Tomichi Creek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tomichi Creek[1]
Tomichi Creek at I Bar Ranch.JPG
Bridge over Tomichi Creek on the I Bar Ranch property
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates38°36′06″N 106°23′02″W / 38.60167°N 106.38389°W / 38.60167; -106.38389
Mouth 
 • location
Confluence with Gunnison River
 • coordinates
38°31′03″N 106°58′08″W / 38.51750°N 106.96889°W / 38.51750; -106.96889Coordinates: 38°31′03″N 106°58′08″W / 38.51750°N 106.96889°W / 38.51750; -106.96889
 • elevation
7,618 ft (2,322 m)
Basin features
ProgressionGunnison—Colorado

Tomichi Creek[3] is a 71.8-mile-long (115.6 km)[4] tributary of the Gunnison River in Gunnison County, Colorado. Tomichi Creek originates[5] north and west of Monarch Pass and flows to the southwest along the base of Monarch Mountain. drains into Tomichi west of Old Monarch Pass where it flows south toward Sargents. flows into Tomichi just north of Sargents where flows from Marshall Pass. Just below Sargents, , flowing out of from the south, enters Tomichi Creek which takes a westward course where drains into Tomichi east of Doyleville. Hot Springs Reservoir drains down flowing into Tomichi Creek just west of Doyleville. The is a semi-wide valley allowing Tomichi Creek to meander and split into several waterways creating an excellent livestock range and being largely private ranch lands. At Parlin, Quartz Creek flows from Pitkin and Ohio into Tomichi Creek. Tomichi continues its westward journey, slightly northwest, where the Cochetopa Creek[6] drains into Tomichi at State Highway 114 from the south at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and continues west to Gunnison where it enters the Gunnison River. A map can be viewed at the BLM Colorado website here.

Public access[]

Sign at parking lot to Tomichi Creek State Wildlife Area

Tomichi Creek State Wildlife Area[]

Tomichi Creek State Wildlife Area is a gated public access with parking located at the east end of the runway at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. This area provides fishing on private lands without required permission. Access to hiking W Mountain is also provided.

Sargents[]

Tomichi flows through private property with a one-mile stretch of public access just off US 50 below Sargents at the narrow part of the canyon. , upstream nearly two miles toward , offers another public access to Tomichi Creek. There are certain sections of Marshall Pass Road that takes off from US 50 at Sargents which offers public fishing areas and access to Needle Creek Reservoir and takes off from US 50 near Doyleville onto . There are several picnic areas with parking on the Cochetopa Creek along State Hwy 114 around mile mark 12 and 5 miles upstream. Beyond that signs designate state stocked waters and requires permission to fish. In late summer the creek yields rainbow and brown trout.

Coleman easement[]

Near the summit of State Hwy 114 a sign reads National Forest Access - Old Agency, turning south on this gravel road accesses Cochetopa Creek and the middle of the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Coleman Easement, approximately five miles of Cochetopa Creek, two miles of and one-half mile of lower are open to the public, yet are private lands which should be respected. These streams have produced wild trout for the avid angler.[7] Located below , Coleman Easement is accessible by automobile and other vehicles and designated as Wild Trout water by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Rainbow trout up to 15 inches are angled by small stream tactics using dry flies. Spinners and heavy nymphs may work during high water but are troubled by the streambed vegetation. Stocked rainbows found in the private stretches require permission to fish.[8]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Tomichi Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  2. ^ Benson, Maxine (1994). 1001 Colorado Place Names. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 0-7006-0632-7.
  3. ^ Pronounced /toʊˈmiːtʃiː/ (About this soundlisten).[2]
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 18, 2011
  5. ^ This data derived from Tomichi & Cochetopa Drainages - BLM Colorado retrieved July 18, 2012
  6. ^ See article at Cochetopa Hills
  7. ^ Tomichi and Cochetopa Drainages - BLM Colorado
  8. ^ Ron Baird, Fishing Colorado, 2nd: An Angler's Complete Guide... Google Books
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