Colorado Rainbow and Brown Trout
Fresh-caught trout from Colorado's mountain rivers and high-country lakes, prepared simply with lemon, butter, and herbs.
Region
Mountain towns statewide; especially around the Arkansas River (Buena Vista/Salida), South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman), Gunnison Valley, and the San Juan Mountains.
Spice Level
🌶️ (1/5)
Diet
Non-vegetarian
Where to Try
Historic dining rooms in Estes Park, Durant Street eateries in Manitou Springs, river-front restaurants in Salida, and lodges in the San Juans.
Colorado's rivers and alpine lakes are home to robust populations of rainbow, brown, brook, and cutthroat trout. The state's cold, clean waters — from the South Platte and Arkansas to the Fryingpan and the Gunnison — produce excellent fish, and trout is a staple of mountain-town menus across the state. Preparation is typically simple: pan-seared or grilled with butter, lemon, capers, and fresh herbs. The state fish is the greenback cutthroat trout, a native species once thought extinct that has been reintroduced to protected waters. Fly fishing is as much a part of the state's identity as hiking and skiing.