Big Fish #1819

About Big Fish #1819

The Big Fish Trail begins at the Big Fish Trailhead in the Himes Peak Campground. The trail crosses the White River on a narrow foot bridge, then enters the Flat Tops Wilderness where regulations apply. The trail follows Big Fish Creek .75 miles to Bessie's Falls, then continues another mile to Big Fish Lake. One-half mile beyond Big Fish Lake, the trail starts a twisting, two-mile climb onto the Flat Tops, where it joins Oyster Lake Trail #1825.Print a trail description and map (.pdf)

How to Get There

The Big Fish Trail begins 46 miles east of Meeker at the Himes Peak Campground.From Meeker, CO take Colorado Highway 13 east for 1 mile, then turn right (east) on Rio Blanco County Road 8 and follow this for 39 miles. Turn south on Trappers Lake Road #205, and continue 6 miles to the Himes Peak Campground. The Big Fish Trailhead is on the left as you enter the campground.

Plan Your Visit to Big Fish #1819

Heading to Big Fish #1819? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)