Fish

Fish species known to be native to the area that became Rocky Mountain National Park are trout, suckers and sculpins.

Due to the presence of many natural fish barriers, like waterfalls and cascades, most of these fish could not naturally migrate upstream. They were found in the park's lower elevation rivers, lakes and streams. The two native cutthroat trout species that call the waters of RMNP home are Greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) and Colorado River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus).

Beginning in 1886 through 1968, fish stocking of mostly non-native species of fish, like brook trout, into waters that were historically fishless has had a significant impact on native fish species. For the protection of native Greenback cutthroat trout, the Poudre Headwaters Project is currently underway to help restore this native fish.

History of Fisheries in Rocky Mountain National Park

Fish stocking in the area that became Rocky Mountain National Park began in 1886 and continued with the State of Colorado stocking tens of thousands of fish on an annual basis. In the early 1900's, fish hatcheries were constructed in the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. These hatcheries produced hundreds of thousands of fish annually. The majority of these fish were non-native trout species which were stocked into historically fishless waters.

This extensive stocking of fish for recreational fishing altered aquatic landscapes and nearly extirpated native species.

The first formal guidance on management of fish resources provided by the National Park Service came in 1936 and encouraged the stocking of native fish, discouraged stocking non-native fish and prohibited stocking of fishless waters. In 1968, fisheries management shifted from an emphasis on recreational fishing to that of the recovery of native fish species. Stocking ceased, but not before over 20 million fish had been stocked into Rocky's waters between 1886 and 1968.

By this time almost all the park's waters were inhabited by non-native fish species. Under the new management policy, 17 native trout reclamation projects have been conducted thus far.

(Credit: Chris Kennedy / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

What Fish Species Live in Rocky Mountain National Park?

To learn more about the species of fish (and all wildlife) that live in Rocky Mountian National Park, visit the IRMA Portal NPSpecies site.

Interested in Going Fishing?

Visit RMNP's Fishing page for more information on recreational fishing in the park details on fishing regulations.