Thanks for the great report! Elk Park is a wide spot in the Animas River canyon located at milepost 490.5 on the Silverton Branch of the San Juan Extension. It also didnt hurt that we pampered ourselves a little afterwards with a leisurely day at Pagosa Springs. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. Miles Hiked 10.4 Thank you for taking the time to write it! To board at a flagstop, you must be on the east side of the tracks. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. 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). Everything was wet, including my feet. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! 5h 16m. There were no other campsites nearby and extremely close to the trail leading up to the three 14ers in Chicago Basin: Windom Peak, Sunlight Peak, and Mt. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. The Animas River. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. It worked perfectly. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. 18-21 September 2017. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. It even had some rails leading in and out of it. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. 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. They were finally able to scare the goats away for good by barking at them like a dog. Por lo general, se considera una ruta moderada, que se tarda una media de 20 h 5 min en recorrer. Going down always looks much harder! We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. Just as I hit that switchback, a few hikers came into view on the way down from the CDT. They watched as I hiked right past them, which I did after taking a few pictures. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. Thank you so much for your detailed description! So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. Lower elevations and farther south, definitely no snow and the spring melt off is going to be done by then. After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. Venchka. I watched the bolts of lightning in the distance for a while before going to bed. 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 fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. Since cell service is unlikely, the Garmin InReach Mini 2 became our lifeline. A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. Looking back up the way I just came down from Windom Peak. During the summer months, May-October, adventurers can access the wilderness from the Durango train. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. I highly recommend it. But if you need an even warmer quilt, weve heard very good things about the quilts from Enlightened Equipment. Bugs were pretty bad this year. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. Twin Lakes, still waiting for early morning light to hit tis waters. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. 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. Dogs are also able to. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. We returned back to the shack for a while, but decided to wait at the track 15 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. Sometimes 2 to a flower. The water is gorgeous. Very useful. It was raining up here and quite cold. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. By the time we were leaving the treeline behind, foul weather had returned. At least we had somewhere to sit now, that was nice. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. Elk Park/Needleton Loop, Colorado. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. Check out my AWESOME DIY stealth camper van build project! We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. There were a bunch of waterfalls along Needle Creek though. I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. The amazing view from Hunchback Pass clouds. One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. Learn more about the wildlife in the area. Leave from Durango or Silverton and get off to explore at Elk Park, Needleton or one of the flagstops. After realizing that, I looked around and could see where the trail picked up again, and started hiking directly towards the trail in the distance. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. As always, questions and comments are welcome! I like having dry gear! Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. 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). (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. After all, it was Saturday evening. Share Followers 0. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. 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 . Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. They could not believe how small the pad was, but I got the impression it was too ultralight for them. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. I did see a lot of goat hair stuck in the trees and bushes now, which we had not seen anywhere else yet along our hike. What a place for a cabin! There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. Where did you get the map? To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Patreon is a service that allows you to provide monthly financial support to your favorite content creators. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. Straddling sections of the infamous Continental . Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? We just finished this trail. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. We saw several deer and prairie dogs before getting into the mountains. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. Hello, solitude. For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. The only stop on the southbound trail in the afternoon is Elk Park. Almost immediately, it began to rain a little. The oldest cart on the train was built in 1879, and the oldest engine was from 1925 I believe. Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. 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. It was cloudy and grey though, so pictures werent coming out good. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. Breathtaking! 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). Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery | Weminuche HD Video. 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. More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. Im taking a group on essentially this same trip in a couple weeks, and your pictures and story are very inspiring. At what point along your route could you hike out and call it quits (or hike out for help)? 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. That is, of course, after hot meal and long hot shower! I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. with an Osprey water bladder. This route climbs 8,523 ft with a max elevation of 12,843 ft then descends -9,174 ft. Local Trail Association The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. 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! Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. There were only one or two campsites occupied here, and it would have been a nice place to stay the night if we didnt already have our trip planned out. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. Strider1. Id say there were about 20 people total here waiting for the train. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. The skies were fairly clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning, but Ive grown weary of the weather in the Weminuche Wilderness at this point. Heres what we learned while preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike, plus a few things I wish Id known ahead of time! Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. We were on the trail at 7:30, and saw a few more goats as we made our way out of Chicago Basin. The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. Your email address will not be published. I didnt rain much though. On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. To close the loop I have to get from Needleton fo Elk Park (6.5mi). There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. 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. For shelter, we carried a backpacking tent, as well as a double sleeping pad, Sea to Summit Thermolite sleeping bag liners, and a compressible backpacking quilt. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. First, dont forget your sunglasses! Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. 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. What a place for a cabin though! Excellent views all around. The altitude on this backpacking loop varies from around 8,000 to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. Any and all kinds of weather! Finally, it was time to start this hike. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. This was a class 3 in my opinion. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). Completed this loop early July 2021. Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. They can be a lifesaver on a long hike. You take a train from Durango that. I climbed up to the top of this ridge for some truly amazing views of the Weminuche Wilderness, Beautiful views of Eldorado Lake during the best weather of the afternoon, Awesome views from an unnamed high point above Eldorado Lake. Leave a Comment. We made the decision to cut our trek short. In good weather it should not be a problem. Todays hike was all uphill, but it wasnt too strenuous. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Every campground, hotel, and intersection we passed, there were people waving at the train. 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. Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. Since youll be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, you should be Bear Aware. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. I couldnt resist the chance to whip out my Klymit Inertia X-Frame sleeping pad that I bought a few months back. Highly recommend. 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. Recommended Posts. 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. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. The Durango-Silverton train offers a backpacker service from May to October, where they drop you off and pick you up at train stops which more or less correspond to the trailheads. Prueba esta ruta de punto a punto de 37,3-millas cerca de Silverton, Colorado. 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. Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Eric Poulin, long distance hiker and outdoor adventurer, Greenland Hike/Packraft Expedition (2022) *Coming Soon The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. A few years ago, I was looking at hiking an alpine route (Pecos Wilderness in northern NM, and Rocky Mountain National Park) during the same time frame as you. Would that be too early in the season? It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. There was a new amazing view after every turn. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. 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. Your email address will not be published. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. Have a good hike! From a distance, I could see faint lines on the hillside that were definitely the switchbacks. Expect to pay for the train tickets, a baggage fee (for your backpack, which goes in the boxcar train), and an overnight parking fee. . You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. Cant wait to try this trip myself! I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? Your email address will not be published. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) We stopped to eat lunch on a talus slope and observed many pikas, no marmots yet though. Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. 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 got injured jumping off the bridge there, so we couldn't complete the hike north over hunchback pass, and down Elk creekwe were kinda bummed. 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. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. I dont know which to trust, but it was a long day regardless. Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. 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). Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. 2. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. Thankfully, we never needed to press the SOS button, but I was thrilled with the functionality of the map and messaging features. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. Our food and gear were safe from the mice last night, so that was a relief. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? Then on the way back, youll catch the southbound train at Needleton and ride back to Durango. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. 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 For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train.
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