2nd Annual Vermejo Park Flyathlon

The Vermejo Park Flyathlon features native trout fishing in one of the most spectacular settings in the Southwest, the Vermejo Park Ranch!

This incredible race will take place on the Vermejo Park Ranch in the Rio Costilla drainage, home to a fishery that is 100% native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Over the last decade, Ted Turner's biologists have systematically remove all the introduced brown, brook and rainbow trout – non-native species that were responsible for the cutthroat’s disappearance. All together, more than a dozen miles of the Rio Costilla waterway has been rehabilitated and repopulated with native genetically pure Rio Grande cutthroats. And thanks to the good people at the Vermejo Park Ranch, you have this incredible opportunity to run/fish here!

The start / finish area will be in a meadow just upstream of Costilla Reservoir and the short course will run up Rio Costilla, over to Casias Creek (Checkpoint 1), down Casias Creek and up to the Seven Lakes area (Checkpoint 2), followed by a return to Casias Creek and eventually to the meadow. Total short course mileage is about 9 miles with approximately 1000 feet of cumulative elevation gain. We are working on a long course as well, which will add more miles and additional fishing opportunities in incredibly beautiful places! Along the way, you will have the opportunity to fish for the native Rio Grande cutthroat trout in all of these waters, a rare treat indeed!

The Flyathlon race will take place on Saturday AM, but we strongly encourage you to come and stay all weekend! Camping will be available beginning Thursday evening through Sunday AM, and if you want to take advantage of the opportunity, we will have limited discounted access to stay at the incredible Costilla Lodge!

Importantly, this event is a fundraiser benefiting New Mexico's state fish, the Rio Grande cutthroat trout. If you sign up, please plan to fundraise and/or commit to doing some native fish volunteer work this summer!