Aspen Ridge Cabins

07/16/2026

07/13/2026

🎣 South Fork & Rio Grande River Fishing Update
The waters on the Rio Grande and the South Fork are looking beautiful right now, but summer conditions mean we have to be smart anglers to keep our wild trout populations healthy and thriving.
🛑 CRITICAL WATER TEMP ALERT: 65°F is the Limit 🛑
As the summer heat rolls in, keeping an eye on water temperatures is priority number one. Please do not fish if the water temperature hits 65°F or higher. As water warms up, it holds significantly less dissolved oxygen. Fighting a trout in water warmer than 65°F pushes the fish into extreme metabolic distress, and even if they swim away, the delayed mortality rate is incredibly high. Carry a pocket thermometer, test the water frequently, and get your fishing done in the cool morning hours. If the temps creep up by midday, give the trout a break and head in for lunch!
🤝 Keep 'Em Wet: Best Practices for Handling TroutWhen you do land a fish in these warmer summer months, let's make sure they make a full recovery! Wet your hands first: Never handle a trout with dry hands. It strips away their protective slime coat, leaving them vulnerable to fatal infections and fungi.
💥Keep them in the water: Try to unhook the fish while it's still submerged in your net. Use barbless hooks: Ditch the barbs to ensure a quick, stress-free release.
💥Revive them gently: Hold the fish facing into the current in calm water until it actively swims out of your hand. Never pump it back and forth.
Tight lines, stay cool, and let’s protect this incredible fishery! 🏔️🎣

07/02/2026

Just a heads up friends when planning all your stops!

06/30/2026

🔥 Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are now in effect across Rio Grande County. 🔥

If you own a short-term rental, host visitors, or have family coming in for the 4th, this one’s important: please make sure your guests know the rules before they arrive.

Most visitors have no idea how dry it really is here right now, and a habit that’s harmless back home can start a wildfire in these conditions. A quick heads up from you makes a real difference.

Save this graphic, text it to your guests, post it in your rental, and share it with anyone headed our way. If you want a copy emailed, send an email to [email protected] and we’re glad to send it.

A few minutes of sharing helps keep our whole community safe this summer. Thank you for doing your part.

06/29/2026

06/24/2026

🎣 RIO GRANDE FISHING UPDATE:
🌊We are checking the live gauges on the Gold Medal waters down to Hanna Lane. If you are planning to hit the water, here is your real-time snapshot of how the river is looking.
📉 Today's Flow: ~282 CFS & clear!
🚣‍♂️ Float vs. Wade: With flows officially dropping below 300 CFS today, the drift-boat season is quickly coming to a halt. But for walk-and-wade anglers, it is prime! These low water levels have completely exposed massive gravel bars, concentrating the fish out of the main torrents and into textbook, scannable structures, deep rock pools, eddy seams, and undercut banks. Safe river crossings mean you can position yourself perfectly to target those giant Rio browns.
🌡️ Water Temps: Morning water temps have been starting in a comfortable 54°F–58°F range, but under the intense high-altitude afternoon sun, peaks are aggressively climbing up to 64°F–66°F.
🛑 CRITICAL RULE: Keep a stream thermometer handy today. Once that water hits 67°F, it is time to reel up.
🚫 Keep 'Em Wet!Trout are cold-water creatures that rely on high dissolved oxygen levels to survive. As the water warms past 67°F, it loses its oxygen capacity. Fighting a fish in these conditions causes a massive, dangerous buildup of lactic acid in their muscles. Taking them out of the water for a quick picture while they are thermally stressed can cause delayed mortality, meaning they might swim away out of your hands, but they won't survive the night.
Fish hard, stay safe, and fish responsibly!

06/23/2026

This year's July 3rd fireworks display has been cancelled due to current drought conditions across our region.

We know this news is disappointing for some, and trust us, nobody wishes we could light up that sky more than we do. But our job is to protect this community, and right now, the conditions simply do not allow us to put on the show safely. One spark in the wrong place changes everything, and we are not willing to take that risk.

The good news: every other South Fork festivity is still happening. The Catfish Fry, the auction, the vendors, the rodeo, all of it is still on. Bring your family, bring your friends, and come out and make a great day of it with us.

Thanks for understanding and for helping us keep this place safe.

Want to know more about our fundraiser? Comment FISH FRY and we will send you the details!!