Colorado field viewing guide
Cutthroat Trout in Colorado — where & when to see them by RV
Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias
Once thought extinct, now reintroduced into a few cold mountain streams.
3peak months
3prime spots
Natural history
About the Cutthroat Trout
Cutthroat trout feed on aquatic insects and spawn in spring over clean gravel nests called redds. They inhabit clear, cold streams and require well-oxygenated water.
Where to look
Conservation status
See the Cutthroat Trout up close
When to watch
The best months to see the cutthroat trout
Wildlife runs on a calendar. Here is the window when sightings peak in Colorado — plan your trip around the lit months, then check the local refuge or park report before you go.
Best months
Jun · Jul · Aug
Best viewed in summer after runoff; check the latest Colorado Parks and Wildlife report for stocking and seasonal access.
Plan the trip
Base your Colorado RV trip
Good to know
Common questions
Where can I see greenback cutthroat trout in Colorado?
Greenback cutthroat trout are found in several restored streams, notably Clear Creek, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the South Platte River.
What makes the greenback cutthroat trout special?
It is Colorado's state fish and the rarest of the cutthroat trout subspecies, once thought extinct but now recovering through conservation.
Make it a trip
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