hermosa CreekThe Gunnison River at the North Fork confluence, Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hermosa Creek.
Colorado · about 23 mi
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Martin LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Martin Lake.
Colorado · about 29 mi
Special-regulation trout waterSan Juan River in New Mexico · not this reachThe San Juan River between Navajo Dam and the community of Navajo Dam, New Mexico. Photo: Phil Slattery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not this reach.
Colorado · about 81 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Special Regulations: Fishing Waters (trout rules: artificial flies and lures, trout limits) list (Colorado Parks and Wildlife, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
Pagosa Springs, CO · 32 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · San Juan & Rio Grande
Nearby
What 2 nearby guide websites mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 2 nearby guide websites
1 hatch charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Green drake (June to July)
Durango sits on the Animas River in southwest Colorado; the San Juan River tailwater below Navajo Dam is across the state line in New Mexico, and the Piedra and Los Pinos rivers lie to the east.
Destination hub · 18 mi away in a straight line
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Los Pinos River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge LOS PINOS RIVER NEAR IGNACIO, CO. Water type is our own classification.
Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky
No water temperature here.
At LOS PINOS RIVER NEAR IGNACIO, CO (USGS 09353800) Provisional USGS data
USGS 09353800
What the agencies suggest
During periods of high water, fish move towards the banks to find calmer water and lower velocitiesPennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the streambed is not visiblePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
If stream conditions are not favorable, consider fishing at a lakePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 3:45 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Highest for this date on record for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 167 readings from Oct 29, 5:15 PM MDT to Nov 5, 3:45 PM MST; ranging 1,420 to 3,490 ft³/s; latest 2,050 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 3:45 PM MST | 2,050 | 5.03 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 PM MST | 2,030 | 5.01 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 PM MST | 2,020 | 5 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM MST | 2,010 | 4.99 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM MST | 2,020 | 5 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM MST | 2,020 | 5 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM MST | 2,000 | 4.98 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM MST | 2,020 | 5 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM MST | 2,040 | 5.02 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM MST | 2,050 | 5.03 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM MST | 2,060 | 5.05 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM MST | 2,040 | 5.02 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM MST | 2,060 | 5.05 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM MST | 2,050 | 5.03 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM MST | 2,040 | 5.02 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM MST | 2,070 | 5.06 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM MST | 2,050 | 5.04 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM MST | 2,090 | 5.08 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM MST | 2,080 | 5.07 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM MST | 2,100 | 5.09 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM MST | 2,120 | 5.11 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM MST | 2,130 | 5.12 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM MST | 2,120 | 5.11 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM MST | 2,140 | 5.13 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM MST | 2,100 | 5.09 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM MST | 2,130 | 5.12 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM MST | 2,110 | 5.1 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM MST | 2,120 | 5.11 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM MST | 2,100 | 5.09 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM MST | 2,130 | 5.12 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM MST | 2,140 | 5.13 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM MST | 2,160 | 5.15 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM MST | 2,140 | 5.13 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM MST | 2,120 | 5.11 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM MST | 2,130 | 5.12 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM MST | 2,130 | 5.12 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM MST | 2,060 | 5.05 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM MST | 2,080 | 5.07 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM MST | 2,080 | 5.07 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM MST | 2,160 | 5.15 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM MST | 2,130 | 5.12 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM MST | 2,170 | 5.16 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM MST | 2,170 | 5.16 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM MST | 2,190 | 5.19 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM MST | 2,200 | 5.2 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM MST | 2,290 | 5.29 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM MST | 2,300 | 5.3 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM MST | 2,290 | 5.29 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM MST | 2,280 | 5.28 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM MST | 2,300 | 5.3 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM MST | 2,370 | 5.37 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM MST | 2,420 | 5.42 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM MST | 2,430 | 5.43 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM MST | 2,440 | 5.44 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM MST | 2,410 | 5.41 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM MST | 2,340 | 5.34 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM MST | 2,410 | 5.41 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM MST | 2,420 | 5.42 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM MST | 2,580 | 5.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM MST | 2,660 | 5.71 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM MST | 2,650 | 5.7 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM MST | 2,610 | 5.64 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM MST | 2,580 | 5.61 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM MST | 2,630 | 5.67 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM MST | 2,640 | 5.69 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM MST | 2,640 | 5.68 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM MST | 2,710 | 5.77 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM MST | 2,720 | 5.79 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM MST | 2,730 | 5.8 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM MST | 2,870 | 5.97 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM MST | 2,910 | 6.02 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM MST | 2,960 | 6.09 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM MST | 2,940 | 6.06 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM MST | 2,880 | 5.99 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM MST | 2,880 | 5.99 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM MST | 2,950 | 6.08 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM MST | 2,940 | 6.06 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM MST | 3,000 | 6.14 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM MST | 3,070 | 6.22 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM MST | 3,080 | 6.23 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM MST | 3,380 | 6.66 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM MST | 3,260 | 6.61 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM MST | 3,380 | 6.93 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM MST | 3,400 | 6.87 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM MST | 3,490 | – |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM MST | 3,160 | – |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM MST | 3,080 | – |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM MST | 2,730 | – |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM MST | 2,350 | – |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM MST | 2,070 | – |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM MST | 1,910 | – |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM MST | 1,750 | – |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM MST | 1,690 | – |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM MST | 1,630 | – |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM MST | 1,590 | – |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM MST | 1,550 | – |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM MST | 1,540 | – |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM MST | 1,530 | – |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM MST | 1,480 | – |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM MST | 1,460 | – |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM MST | 1,430 | – |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM MST | 1,440 | – |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MST | 1,420 | – |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MDT | 1,450 | – |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM MDT | 1,520 | – |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM MDT | 1,560 | – |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM MDT | 1,590 | – |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM MDT | 1,580 | – |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM MDT | 1,630 | – |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM MDT | 1,660 | – |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM MDT | 1,670 | – |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM MDT | 1,720 | – |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM MDT | 1,820 | – |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM MDT | 1,940 | – |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM MDT | 1,940 | – |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM MDT | 2,040 | – |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM MDT | 2,090 | – |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM MDT | 2,100 | – |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM MDT | 2,090 | – |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM MDT | 2,100 | – |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM MDT | 2,130 | – |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM MDT | 2,160 | – |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM MDT | 2,160 | – |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM MDT | 2,130 | – |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM MDT | 2,090 | – |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM MDT | 2,090 | – |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM MDT | 2,120 | – |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM MDT | 2,090 | – |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM MDT | 2,060 | – |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM MDT | 2,010 | – |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM MDT | 2,030 | – |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM MDT | 1,960 | – |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM MDT | 2,010 | – |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM MDT | 2,030 | – |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM MDT | 2,010 | – |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM MDT | 1,990 | – |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM MDT | 1,960 | – |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM MDT | 1,950 | – |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM MDT | 1,950 | – |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM MDT | 1,920 | – |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM MDT | 1,940 | – |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM MDT | 1,910 | – |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM MDT | 1,900 | – |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM MDT | 1,920 | – |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM MDT | 1,920 | – |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM MDT | 1,910 | – |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM MDT | 1,930 | – |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM MDT | 1,930 | – |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM MDT | 1,920 | – |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM MDT | 1,920 | – |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM MDT | 1,890 | – |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM MDT | 1,870 | – |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM MDT | 1,850 | – |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM MDT | 1,850 | – |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM MDT | 1,830 | – |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM MDT | 1,840 | – |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM MDT | 1,840 | – |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM MDT | 1,820 | – |
| Oct 29, 6:15 PM MDT | 1,820 | – |
| Oct 29, 5:15 PM MDT | 1,840 | 5.82 |
Normal for Nov 5: 9.14–32 ft³/s (middle half of 27 years of record). Now: 2,050 ft³/s, highest for this date on record.
Highest for this date on record for this date. 2,050 ft³/s is above the highest daily mean recorded on this date of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 27 years of record: 10th 7.06, 25th 9.14, median 25.7, 75th 32, 90th 115 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 3.91 ft³/s, highest 702 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−1.9% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Colorado Parks and Wildlife uses are 71°F.
This gauge is on our page for Los Pinos River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Flow above the record for this date. Higher than any daily mean USGS has recorded on this date at this gauge. Expect much higher, faster water than usual for the season.
hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) Statistics documentation (percentiles of daily mean discharge) (U.S. Geological Survey)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:06 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Gold Medal WaterThe Animas River from Santa Rita Park, Durango, Colorado. Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Vallecito ReservoirNavajo Lake from Navajo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Vallecito Reservoir.
Colorado · about 16 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Vallecito CreekThe Piedra River in Hinsdale County, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Vallecito Creek.
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Hermosa CreekThe Gunnison River at the North Fork confluence, Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hermosa Creek.
Colorado · about 23 mi
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Martin LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Martin Lake.
Colorado · about 29 mi
Special-regulation trout waterSan Juan River in New Mexico · not this reachThe San Juan River between Navajo Dam and the community of Navajo Dam, New Mexico. Photo: Phil Slattery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not this reach.
Durango, Colorado
River cabins · 14 mi
