Rio Santa Barbara

Rio Santa Barbara in north-central New Mexico holds a Special Trout Water designation (Red chile, non-native suppression) from the West Fork and Middle Fork confluence upstream to the headwaters, including the East Fork. The watershed supports Rio Grande cutthroat trout and brown trout under split regulations: native cutthroat are catch-and-release only, while non-native trout may be kept without limit; only artificial fly or lure with a single barbless hook is permitted. A valid New Mexico fishing license is required. Managed by the USFS Camino Real Ranger District and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Photography is permitted.