We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! San Juan National Forest. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. But we opted to take the train! We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. We knew that the odds were pretty good that goats would wander near us too, eventually. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. Soon enough it was back to the rain. 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. You take a train from Durango that. Any feedback appreciated. Ill send this to your email as well. It has a mesh frame that holds the weight of the pack slightly off your back. There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train. The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. I'm hoping that we weren't unncessarilly cautious and missed out. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. We got to the train station around 7:15am, as we were told to be there 45 minutes early. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. The benefit is being able to skip the train and park at the Lime Mesa TH. We changed clothes in the car and tried to mask our stench with deodorant and cologne/perfume before setting off into the city in search of food. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. There were a lot of berries along the trail, although not all edible. Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! Hi Ryan, Thats definitely too early in the season. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! Thanks for sharing. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. We had cinders in your hair most of the trip, they didnt seem to go away! 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. Would that be too early in the season? They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. You can purchase a ticket to or from Elk Park onboard as long as space is availableno reservations are taken for this flag stop. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. This will give you time to make it to your seats before the final boarding call. This route includes 3 trails. While it did have some beautiful parts, Particularly at the top of the Continental Divide and Columbine Pass, I was disappointed by the avalanche debris in the first 6 miles and the lack of trail maintenance on the section below hunchback pass to the Vallecito Bridge. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. To my amazement, the sky was 100% clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning. This hike is definitely a good one! Back up on the CDT, it was evident that the weather was not going to cooperate today. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. You write quite well. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. Thats how I do it these days. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. Train ride through the beautiful San Juan mountains on the way to our drop off point at Elk Park. Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). This was a class 3 in my opinion. I was very surprised that there were no seats available, the train was pretty packed. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. 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. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery | Weminuche HD Video. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. The weather was cloudy and more scattered rain throughout the rest of the day. So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. Your email address will not be published. It moved away pretty quickly, but I could tell it was not a rattlesnake. The times we've done this, the train departed Silverton about 2:45 PM and dropped us of by 3:45 PM. The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. And what a campsite that would be, killer views! He had camped in this area, not by Eldorado, and thus had left the trail to set up his camp. Heres what we learned while preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike, plus a few things I wish Id known ahead of time! 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." The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. It was filed under Backpacking Trip Reports and was tagged with backpacking trip report, cdt, chicago basin, colorado backpacking, colorado hikes, colorado photography, colorado summer hikes, colorado trail, continental divide, durango train, eldorado lake, elk park needleton, hiking 2013, loop hike, mountain photography, multi day hikes, san juan, san juan mountains, san juan national forest, weeklong loop hike, weminuche wilderness, windom peak. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? Lisa was quite scared here, and it took a lot of coaxing to get her to move. A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. Recommended Posts. There are a lot of trees down throughout the Johnson Creek and Needle Creek drainages - another hiker counted 155 trees across the trail on the way down from Chicago Basin to Needleton, but it looks like the FS is working their way up, clearing from the bottom up. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. No hot dogs tonight, maybe night 3. We saw several deer and prairie dogs before getting into the mountains. After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. . Make sure everyone in your party books the train together. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! It rained a little very briefly when I got back, then was party sunny the rest of the day with only a few intermittent showers. 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. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker. The water tasted great and was very cold. All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. Enjoy the hike, its a good one! This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. It resides at 8,277 feet of elevation in San Juan County. We were on the trail at 7:30, and saw a few more goats as we made our way out of Chicago Basin. You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. I was rewarded with an amazing view of the Weminuche Wilderness, unobstructed by clouds for the first time all week. After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. Required fields are marked *. Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. The third day we hiked ~11 miles, starting with 2 miles downhill and then 7 miles to the top of columbine pass and then 2 miles down to camp at Chicago basin. Thanks for sharing. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. The rock is slippery and there is nothing to help you balance yourself on this very narrow section of trail, which happens to have a BIG drop on your left. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. It seems that most people in Chicago Basin came from the Needleton stop, hiked here, and turned around and went back the way they came. Apparently, they felt more threatened by that than the rocks whizzing by their heads. Passing through a colorful meadow on the morning of day 2, Nearing the treeline, the views start improving. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. Elk Park Stop Elk Creek Trail This trail travels east from the railroad, climbing into the upper reaches of the Needle Mountains. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. We ended up finishing around 5pm on the 5th day, so instead of waiting around for the return train to Durango on day 6, we took the train to Silverton for lunch, then rode the whole return trip to Durango. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. 2/21/22 12:55pm. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. Or are there other routes you could r commend for some stream and lake fishing? With no campfire, stars to gaze at, or any other reason to remain awake, we went to bed as the sun went down. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. Our most reliable digital map was from Garmin, within the Garmin Explore app on my phone. PS. The ones that did look edible werent ripe yet. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. The water is gorgeous. The altitude on this backpacking loop varies from around 8,000 to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. - John Glionna, Las Vegas Review-Journal article on the Basin and Range Trail, Watch Pioneering Nevada's Basin and Range Trail on other Streaming Services: Tubi, Xumo, Telus and Filmocracy, Like what you see? I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. We camped at ~9300 ft. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. My husband had an offline map downloaded in his Google Maps app, although we found it to be unreliable in the Vallecito Creek area. They didnt seem to concerned with our presence though. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. Share Followers 0. Going down always looks much harder! Sometimes 2 to a flower. There were also a lot of flowers alongside the trail, and there were tons of butterflies on them. While we ate our sandwiches, they grazed about 40 feet away as if we werent even there. Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. Strider1. It was pretty hot when the sun was shining, but it didnt shine too long. Finally, some views! My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. After working so hard to get to the top, I couldnt justify turning around immediately. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. I saw maybe 10 people on day 5, and probably about 60 on day 6. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. Browse different rides & seasonal events. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. Either way, it was going to be another short day with only about 6 miles to cover. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. 1. The correct way to flag the train and let the conductor know youd like to board is by waving your hands across your knees. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. All of our gear was dry and life was good. 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. Whitewater rafting with professional guides. Everything was wet, including my feet. But, thats another story for another trip report. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. 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. Vallecito Basin, which lies below Columbine pass, was pretty nice. We did this trip in September. 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. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. This time, we were sure to be acclimated to the elevation. She said that several of them approached the campsite and some got extremely close. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. 2. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. On the trail by 7am today, we headed up to the CDT once again. The plan was to camp at either Kite Lake or Eldorado Lake, whichever looked more appealing. I wasnt sore at all until day 4 or 5, with only moderate soreness in the hamstrings. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. It took us 7 days to complete it. Patreon is a service that allows you to provide monthly financial support to your favorite content creators. 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. Miles Hiked 10.4 At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. 2/21/22 12:49pm. I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. Since cell service is unlikely, the Garmin InReach Mini 2 became our lifeline. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. El mejor momento para visitar esta . Excellent views all around. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. 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. As always, questions and comments are welcome! Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. Here's an overview! It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! 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. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. 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. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. It was a little windy last night, which can make it hard to sleep. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. Your email address will not be published. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. 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. 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Very good tip report. 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 . However, to hike this trail as I did, you will need to secure a train reservation through the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. First, dont forget your sunglasses! I like having dry gear! Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. It was raining up here and quite cold. This is when the fog really started growing. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. We made the decision to cut our trek short. This was worth the trip alone and something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime! Looking back, I wish I had checked it out. After all, it was Saturday evening. After staring me down for a minute, they decided to move in my direction. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. He sure did look delicious, haha. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete. After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. Clothes and gear is now dry (mostly), and we wreaked of smoke. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. The water was deep and fast flowing here. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. View Profile Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. Swampy, muddy areas where your foot sinks ankle deep in mud are also likely, as well as multiple creek crossings. We saw very little traffic through our area where we camped, despite being right next to the trail. There were no beavers. The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. But if you need an even warmer quilt, weve heard very good things about the quilts from Enlightened Equipment. The nature back there is unbelievable. However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. Leave from Durango or Silverton and get off to explore at Elk Park, Needleton or one of the flagstops. As another hiker had told me earlier today, there were a lot of rodent holes in this area, and I could see mice running around everywhere. 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. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. Basin and Range Trail (2020) By tnmule20, February 10, 2022 in Camping & High Adventure. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. The names of surrounding landmarks included Stormy Gulch and Storm King Peak, and now I understood why. 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 trail follows the 44 road past the lake, and then winds towards the trail leading up to Hunchback Pass. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. I was mainly happy to dry out my boots. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. Are there fishing opportunities along this route? I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). There was a new amazing view after every turn. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Moderate 4.6 (42) Weminuche Wilderness Photos (363) Directions Print/PDF map Length 37.5 miElevation gain 8,579 ftRoute type Point to point Head out on this 37.5-mile point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. Once past the tricky part near the top of the pass, it was your general steep descent via switchbacks. Your email address will not be published. I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am.

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