Colorado charter captain requirements
Quick answer
What license do I need to run a charter in Colorado?
You need the federal USCG captain's license. On a river, Colorado also requires a CPW River Outfitter's License, defined by statute to cover river-running only. On a reservoir like Blue Mesa or Dillon, that river license does not apply; a state-park special-use permit covers guided fishing from state land instead.
| Layer | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Federal credential | USCG captain's license (OUPV six-pack or Master 25 to 100 Ton), required for all for-hire carriage of passengers |
| State river license | CPW River Outfitter's License, required for paid river-running guide services; displayed on premises, term up to three years |
| State reservoir/park permit | CPW special-use permit for fishing guides and outfitters using state parks or state lands for commercially guided fishing or recreation |
| Layer | What you need | Who it applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal credential | USCG captain's license (OUPV six-pack or Master 25 to 100 Ton), required for all for-hire carriage of passengers | Every operator taking paying passengers on navigable water, river or reservoir | 46 CFR / National Maritime Center (read 2026-07-22) |
| State river license | CPW River Outfitter's License, required for paid river-running guide services; displayed on premises, term up to three years | Paid river outfitters on Colorado rivers; does not by statute extend to reservoirs or lakes | C.R.S. 33-32-104 (read 2026-07-29) |
| State reservoir/park permit | CPW special-use permit for fishing guides and outfitters using state parks or state lands for commercially guided fishing or recreation | Guides operating from Colorado state park or state trust land on reservoirs and lakes | Colorado Parks and Wildlife, guides and outfitters (read 2026-07-29) |
Colorado charter license, in detail
Colorado's river outfitter license is defined narrowly by statute to cover river-running services only: 'No person shall act in the capacity of a paid river outfitter... without first obtaining a river outfitter's license.' The license is issued by CPW, must be displayed on the premises, and has a term of up to three years. It does not, by its own statutory definition, extend to reservoirs or lakes. A guide operating for hire on a Colorado reservoir instead needs a special-use permit if working from state park or state trust land, and still needs the federal USCG credential for for-hire passenger carriage.
C.R.S. 33-32-104, license required (read 2026-07-29)
Fish and game interplay
Colorado is the one state in this batch whose state guiding license is written to cover only rivers, not reservoirs or lakes. C.R.S. 33-32-102 defines a river outfitter around 'river-running services,' so a guide on the Arkansas or Colorado River needs the CPW river outfitter's license, while a fishing guide working Blue Mesa Reservoir, Dillon Reservoir, or another Colorado lake does not need that same river license. CPW instead requires a special-use permit for fishing guides and outfitters who use state parks or state lands for commercially guided fishing or recreation, which is a park-access permit rather than a state-wide guiding license. Neither permit changes the separate federal requirement: for-hire passenger carriage on navigable water, river or reservoir, still needs the USCG captain's license.
C.R.S. 33-32-102, definitions; Colorado Parks and Wildlife guides and outfitters (read 2026-07-29)
State vs federal water boundary
Landlocked jurisdiction: no marine seaward boundary. The federal USCG credential still governs for-hire carriage on navigable waters, including reservoirs such as Blue Mesa and Dillon.
Submerged Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1301 and 1312 (read 2026-07-29)
Colorado charter FAQ
Do I need Colorado's river outfitter license to guide on a reservoir like Blue Mesa or Dillon?
No. Colorado's River Outfitter's License is defined by statute to cover river-running services only. Guiding on a reservoir instead falls under a CPW special-use permit if you operate from state park or state land, not the river outfitter license.
Does the USCG captain's license replace Colorado's river outfitter license?
No. They are separate and both apply. The federal credential lets you carry passengers for hire on navigable water; Colorado's river outfitter license, or the reservoir special-use permit, is the separate state authorization to operate a paid guiding business in Colorado.