River Guide
Cheesman Canyon
South Platte — Cheesman Reservoir to Wigwam Club
Difficulty: difficult Best: spring, summer, fall USGS: 06701900
Cheesman is the proving ground of the South Platte. Big wild rainbows and browns hold in clear, low-gradient pools and you can usually see the fish you’re trying to fool. The hike in keeps casual anglers out and the water keeps technical anglers honest — small flies, fluorocarbon tippet down to 6X, dead drifts that mean it.
Best access via the Gill Trail off County Road 211.
Access
- Gill Trail (3.5 mi each way, moderate climb)
- Wigwam Trail from below