Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? Thats why, if you come from a lower elevation like us, I recommend easing yourself into it while youre preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike! The water tasted great and was very cold. The skies did not look good and I was not sure whether or not I would be climbing tomorrow. This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Debris form 2020 avalanches on the elk park section have been cleared but theres quite a bit of fallen trees blocking the needle creek trail out of the Chicago Basin. Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is when the fog really started growing. This looks more like some of the pictures Id seen of the San Juans before our trip. Really helpful report! You would think that they would just find another place to hang out with no people nearby, but they kept trying to make their way down to our area. About a half hour later we arrived at the bridge, and it was a welcome sight. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. This was a class 3 in my opinion. They watched as I hiked right past them, which I did after taking a few pictures. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. After working so hard to get to the top, I couldnt justify turning around immediately. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). Thanks for your support you ROCK!. Check out my AWESOME DIY stealth camper van build project! I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. When taking a train leaving from Durango, you need to be in your seat 30 minutes before departure. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) After about 20 minutes of hiking, I ran into my first mountain goats of the day. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! We departed about 15 minutes late, and slowly made our way out of Durango. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. 1. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. To my amazement, the sky was 100% clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. Required fields are marked *. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. The on and off rain was definitely a bummer though. Thankfully, we never needed to press the SOS button, but I was thrilled with the functionality of the map and messaging features. After climbing about a third of the way up to the CDT, I hit a switchback, which I gladly used the rest of the way up. To board at a flagstop, you must be on the east side of the tracks. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. . There were many stream crossings and several large waterfalls that we passed, but due to the weather and number of miles we had to cover, we didnt spend any time checking most of them out. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Moderate (39) Weminuche Wilderness Photos (318) Directions Print/PDF Map Share Experience this 57.9-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. The trail flattens out at the basin below Columbine Lake and once you arrive you're in for a real treat. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. After taking some great photos near the lake, I started heading down. This is where Eldorado Lake drains off the mountainside and down to the Miners Cabin area we passed earlier today, Looking up at 13,627ft White Dome from the Eldorado Lake drainage. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. For example, early access to youtube videos, stickers, t-shirt, behind the scenes info on my new thru hiking route creations, special thank you card and more! From there, youll have a choice of where youd like to go. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. is to leave an itinerary with a responsible person back home, as well as a time and date when they should call for help if they dont hear from you. 5h 16m. Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. This was true for much of the trip. One of the things that makes this loop so special is that the trailheads can both be reached via the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad, a tourist train pulled by a steam locomotive that has been used in dozens of . We knew that the odds were pretty good that goats would wander near us too, eventually. From the bottom though, I couldnt tell where the switchbacks started. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. There were a lot of berries along the trail, although not all edible. When we visited in September, the days were hot and the nights were cold. Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. We also brought along these touch-screen activewear gloves, Buffs to help protect us from sun (or keep our ears warm), silk thermals for a base layer, and a balaclava to keep warm at night. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. People really are friendly in Colorado! When youre in the Chicago Basin, watch for mountain goats! You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. Today we slept in to 6am. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. The Animas River. Great hope they dont cause us any trouble tonight. We camped at ~9300 ft. The names of surrounding landmarks included Stormy Gulch and Storm King Peak, and now I understood why. Our total distance was about 42 miles. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. My GPS said we did 16 miles today, including going up Hunchback Pass, but later when I reviewed the data for this trip it calculated the day at 14.5 miles. Its most notable feature is a wye, built in 1884 to allow northbound trains to turn back when the canyons between Elk Park and Silverton, CO were blocked by winter avalanches. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. There was only one other campsite occupied the we could see in the area, so it wasnt too crowded. There was a new amazing view after every turn. We returned back to the shack for a while, but decided to wait at the track 15 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. There were a few pockets of snow tucked away here and there, but nothing too large. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. The altitude on this backpacking loop varies from around 8,000 to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. View Profile Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Are there fishing opportunities along this route? For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. They were finally able to scare the goats away for good by barking at them like a dog. As we gained elevation, the Animas River became more and more impressive. Finally, some views! Very clear and interesting. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. I wonder how they get to their homes, since there are no roads anywhere near here. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Getting down to the water and going through the process of purifying the water was a bit of a pain here, but I wanted to get it out of the way in case it started raining again. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! Thanks for the great report! There was an insane amount of biting flies and mosquitoes by the river here though, and I was regretting my decision to leave the bug spray and mosquito head net behind. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. One of the biggest drawing points of the Elk Creek trail is the unique opportunity to combine a Wilderness trip with a ride on a steam locomotive. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Every mountain we encountered was amazing! Cell service is highly unlikely. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. Finally, it was time to start this hike. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. Required fields are marked *. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. However, if you can afford it, the train ride is fun, and it sure is nice once you reach Elk Park and realize you don't have to make that 1,700' climb back up to Molas Pass. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. I knew the vegetation was still wet from last evenings rain, and didnt feel like being soaked to the bone if the trail happens to go through dense foliage. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. Whitewater rafting with professional guides. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? Learn more about the wildlife in the area. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. Lisa was still far below me, and the other hikers told her to hike directly to her right a ways until she hit the switchbacks, as they had a clear view from above us. You can use this file with your GPS unit, or load it in caltopo.com (or your favorite mapping website or application). I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. In summer, you may want to bring along a bug net to fit over your hat to protect yourself from mosquitoes, gnats and black flies. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) All in all, quite a bit of wildlife. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. I have a trip report on the Mogollon Mountains in the Gila Wilderness, but the popular side is the east side with all the rivers. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. Thanks for sharing this one. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. As the evening progressed, we saw several deer both near our camp and off in the distance. Eventually, it became steeper, to the point where there were some moments of exposure. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. Browse different rides & seasonal events. We did this trip in September. He had camped in this area, not by Eldorado, and thus had left the trail to set up his camp. We were able to cross the creek by hopping rocks and logs, just as we were able to with every other stream crossing on this trip. There were a bunch of waterfalls along Needle Creek though. Here, there were several more mountain goats hanging out on the rocks by a small pool of water. Thanks for sharing. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. Por lo general, se considera una ruta moderada, que se tarda una media de 20 h 5 min en recorrer. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. I was . 18-21 September 2017. However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. It was very quiet once the train left Elk Park. Heres my caltopo map of the Elk Park/Needleton hike: There are no fees or permits needed to hike or camp in the Weminuche Wilderness. There were 2 large pines growing 3 feet apart, creating a dry spot large enough for our tent, all out gear, places to sit, and more. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. We were thrilled when a ranger who had just cleared out the trail told us the three 12,000-foot passes on our route were free of snow. When youre leaving from Durango, youll need to have your gear in the boxcar at least 45 minutes before departure. Molas Lake to Animas River via Molas Trail, Vestal Basin via Colorado and Elk Creek Trail, Stony Pass, ATV Trail 821, and Cinnamon Pass OHV Route. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. Miles Hiked 7.4 My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. We also packed an MSR PocketRocket Deluxe backpacking stove to boil water for all our freeze-dried meals, our hand-pump espresso machine, and a lightweight hatchet multitool to help with campfires. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery | Weminuche HD Video. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. There was a snowshoe hare, or multiple hares, that I kept seeing as I gathered wood. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. Expect to pay for the train tickets, a baggage fee (for your backpack, which goes in the boxcar train), and an overnight parking fee. However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. It moved away pretty quickly, but I could tell it was not a rattlesnake. Actually, mid May. Next stop: Wilderness. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. The free version of caltopo only allows 5 pages max in your pdf, so just break it up into blocks of 5 pages or less and print out the entire map that way. Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. Yes there is. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. I'll never forget it. He sure did look delicious, haha. The nature back there is unbelievable. I can use train but according to DSNGRR schedule, their trains stops EITHER in Needlton OR in Elk Park, but not in BOTH. Prueba esta ruta de punto a punto de 37,3-millas cerca de Silverton, Colorado. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. So, they suggested to take train from Needleton to Silverton, wait for 1.5h and then return back to Elk Park for the price of full ticket Durango-Silverton . We just finished this trail. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. Awesome, thanks! I have done this one twice!! A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. The only stop on the southbound trail in the afternoon is Elk Park. . Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. Thanks for the trip report, I had originally planned just on Chicago Basin but will now do the whole loop after seeing your report and talking to the forest service rangers. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. In good weather it should not be a problem. Very useful. However, to hike this trail as I did, you will need to secure a train reservation through the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. El mejor momento para visitar esta . I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. If you found my trip report useful, please dont hesitate to leave a comment! We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. Go figure, good weather on the last day. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. There havent been any bugs out the last 2 nights though, and I was really wishing we had a fire like this on night one. I'm a traveler who loves to eat. From a distance, I could see faint lines on the hillside that were definitely the switchbacks. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. I used to do that, but it gets expensive to print out those big maps all the time, especially for places I likely wont return to for years. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. Once past the tricky part near the top of the pass, it was your general steep descent via switchbacks. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 37 mile less popular intermediate route located near Silverton Colorado. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. San Juan National Forest. The fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Passing through a colorful meadow on the morning of day 2, Nearing the treeline, the views start improving. It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. But there would be no sleeping in tomorrow morning though, because we were off to the Great Sand Dunes National Park! Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. I highly recommend it. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. I headed up and made good time moving through here as it was pretty easy. This route includes 3 trails. After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. Before reaching the trails down to Kite/Eldorado Lakes, we had to hike over a 100ft rocky ridge, just as the clouds looked their worst. Hikers can be seen on the Continental Divide Trail, above on the ridgeline, The path up to the CDT is a long, winding series of switchbacks. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. Strider1. Lisa really wanted a fire, and although I knew we could get one going, but I didnt want to go through the effort of gathering wood only to have it rain again . Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! Arriving via a coal-powered train on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this excursion into the dramatic Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado gets off to a unique start. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. We were on the trail at 7:30, and saw a few more goats as we made our way out of Chicago Basin. 2/21/22 12:49pm. We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. Looking back, I wish I had checked it out. Todays hike will take us down by Kite Lake, over Hunchback Pass, and all the way down to the Vallecito Creek bridge, near Johnson Creek. Miles Hiked 5.4 Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. I like having dry gear! After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. That is, of course, after hot meal and long hot shower! They didnt seem to concerned with our presence though. The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. Vallecito Basin, which lies below Columbine pass, was pretty nice. Check out this 17.3-mile out-and-back trail near Durango, Colorado. Subscribe to receive an emial notification when new content is added, Sawtooth Mountains Idaho Landscape Photography Canvas Prints, Seeking Lost Logo Shirt - Unisex Softstyle T-Shirt, Basin and Range Trail Planning Kit: Guidebook, GPX, Maps, Waypoints, Water Chart, Vanadinite Mineral Specimen (North Geronimo Mine, AZ), Wulfenite on Fluorite Mineral Specimen (Red Cloud Mine, AZ). Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. The trail leading down to Kite Lake from the CDT, View of Kite Lake, before it disappeared in the growing fog. The oldest cart on the train was built in 1879, and the oldest engine was from 1925 I believe. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. Elk Park to Needleton Backpack Loop 5,560 views Aug 5, 2008 9 Dislike Share Save Elizabeth Black 394 subscribers From the steam engine train we backpack for 6 days on a 40 mile loop out in. Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. Down from the pass, we still had a good 10 miles to cover today.
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