Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. With about five minutes to go before arriving at Elk Park, one of conductors gather all of the backpackers and ask you to head to the front of the train. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. Also, bring a way to filter water. Trail Name - Elk Park/Needleton Loop Location - Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO Park Type - National Forest, Wilderness Area Fees & Permits - None Length Of Time Hiked - 6 days, 5 nights Trail Type - Semi loop - Train drops you off and picks you up Miles Hiked - 48 Trail Difficulty - 8 These guys didnt seem as threatening though. Elk Park-Needleton Loop. Expect to pay for the train tickets, a baggage fee (for your backpack, which goes in the boxcar train), and an overnight parking fee. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. You write quite well. Almost immediately, it began to rain a little. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. It worked perfectly. Once past the tricky part near the top of the pass, it was your general steep descent via switchbacks. The nature back there is unbelievable. I like having dry gear! Strider1. I wasnt sore at all until day 4 or 5, with only moderate soreness in the hamstrings. Any and all kinds of weather! Thanks for sharing. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. People really are friendly in Colorado! We saw 3 hikers coming down Hunchback Pass earlier as we were going up, and didnt see anyone else today until we got about a mile from the Vallecito Creek Bridge. 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. 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. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. For some reason, the mileage the GPS reports to me in the field is always more than the mileage it gives me at home when I am reviewing the final data. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. Great hope they dont cause us any trouble tonight. This was a class 3 in my opinion. We departed about 15 minutes late, and slowly made our way out of Durango. The mountain goats I saw on the rocks earlier were in the same general spot on my way back. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. 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 purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! 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. The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. 18-21 September 2017. I climbed up the highest hill along the edge which was roughly 12,700ft, which provided awesome views of Eldorado and everything else around. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. You take a train from Durango that. 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. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). The times we've done this, the train departed Silverton about 2:45 PM and dropped us of by 3:45 PM. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. But we opted to take the train! Obviously I skipped this route on our way up here, opting to go the traditional way up the switchbacks to the CDT, but I was curious if it was doable. First, dont forget your sunglasses! Every campground, hotel, and intersection we passed, there were people waving at the train. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! I forced myself to get out of the tent and go explore the area. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. Everything was wet, including my feet. It resides at 8,277 feet of elevation in San Juan County. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. 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! I didnt want to push Lisa too much in the first few days so I think the plan for days 1 and 2 were pretty good. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. Very well done! For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. This is when the fog really started growing. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. As the evening progressed, we saw several deer both near our camp and off in the distance. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. We spend a good while collecting firewood, but as wet as it was, it was a bit of a challenge. The weather was cloudy and more scattered rain throughout the rest of the day. I was mainly happy to dry out my boots. A hiking boot is preferable. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. Some of the rocks were covered in ice making them extremely slippery too, so I had to be very careful once I neared the top. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. The oldest cart on the train was built in 1879, and the oldest engine was from 1925 I believe. Miles Hiked 5.4 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). ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. El mejor momento para visitar esta . I put my poles away now as I found it necessary to use my hands a little here and there going up some of the boulders. We settled for this spot and set up camp by 4pm or so. I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. They were just ahead of me on the trail, but again, I was able to scare them off by simply throwing my arms in the air. We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. So much for being packed. A mine along the trail leading down into Chicago Basin. Miles Hiked 14.5 My group did it in 5 days, but I would recommend giving yourself 6 or 7 so you aren't having to push yourself to get to the train on time. I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. Our stop is Elk Park, a 3 hour ride from Durango. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. He sure did look delicious, haha. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. I did this loop in Late August in the mid 90s and must have gotten a lucky dry weather window. Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. Swampy, muddy areas where your foot sinks ankle deep in mud are also likely, as well as multiple creek crossings. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. The trail follows the 44 road past the lake, and then winds towards the trail leading up to Hunchback Pass. Make sure everyone in your party books the train together. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. 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. Hello, solitude. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. 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. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. The skies were cloudy all around us though. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. There was another group who did this, and the train staff didn't seem to have any problem with it (we had paid for a RT ticket anyway). Call the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at 1-888-872-4607 to book and make your reservation. In addition to us, there was also a group of 2, 3, and 4 other hikers who also got off the train. After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. A Garmin InReach is one of the pricier emergency options, but there are also less expensive satellite emergency locator beacons (with less functionality). Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. They could not believe how small the pad was, but I got the impression it was too ultralight for them. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. Leave from Durango or Silverton and get off to explore at Elk Park, Needleton or one of the flagstops. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. In good weather it should not be a problem. Completed this loop early July 2021. San Juan National Forest. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. This route climbs 8,523 ft with a max elevation of 12,843 ft then descends -9,174 ft. Local Trail Association Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Dogs are also able to. Just as I hit that switchback, a few hikers came into view on the way down from the CDT. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. After staring me down for a minute, they decided to move in my direction. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. Esta ruta es popular para mochilear, disfrutar de la observacin de aves y ir de camping, sin embargo, podrs disfrutar de algo de paz durante los momentos ms tranquilos del da. So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. At what point along your route could you hike out and call it quits (or hike out for help)? This time wasn't as bad as 1993, where my ancient A-frame tent blew down, but I'd suggest doing it in August for longer days and less rain. The other guy was impressed with its small size. Columbine Lake Trail #509 in San Juan National Forest is a difficult and steep trail with 16 discernible switchbacks but it's worth the effort. From the drainage area, it was easy to cross to the other side of the lake. We saw several deer and prairie dogs before getting into the mountains. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Would you advise camping at Twin Lakes? I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. Today we slept in to 6am. 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. Lisa had a bit of trouble last year in the Maroon Bells when we hiked the Four Pass Loop, and I may have had a slight headache that first day as well. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. It was great to get some hot food in our stomachs before heading to our hotel in Pagosa Springs. 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. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. Apparently, they felt more threatened by that than the rocks whizzing by their heads. We made it to Chicago Basin and I made it to the "saddle" of Sunlight peak before talking myself out of going up the rest of the way (regretting it to this day). Purgetory was the popular trailhead of choice for non-train riders. Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. Down from the pass, we still had a good 10 miles to cover today. Since youll be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, you should be Bear Aware. Awesome, glad it was useful to you. Cant wait to try this trip myself! 2/21/22 12:49pm. Just import my GPX file and then you can print it out. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Looking for a slightly larger backpacking pack that will still fit a short torso? At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. View Profile The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. If I were to do it again, I wouldve done a few more miles the first day - theres a nice campsite before the first peak. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. 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. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. After all, it was Saturday evening. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. This was perfect! Awesome, thanks! I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. You have to make the backpacker train reservations by phone, not online. 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 . I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch.