Deckers, Colorado

Deckers is a tiny village surrounded by thick forest and rolling hills, known for its world-class fly-fishing. There are only a few shops in town, a general store, and a fly shop. Most of the tourists are in town to catch fish. It’s located about an hour and a half southwest of Denver.

South Platte River offers a twenty-mile stretch of easy access points for fishing near this Douglas County town. You can definitely haul in some fat rainbow and brown trout here. Deckers sits at an elevation of 6,398′, and as of 2020 was counted in the Sedalia census population of 103.

History

Deckers CO Plaza — Strip plaza is Deckers, aka downtown.

Stephen Decker was one of the first people to officially plant himself in the area of Deckers. He originally constructed a general store in the late 1800s, taking advantage of the great land next to the South Platte River. Decker began to refer to the small settlement as Daffodil, and eventually also opened a saloon.

Deckers didn’t grow rapidly in population but became a very popular spot to fly-fish on the river. Stephen Decker took advantage of this fact as well as the proximity of the town to natural springs to create another business venture. He opened Deckers Mineral Springs and Resort to accommodate travelers through town.

Main Attractions

South Platte River Tubing Deckers Colorado — Stretch of the South Platte River and a big ass rock near Deckers.

South Platte River – The stretch of river near Deckers is a world-class fishing spot. You can follow it southwest to Cheesman Lake, not far from town, for additional fishing opportunities. In addition to fly fishermen using the river year-round, each summer you’ll find tubers floating the South Platte.

Recreation

Forest and rock in background — View of Pike National Forest from the South Platte River, near Deckers, CO. Photo by: Heath Alsieke

Camping –

There are several Pike National Forest campgrounds along CO-67 both south and north of town. There is also some limited free primitive camping within the forest around town, however it’s a bit tricky to find.
Read about camping near Deckers and Sedalia.

Fishing –

South Platte River runs past town and has excellent trout waters. It’s especially popular for fly fishing, though you’ll find sections open to traditional rod bait fishing. The section closest to Deckers permits artificial flies or lures only. Following the river north past Scraggy View Picnic Ground allows bait.
Cheesman Lake is a fifteen-minute drive from town. Take CO-126 from town for 2.7 miles to Wigwam Creek Rd. Make a left and go 3 miles to the lake.

Hiking – Upper Cheesman Canyon trail is a local favorite, totaling 4.1 miles out and back. It offers spectacular views of the surrounding area and great fly fishing when the flow is higher.

Accommodations

Booking.com

While there are no hotel accommodations in Deckers, check out those in Castle Rock or Woodland Park, both under an hour away from town.

Dining

Deckers Colorado Decker's Corner Cafe — Getting lunch at Decker’s Corner. Photo by: Pretty Kate Machine

Decker’s Corner – A one-stop shop perfect for hot espresso, quick meals, ice cream, beer, and wine.

Sprucewood Inn Restaurant – Located twelve miles from town on the way to the plains. It’s a rugged, dirt-biker bar and grill. It has a small menu of burgers, hot dogs, burritos, and green chili.