Alberta

Upper Oldman River

Alberta·Southwest Alberta·49.90° N, 114.39° W

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About Upper Oldman River

This page covers the Oldman River from Oldman River Falls in its headwaters down to the Oldman Reservoir. The river below the Oldman Dam, near Pincher Creek and Brocket, is a different fishery with its own page, the Oldman River. Up top the Oldman is a small, clear mountain stream along the gravel Oldman River Road and the Forestry Trunk Road (Highway 940). The Livingstone joins at the Oldman River North campground, and about 10 km of river below that the Oldman cuts east through the Livingstone Range at the Gap. From there it runs through foothill ranch country past Maycroft on Highway 22 to the head of the reservoir. Westslope cutthroat give way to rainbows and cutbows as you go down. Alberta's recovery plan says pure cutthroat now live only in the headwaters, and the mainstem below the mountain front holds heavily hybridized fish. Bull trout and mountain whitefish are found all the way down.

Above Highway 22 the river is closed November 1 to June 15, and runoff usually keeps it high and brown into early July. The only live gauge sits at the Range Road 13A bridge, about 12 km of river below Maycroft and far below the mountain water, so read it for the trend. Above about 25 m³/s (880 cfs) the river is in runoff. It clears on the drop through about 12 m³/s (425 cfs), usually in July. From mid-July into September, 4 to 12 m³/s (140 to 425 cfs) is the wading window, and you can cross at most tailouts above the Gap. Under about 4 m³/s (140 cfs) in late summer the fish get spooky, so fish early and go small. Expect golden stones in late June and July, green drakes and PMDs in July, yellow sallies and evening caddis through the summer, hoppers from August, and blue-winged olives in fall. A stimulator or a foam stonefly with a nymph dropper is the default up top.

Plan for three things. Above Highway 22 every trout goes back, and whitefish too after August 31. Below Highway 22 the river opens April 1 for catch and release, and from June 16 to August 31 you may keep 2 trout over 35 cm. Second, the mountain water is public land with campgrounds at Oldman River North, Dutch Creek and Racehorse, but below the Gap the river runs through ranch land: reach it at bridges and road allowances and stay below the high-water mark, or ask the landowner. Third, this is remote gravel-road country with no services between Coleman and Highway 22, and it is bear country, so carry bear spray. In a hot, dry summer Alberta can close every ES1 stream from 2 pm to midnight, the Oldman included, so check the advisories before a July or August trip.

Species

Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Primary (upper river) · Jul-Sep · 10-14", a few to 16"
Native, and listed as Threatened. Pure fish live in the headwaters, and the river above Oldman River Falls is federal critical habitat. Below the Gap most cutthroat are hybrids. Catch and release only.
Cutbow Trout
Common · Jul-Oct · 10-16"
Cutthroat and rainbow hybrids, common from the Livingstone confluence down. They count as trout for the limit.
Rainbow Trout
Common (below the Gap) · Jul-Oct · 10-18"
Introduced. Most common in the foothill water below the Gap. Catch and release above Highway 22. Below it you may keep 2 trout over 35 cm from June 16 to August 31.
Mountain Whitefish
Common · Jun-Oct · 10-16"
Native and found throughout. You may keep 5 over 30 cm above Racehorse Creek until August 31, and below Highway 22 through October. Between Racehorse Creek and Highway 22 the limit is 0.
Bull Trout
Present (protected) · Release only · 16-26"
Native and listed as Threatened. They hold in the deeper pools and show more often late in the season. Zero harvest in Alberta. Keep them in the water and release them quickly.

Species	Abundance	Best Season	Size
Westslope Cutthroat Trout	Primary (upper river)	Jul-Sep	10-14", a few to 16"
Cutbow Trout	Common	Jul-Oct	10-16"
Rainbow Trout	Common (below the Gap)	Jul-Oct	10-18"
Mountain Whitefish	Common	Jun-Oct	10-16"
Bull Trout	Present (protected)	Release only	16-26"

Sections

4 reaches

Oldman River Falls to the Forestry Trunk Road

WadeCutthroat · Bull Trout · Whitefish

The headwater reach, small and clear, along the gravel Oldman River Road from the Forestry Trunk Road west past Honeymoon Creek to Oldman River Falls. It wades easily at summer flows and gives the best chance on this page at westslope cutthroat trout, with bull trout in the deeper pools and mountain whitefish in the runs. Above the falls the river climbs into the Beehive Natural Area, where it is federal critical habitat for pure cutthroat and you reach it only on foot. It is all public land in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone. There is no gauge up here: the Range Road 13A gauge sits about 50 km of river below the bottom of this reach.

Best for: Dry-fly days for westslope cutthroat trout from mid-July into September, on stimulators, drakes and ants.

Forestry Trunk Road to Racehorse Creek

WadeCutthroat · Cutbow · Bull Trout · Rainbow Trout · Whitefish

Bigger water once the Livingstone joins below the Oldman River North campground, with long runs and deep corner pools beside the Forestry Trunk Road. Dutch Creek and Racehorse Creek campgrounds sit along it. Westslope cutthroat trout still carry much of the catch, with more cutbows and rainbow trout than upstream, bull trout in the pools and plenty of mountain whitefish. The reach ends at the Racehorse Creek confluence, just above the Gap, where the rules change: above it you may keep 5 whitefish over 30 cm until August 31.

Best for: Walk-and-wade dry-dropper fishing for westslope cutthroat trout and cutbows, and a streamer for a bull trout in September.

The Gap to Maycroft

Wade & FloatCutthroat · Cutbow · Bull Trout · Rainbow Trout · Whitefish

The river cuts east through the Livingstone Range at the Gap and runs about 25 km through foothill ranch country to the Highway 22 bridge at Maycroft. Rainbow trout and cutbows carry the catch, with fewer cutthroat, some bull trout and mountain whitefish. Every trout and whitefish goes back from June 16 to October 31. A gravel road follows the north side from Maycroft to the Gap, but much of the bank is private ranch land: reach the water at bridges and road allowances and stay below the high-water mark, or ask the landowner. Some guides float parts of the river by raft once it clears in July.

Best for: Rainbow trout and cutbows on hopper-dropper rigs from late July into September, for anglers who sort out access first.

Maycroft to Range Road 13A

Wade & FloatCutthroat · Cutbow · Bull Trout · Rainbow Trout · Whitefish

Open prairie river from the Highway 22 bridge at the Maycroft campground down to the Range Road 13A bridge, where the only live gauge on this page sits. This reach opens April 1 for catch and release, so it is the one place on the upper Oldman to fish before runoff. From June 16 to August 31 you may keep 2 rainbow or cutthroat trout over 35 cm. Rainbow trout, cutbows and mountain whitefish carry the catch, and bull trout show up too. Both banks are private ranch land, so use the bridges and stay below the high-water mark. Below Range Road 13A the river winds about 15 km more through ranch land to the head of the Oldman Reservoir, and below the Secondary Road 510 bridge the reservoir's rules apply.

Best for: April nymphing before runoff, and summer rainbow trout for anglers who want to keep a fish.

At a glance

Ideal wading flow: 4–12 m³/s
Blow-out: >25 m³/s
Ideal water temp: 10–16°C

Best seasons

Read at the Range Road 13A gauge, below Maycroft. It sits below every tributary on this page, so it reads more water than the river above the Gap carries. Runoff usually runs from May into early July, above about 25 m³/s (880 cfs), high and brown. It clears on the drop through about 12 m³/s (425 cfs), usually in July, when the edges fish with golden stones and drakes. About 4 to 12 m³/s (140 to 425 cfs) is the mid-July to September window, clear and crossable at the tailouts above the Gap. Under about 4 m³/s (140 cfs) in late September and October the river runs low and clear, so go small and long. A hard rain on the Livingstone Range can push it back up and muddy it for a few days. Below Highway 22 the river opens April 1, before runoff, for catch-and-release nymphing. Trout feed best at about 10 to 16 °C (50 to 61 °F). The gauge does not report water temperature, so carry a thermometer and stop above 20 °C (68 °F). In winter the station sends water level only.

Regulations

The upper Oldman is in Alberta's ES1 watershed unit, with bait banned on every reach. Above Highway 22 it is open June 16 to October 31 and every trout goes back. From Highway 22 down to Secondary Road 510 at the reservoir it opens April 1, with 2 trout over 35 cm allowed from June 16 to August 31.

Mainstem, headwater down to Racehorse Creek: open June 16 to August 31, bait ban, mountain whitefish 5 over 30 cm, trout 0.
Same reach, September 1 to October 31: bait ban, mountain whitefish 0, trout 0.
Mainstem, Racehorse Creek down to Highway 22: open June 16 to October 31, bait ban, mountain whitefish 0, trout 0.
Mainstem, Highway 22 down to Secondary Road 510: open April 1 to June 15, bait ban, mountain whitefish 0, trout 0.
Same reach, June 16 to August 31: bait ban, mountain whitefish 5 over 30 cm, trout 2, cutthroat and rainbow over 35 cm.
Same reach, September 1 to October 31: bait ban, mountain whitefish 5 over 30 cm, trout 0.
Below Secondary Road 510 the Oldman Reservoir's rules apply.
Tributaries from the headwater down to Secondary Road 510, except the Livingstone River and Hidden Creek: open June 16 to August 31 with mountain whitefish 5 over 30 cm and trout 0, then September 1 to October 31 with mountain whitefish 0 and trout 0. Bait ban.
Bull trout limit 0 everywhere in Alberta.
From July 1 to August 31 the province can close all ES1 rivers and streams from 2 pm to midnight when the water runs warm and low. Check mywildalberta.ca before a summer trip.
You need a WiN number and an Alberta sportfishing licence, sold through AlbertaRELM.

Any period not listed is closed, so the river above Highway 22 is closed November 1 to June 15, and the reach below it is closed November 1 to March 31. Bait ban means unscented lures and flies only. Westslope cutthroat and bull trout are both listed as Threatened, so release them quickly and keep them in the water. The Livingstone River and Hidden Creek have their own rules. Alberta allows travel below the ordinary high-water mark of a river bounded by private land, but you need the landowner's permission to cross private land to reach it.

Source: 2026 Alberta Guide to Sportfishing Regulations (ES1). Regulations change annually. Verify before fishing.

Getting there

Crowsnest Pass (Coleman), AB

About 1 hr from Coleman to the Gap by the Forestry Trunk Road, and about 1 hr 15 min to Oldman River North. From Calgary, about 2 hr 15 min to Maycroft by Highway 22, and about 3 hr to Oldman River North by Highway 22, Highway 532 and the Forestry Trunk Road. Pincher Creek is about 40 min from Maycroft. Calgary International Airport is the nearest major airport.

Fly shops

Bow River TroutfittersCalgary

Camping: Alberta Parks campgrounds sit on or near the river at Oldman River North, Dutch Creek and Racehorse on the Forestry Trunk Road, and at Maycroft on Highway 22. Random camping on public land is allowed with a Public Lands Camping Pass, at least 1 km from a recreation area. Motels are in Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek.

The mountain reach is public land in the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, where off-highway vehicles must stay on designated trails. The Oldman River Road leaves the Forestry Trunk Road near Oldman River North and follows the headwaters west past Honeymoon Creek. A gravel road follows the river west from Maycroft toward the Gap. Below the Gap much of the river runs through private ranch land: reach the water at bridges and road allowances, stay below the high-water mark, and ask before you cross private land. The roads are gravel with no fuel or services. Carry bear spray.

Upper Oldman River

Alberta·Southwest Alberta·49.90° N, 114.39° W

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Fishing: Good
Flow: 3.7m³/s; Steady · normal; Oldman River at Range Road 13A
Water temp: —

Flow

3.7m³/s

Steady ·

Oldman River at Range Road 13A

Water temp

—

Normal range

2.7–4.9m³/s

Median 3.4 m³/s

Weather

7°C

Mostly Clear