Gunnison River

Black Canyon

colorado

We can’t wait to get back!

Join us in 2026 for our annual
White Water & Wild Trout Creel Culinary Campout

Fish the gunnison river’s black canyon like no other trip offers!

Join us for another epic trout experience on the West Slope of Colorado. Basecamp for our trip is a sprawling ranch, and a Creel team prepared campground for your overnight IN the canyon! We have teamed up with our friends from Gunnison River Expeditions again to offer a truly one of a kind Creel experience. 4 nights of lodge based accommodations are paired up with 1 overnight campout under the stars- which means TWO private Creel chefs for this trip. Add to that 4 days of guided fishing with our Colorado partner team of guides based at GRE, and you have a truly unforgettable trip in store. The Creel Crew will be at your service every step of the way!

Fly into Montrose and enter our awaiting shuttles. Our first stop is for a private tour at a local distillery or brewery for drinks and a private tour. Belly up to the bar for a taste of the finest small batch distilled spirits in the West. Grab a bottle or case for your stay, the perfect campout refreshment. From there we head to the lodge, about 45 minutes from the town of Montrose, located in Hotchkiss.

Our Colorado program provides anglers with the ultimate Creel experience: combining comfort and delicious meals featuring locally sourced ingredients with expert guided fishing during the peak of the fishing season while avoiding the big crowds. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind epic, intimate adventure.

Settle in at the lodge, enjoy dinner as a group and get ready for the week ahead! Hoppers, streamers and…..Hungry trout await!!

The following morning the group of 8 anglers will be split into two: 4 anglers will head into the Black Canyon for an overnight campout & 2-day float, while the other 4 anglers enjoy 2 daytime floats. Then after day 3 of the trip, the groups swap.

THE DAY FLOAT PROGRAM

This program starts with a unique approach. GRE is the only outfitter with permits to run jet boats in the national park. They will run the drift boats up to the mouth of Smith Fork Creek. From Pleasure Park, our guides will then run our 4 anglers up to the waiting drift boats and set off on the 4 mile float back to the park. This stretch is “blue ribbon trophy trout water”.

For the second float day, you will launch from Pleasure Park and float down below the North Fork. This water has a lot of cut banks where the hopper fishing can be absolutely incredible. By the end of the trip, you will have floated the majority of the best water on the Gunnison.

THE CAMPOUT FLOAT PROGRAM

Our campsite is packed by the crew before you even arrive in Colorado. Hard working horses carry the campsite gear and our boats down Chukar Trail for the canyon float. On your campout day, we first stop at Pleasure Park to load up any personal gear you’ve brought into dry bags. We then head to Chukar Trailhead and carry our fishing and personal gear packs downhill about 1.2 miles into the canyon where the horses have treked down with our boats and packed up campsite.

Our guides get to work, unpacking and then loading the boats with all our gear, and then- our float begins! Your Creel Chef takes the campout gear boat ahead to our overnight site to set up camp. Meanwhile, you will soak in the spectacular scenery as you fish your way through the canyon for the rest of the day, landing at our Creel Campsite to settle in, just in time for campside appetizers and dinner to be served up. You’ve never experienced a camping meal quite like what your on-site private Creel Chef will provide. Spend the night under the stars and float out the next day.

THE ULTIMATE CREEL EXPERIENCE

After the second “fishing day” of the trip, everyone will swap stories over a family-style dinner back at the lodge. Now the groups will switch! Everyone will fish 2 days in the Black Canyon, and 2 days from the Pleasure Park access. This program allows you to see and fish the most water possible!

You will be chasing browns and rainbows, throwing primarily hoppers, dries and streamers. Be prepared for some epic topwater eats! All of the grabs are super visual and will keep you casting long after your arm gets tired….

Fish…. Eat…. Sleep…. Repeat!

Typical pleasure park float days:

5:00 am- Start off the day with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

5:30 am- Ranch-style breakfast spread is up! Get after it!

6:30 am- Chef has lunches packed, top off your Yeti lunch bag with snacks and drinks for the day, grab your gear and load into our shuttles for the scenic sunrise ride to the boat ramp.

6:45 am- We meet our guide team at the launch, rig up rods and head out just as the sun begins to slip into the canyon- so the trout will be hungry!

3:00pm- Back at the boat ramp, shuttles are waiting to get you back to the lodge. Once back you have a little R&R time before dinner.

5:00pm- Appetizers are up, make yourself a cocktail to enjoy.

5:30pm- Dinner is served family-style.

7:00pm- Pour a nightcap, hang out and get ready for the next day… the morning comes early!

The Delta Valley is fertile land with a large community of farmers, ready to supply our team with organic goods, from cattle to apples and everything between. Expect high quality family-style meals with a country Creel feel.

The Creel Crew has spent years sourcing ingredients from the area, and there is no shortage of quality items to choose from. Each year we seek out the freshest local produce and proteins, and with TWO on-site Creel Chefs serving up your meals on this trip, the hospitality is top-notch.

Wait until you see what a Creel Chef can create using a couple Yeti coolers, a campfire and a camping stove!

included:

5 nights of Accommodations (One overnight in the Black Canyon with a Creel Chef)
4 days of guided fishing
Terminal tackle (rods and reels provided by guides if needed)
All meals prepared by your TWO private on-site creel chefs
Airport & daily fishing Shuttles
Campground brought in, set up and taken down by the crew
Camping gear*
Jetboat & driftboat trip up river
driftboat trip down river

not Included:

Travel expenses
Booze
Colorado Fishing License
Gratuity
*We can provide you with a cot, sleeping bag and pad while on the campout, or you are welcome to bring your own, or we can assist you with getting the proper gear sent directly to the lodge. If you choose to bring your own sleeping gear, you will need to carry it when hiking down Chukar Trail for the canyon float. If using what can beprovided by our partners, it will be packed in and brought down by horse.