Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. Complete Camper Van Build Parts & Materials Spreadsheet, Zion National Park Hiking Angels Landing & The Narrows, CDT Section Hike 2021 Never Summer Wilderness & Parkview Mountain, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 9: Quartzsite to Kofa, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 8: Bouse to Quartzsite, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 7: Lake Havasu to Bouse, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 6: Bullhead City to Lake Havasu, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 5: Searchlight to Bullhead City, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 4: Boulder City to Searchlight, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 3: Callville Bay to Boulder City, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 2: Echo Bay to Callville Bay, Las Vegas Review-Journal article on the Basin and Range Trail, Location Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO, Park Type National Forest, Wilderness Area, Trail Type Semi loop Train drops you off and picks you up, Fires Allowed Yes (No fires in Chicago Basin or Needleton drainage). Your email address will not be published. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. Id say there were about 20 people total here waiting for the train. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. Im sure the views would have been great here in the absence of the clouds, but this was still pretty cool. All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. Lisa was quite scared here, and it took a lot of coaxing to get her to move. We didn't. Windward_Coug. It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. Any feedback appreciated. Here comes my ride! 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.
2023 Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Silverton | AllTrails Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. A mine along the trail leading down into Chicago Basin. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. We saw several deer and prairie dogs before getting into the mountains. Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. As always, questions and comments are welcome! I wanted to make it farther though, and we pushed on to about 5.5 miles where we made camp along Elk Creek, elevation ~10,300ft. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. At the bridge over New York Creek, there was a waterfall right there along the trail.. Animas River, from the bridge at the Needleton train stop. Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. My backpack did get burned by an ember though, so I was a little bummed about that, but it should be something I can patch up. Oh well. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. The trail flattens out at the basin below Columbine Lake and once you arrive you're in for a real treat. I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. There was only one other campsite occupied the we could see in the area, so it wasnt too crowded. The trail leading down to Kite Lake from the CDT, View of Kite Lake, before it disappeared in the growing fog. Now back on the trail, we were approaching the CDT. However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. 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. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. 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. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. Vallecito Basin, which lies below Columbine pass, was pretty nice. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. Or are there other routes you could r commend for some stream and lake fishing? We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. Looking down on Columbine Lake near the top of Columbine Pass. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. Would you advise camping at Twin Lakes? I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! I guess thats good, because that was less people we saw on the other days. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. Happy trails! Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The amazing view from Hunchback Pass clouds. Dogs are also able to. Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map, Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, MSR PocketRocket Deluxe backpacking stove, Sea to Summit Thermolite sleeping bag liners, Elk Park to Needleton Backpacking Loop (Silverton, CO), Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents, Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Looking back, I wish I had checked it out.
Top things to do in Durango, Colorado - Uncover Colorado Once I gained a few hundred feet in elevation, I could see that there wasnt any threat of getting soaked and I took off the extra layers. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. Not cheap by any means, but it was a cool way to enter and leave the wilderness. Given the popularity of Kite Lake, being right next to a 44 road just outside of the wilderness boundary, I pretty much had my mind set on Eldorado.
Wilderness Access Train Rides - Durango.com Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. I've begun planning my adventures for this summer, and while there will be a handful of overnighters and long weekends, I've settled on the Elk Park-Needleton Loop for my main trip. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. Very clear and interesting. Browse different rides & seasonal events. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. Alternatively, if you feel you have any information youd like to share with others regarding this hike, please feel free to leave that below in a comment as well. I climbed up the highest hill along the edge which was roughly 12,700ft, which provided awesome views of Eldorado and everything else around. Leave from Durango or Silverton and get off to explore at Elk Park, Needleton or one of the flagstops. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. I missed the shortcut from Eldorado Lake to Hunchback pass , many years ago.Im headed there in 2 wks and hoping to find itAny suggestions, This time I will have a GPS when looking from Hunchback pass I was pretty sure I could see a trail to Eldorado Lake , but wasnt positive so I didnt give it a try. One option for a multi-day trip is from the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Highly recommend.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Back Packing Train Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. Highly recommend! Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet.
Elk Park to Needleton Backpacking Loop - Champagne Tastes One night while we slept inside our River Country trekking pole tent, something chewed the cork handle off one of the poles (presumably because of salt residue from sweat). This looks more like some of the pictures Id seen of the San Juans before our trip. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station.
San Juan National Forest - Elk Creek Trail/ Colorado Trail (503) 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 . On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. Cant wait to try this trip myself! It also didnt hurt that we pampered ourselves a little afterwards with a leisurely day at Pagosa Springs. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. . 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! Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. Straddling sections of the infamous Continental . Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. I used a Garmin InReach Mini 2 to track our location, and any time we came to an unmarked trail junction, we knew which way to go. We brought along this Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. He discourses on his own mortality, about getting too old to have such adventures, and striking your own path in life while you still can." Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. This was a pizza by the slice kind of place, and the slices were enormous! Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. Very nice trip report! The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. 2/21/22 12:55pm. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. 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. 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). Call the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at 1-888-872-4607 to book and make your reservation. The only stop on the southbound trail in the afternoon is Elk Park. Our food and gear were safe from the mice last night, so that was a relief. I'll never forget it. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. Venchka. I did this loop in Late August in the mid 90s and must have gotten a lucky dry weather window. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. PS. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). To board at a flagstop, you must be on the east side of the tracks. I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). You can use this file with your GPS unit, or load it in caltopo.com (or your favorite mapping website or application). Today was going to be almost all uphill, heading over Columbine Pass and down into Chicago Basin. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. We heard later that there was a porcupine in the area chewing on things, so it couldve been the culprit. I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. 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. The correct way to flag the train and let the conductor know youd like to board is by waving your hands across your knees. Por lo general, se considera una ruta moderada, que se tarda una media de 20 h 5 min en recorrer. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. On the trail by 7am today, we headed up to the CDT once again. Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. A group of seven hikers (2 men, 5 women) also loaded their packs, giving a total of 12 of us to be dropped at Elk Park. Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. Here, theres a good view of Vestal Peak. Also, this area of the Weminuche has quite the rodent population. He had camped in this area, not by Eldorado, and thus had left the trail to set up his camp. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. However, after she mentioned it a few times I could tell she really wanted one, so we gathered the driest firewood we could find and used our garbage to start the fire. I was . The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. The water in Elk Creek was super clear, so I didnt have to pre-filter any of it before using my Steri-Pen Opti UV water purifier. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. After about 20 minutes of hiking, I ran into my first mountain goats of the day.
TR: Elk Park/Needleton Loop with extras - WhiteBlaze If we werent wet and hungry, I might have stopped to check it out further, but again, we were on a mission to find camp. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. Here, there were several more mountain goats hanging out on the rocks by a small pool of water. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass.