4UR Ranch 

Rockies

There are places on earth that can stun even the most jaded of travelers. 4UR Ranch is one such place. Its centerpiece is Goose Creek, with over seven miles of private stream that brims with willing trout. Add to that sporting clays, trap, hiking, trail rides, majestic vistas from almost anywhere on the ranch property, mineral hot springs, and superb dining, and you will quickly understand why families from around the nation return here year after year, generation after generation.
4UR’s waters are divided into 20 “stations,” or beats. Within these stations are excellent populations of brown, rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. Water types range from gentle riffles to mountainous pocket water.
The ranch boasts an exceptional kids’ program that covers all ages and countless activities such as horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing lessons, and group games. For the riders, 4UR’s horses are savvy mountain trail horses, sure-footed and well mannered. Trails snake up into the mountains in almost every direction from the ranch. There are short and easy rides, all day rides, and everything in between. Lodging at 4UR Ranch is divided among a variety of structures, each named for a famous, historic local silver mine. Rooms are both tasteful and comfortable with private baths and daily service. Unique among Fly Water’s destinations, 4UR is truly the ultimate family retreat for anglers and non-anglers alike.

Location:
4UR Ranch is located in southwestern Colorado, outside the town of Creede.

Fishing Program:
4UR offers its guests over 7 miles of private water on Goose Creek as well as owning a mile on the Rio Grande River and access to two lakes. 4UR’s waters are divided into 23 “beats", which include Walton and Soda Creek Pond. This includes upper Goose and their new Walton Creek. This new creek is a new small tributary of Goose Creek.

Each evening as dinner winds down, Aaron Christensen, ranch manager and fly fishing guide, escorts a shake bottle from table to table for the evening lottery. The winner chooses the 1/3 mile beat they would prefer to fly fish the next morning. Other anglers follow until the lowest lottery draw selects. In the afternoon, the order is reversed. This assures every angler will get a chance to fly fish alone on prime water almost every day. Fifteen "stations" are marked off along Goose Creek as it twists and turns its way through the valley, four stations are on the famous Rio Grande River and "Beat 20" is high in the Weminuche Wilderness. Goose Creek holds generous numbers of rainbows, browns, Snake River cutts, cutt-bow hybrids plus brookies in its higher reaches. You can also take a day trip above timberine to Lost Lakes, which provides stillwater fly fishing for native cutthroat trout. Ranch waters are catch and release, fly-fishing only, except Walton Pond, which also happens to be great fun for kids. Bring your dry fly rod. You can use it here every month of the season.

Goose Creek is small semi-high elevation (about 7,000-7,500 feet in elevation) water and changes greatly throughout the property. Much of the system is grass banked in an open valley with riffles, runs and occasional cut banks. As you work your way upstream the stream becomes more forested and rocky. Early season fly fishing is best suited to four and five weight rods with later season fishing being better suited to three and four weight rods that can handle light tippets.

When guided, anglers may elect to have their guide carry along a 5-6 wt rod rigged with a streamer to shake up the pool after an initial pass. Large buggers, sculpins, and streamers with a fair amount of white in them seem to work best and can often move dour fish that may have grown bored or wise to more standard dry dropper presentations.

Most visitors at the ranch fish unguided, (having your own vehicle helps greatly) but there are distinct advantages to fishing guided. Guiding can be pre arranged through Fly Water Travel or arranged on-site, however, we encourage you to give the ranch a call prior to your arrival as these activities tend to fill up quickly. Fishing licenses can be purchased through the ranch office.

Non-Angling Activities:
The ranch’s horse program rivals in every way the fly fishing. The horses are savvy mountain trail horses, sure-footed and well-mannered. Trails snake up into the mountains in almost every direction from the ranch. They have short easy rides, long all-day rides and everything in between. Explore the surrounding National Forest. Climb up draws to incredible vistas. Amble through aspen and pine woods, and cross high meadows overrun with wildflowers. Odds are fair you may catch sight of a herd of elk and, if you're really lucky, possibly one of the resident moose.

4UR also offers plenty of diversions besides trail riding. Shoot trap or sporting clays. Swim. Hike. Mountain bike. Jog. Take a quick shopping trip into nearby Creede, one of the very last boom towns that sprung up in Colorado. You can mine this charming town's shops for locally crafted art, jewelry and other goods. Or catch a play or musical at the renowned Creede Repertory Theatre. Plus, guests enjoy membership privileges at the Rio Grande Club, an exclusive golf facility in nearby South Fork. Possibly the favorite "activity" at the 4UR is the decidedly "non" activity of soaking in the famed hot spring spa or taking a swim in the heated pool! As far back as the turn of the century, people were riding the railroad to this haven of sublime soaking. Word then was that a little time in the hot springs could cure anyone of nearly anything. Today, most people have more realistic goals: profound relaxation and a markedly mellow outlook on the rest of the day. Still, need some kinks worked out? Schedule a massage with Suzanne, who many returning guests believe has the most miraculous hands west of the Mississippi.

Kids Program
It is for ages 5 and up. Kids 9-12 and 2-5 qualify for activities, a lot of riding, fishing, swimming and hiking. The adults can eat meals with their children. There is an evening hayride cookout and overnight sleepover with movies, games and popcorn. This program is optional and totally family friendly.

We recommend that you may want to book ahead for activities such as fishing lessons/guides, Lost Lakes trip and massages.

Accommodations and Meals:
The main lodge of the 4UR Ranch will greet you each morning with a blazing fire. Just off the main great room is an inviting bar, as well as a game room, both with inspiring views up the valley. Lodging at the 4UR Ranch is divided amongst several unique structures on the property. Each lodging option is named after one of the famous local mines that spurred one of the last great silver mining rushes in Western history in nearby Creede, Colorado. Each day, early morning coffee is delivered to each cabin as well as in the afternoon a bucket of ice is prepared and left by your door so you can while away the late afternoon with a cool beverage until the dinner bell rings. Rooms on the ranch property are spacious and inviting. You'll have plenty of space in your closet and lots of leg room on your porch. Showers are hot and water pressure is strong.

Check-in time: 3:00PM
Check-out time: 10:00AM

Note: In an effort to protect the environment and conserve water the ranch will no longer be offering complimentary bottled water. If you would like to bring your own cases of water, please feel free. There is a Wal-Mart in Alamosa and local markets in Creede and South Fork. There is nothing quite as refreshing as fresh mountain water and the ranch is blessed to have it in abundance. There will also be a new selection of sport water bottles for sale in the store.

4 UR has a small store stocked with all kinds of souvenir items, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, fleece, caps, men’s and women’s clothing, mugs and water bottles, jewelry, scrapbooks and fishing supplies. There are also “just in case” items, like toothbrushes and other toiletries.

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart home. Arrive Denver and drive to 4UR.
Days 2 – 7: Full days of guided fishing
Day 8: Depart lodge.

Typical Daily Schedule
7:30AM– 9:00AM Breakfast
9:00AM – 12:30PM Morning activities
12:30PM – 2:00PM Lunch at the lodge
2:00PM – 6:00PM Afternoon activities
6:30PM – 8:00PM Dinner at the lodge

“As difficult as it may be to believe, 4UR just keeps getting better... Stream enhancement efforts have resulted in dramatic and very natural improvements of already excellent fish habitat. Wild brown trout now make up the majority of the fish caught with average size being a chunky 14 to 15 inches. I also caught a number of will cutts and cutt hybrids. Largest cut-bow taped out at a fat 21". People, food, horses, and weather were all fantastic!” D. W., CA

4UR Slide Show

Complete Trip Details