I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. It was well worn and looked much less difficult than I had imagined. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. After working so hard to get to the top, I couldnt justify turning around immediately. Highly recommend! For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. Finally, it was time to start this hike. I'll never forget it. The Animas River. Share Followers 0. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. San Juan National Forest - Elk Creek Trail/ Colorado Trail (503) Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. One option for a multi-day trip is from the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton. Fog billowed from distant peaks, and it was pretty dark around me as well now. At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. Cachanilla83. So far, so good. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. Today was going to be almost all uphill, heading over Columbine Pass and down into Chicago Basin. Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. John Werner: Backpacking Weminuche Wilderness not easy, but worth the Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. The mountain goats I saw on the rocks earlier were in the same general spot on my way back. 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 forced myself to get out of the tent and go explore the area. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. 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. We just finished this trail. This route includes 3 trails. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. Heres what we learned while preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike, plus a few things I wish Id known ahead of time! Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. Looking back, I wish I had checked it out. Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. If needed, when you reach the Vallecito and Johnson Creek trail junction, you could hike about 10 miles to the Vallecito Reservoir, a popular lake area. The nature back there is unbelievable. Elk Park-Needleton Loop. Preparing for Elk Park to Needleton Loop - Champagne Tastes Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. We did this trip in September. We camped at ~9300 ft. 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. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. Go figure, good weather on the last day. Oregon Desert Trail (2022) *Coming Soon We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. 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. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. There were tons of mines dotting the mountainside, some of which looked pretty difficult to get to. You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. 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. Closing loop Needleton - Elk park - Durango Forum - Tripadvisor Eolus. Our total distance was about 42 miles. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. DRGW.Net | Elk Park, CO I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. First week of June, the only people out there will probably be CDT thru hikers, and theyll be up against a lot of snow still. Needleton Bridge Trailhead // Colorado 13ers This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. Seeking Lost: Thru-Hiking & Backpacking Adventures, Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 8 Day Rockhounding & Mineral Collecting in the Santa Teresa Mountains, AZ (Nov 2022), How Much Did It Cost?? Passing through a colorful meadow on the morning of day 2, Nearing the treeline, the views start improving. Reddit - Dive into anything Thanks for sharing. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. To board at a flagstop, you must be on the east side of the tracks. No hot dogs tonight, maybe night 3. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. Parking is available at the Silverton Depot at no charge. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. Keep a close eye on your belongings: these feisty critters can chew threw packs quickly. These guys didnt seem as threatening though. We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. Just import my GPX file and then you can print it out. The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. And what a campsite that would be, killer views! Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. 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. After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. 2. Lisa made it up 15 minutes later, but we didnt stick around too long. One guy stopped and said Whoa, what are you doing going up that? There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Browse different rides & seasonal events. Venchka. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. What a morale booster it was. 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 Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. Your email address will not be published. Not cheap by any means, but it was a cool way to enter and leave the wilderness. 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. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. 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. Almost immediately, it began to rain a little. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. 1. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. 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! The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. 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. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Very clear and interesting. Avalanche debris was cleared. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. Hiking The Elk Park/Needleton Loop Weminuche Wilderness Required fields are marked *. You have to make the backpacker train reservations by phone, not online. Trees blocked most of the views. Miles Hiked 14.5 There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. We saw several deer and prairie dogs before getting into the mountains. Whitewater rafting with professional guides. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. Elk Park/Needleton Loop, Colorado. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. Here's an overview! Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Bob Marshall. Where the lake began to drain out down the mountainside, there were remnants of an old dam here. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. 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. 7 of the Best Summer Backpacking Trips in the Mountain West I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Our stop is Elk Park, a 3 hour ride from Durango. Actually, mid May. (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! It has been our group's favorite for several years. The water tasted great and was very cold. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. Sad to see all the beetle damage. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. 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). 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. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. I highly recommend it. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. 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. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. 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. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. I figured the total mileage for today would be about 14 miles, but everything after mile 4 or so would be downhill. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. 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. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. The weather started to improve a little as we set up the tent and took care of the usual camp chores. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. The ones that did look edible werent ripe yet. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! 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. It took us 7 days to complete it. Absolutely stunning! A mine along the trail leading down into Chicago Basin. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. The water is gorgeous. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. 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. With no campfire, stars to gaze at, or any other reason to remain awake, we went to bed as the sun went down. We walked down to Needle Creek and took a side path over to a waterfall, but besides that, we spent the rest of the day relaxing in camp mostly. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. Great report, how can I get your waypoints? I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. Looking down on Columbine Lake near the top of Columbine Pass. The other guy was impressed with its small size. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Tips for Camping With Your Kids in Durango, Colorado. Where did you get the map? The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. Very well done! Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). Finally, the weather is cooperating! We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. I dont know which to trust, but it was a long day regardless. Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. This was our third trek on this trail. 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. Miles Hiked 5.4 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. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. There was only one truck by Kite Lake, and we saw no people. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. 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. Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). Past that meadow, the trail begins to climb past the treeline. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. The Elk Park to Needleton backpacking loop near Silverton, Colorado, covers over 40 miles and features stunning mountain vistas. At least we had somewhere to sit now, that was nice. All of our gear was dry and life was good. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. I was mainly happy to dry out my boots. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. 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. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. 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. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. But if you need an even warmer quilt, weve heard very good things about the quilts from Enlightened Equipment. The trail was much easier to hike than I was anticipating, and I was covering pretty good ground. Thank you for taking the time to write it! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. 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. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. 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. Top things to do in Durango, Colorado - Uncover Colorado Thank you so much for your detailed description! 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 . More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. I have done this one twice!! Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. None of them seemed very dry though. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. Our most reliable digital map was from Garmin, within the Garmin Explore app on my phone. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. We made the decision to cut our trek short. But, thats another story for another trip report. Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. 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. We had about 7 miles of downhill hiking to the train, which arrives at 3:30, and thus were not in a hurry. They didnt seem to concerned with our presence though. Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. 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. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 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. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. Also, A creek ran through the area and created an interesting looking gorge that I wish I had more time to check out, but we really wanted to get to camp right now. We spend a good while collecting firewood, but as wet as it was, it was a bit of a challenge. Back, finally! The names of surrounding landmarks included Stormy Gulch and Storm King Peak, and now I understood why. 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). It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Eventually, it became steeper, to the point where there were some moments of exposure. 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. Yet another day we found ourselves traversing a pass in bad weather. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! We did not have gloves (other than one pair of fingerless gloves I use when gathering/breaking firewood and climbing), so our hands were getting a little numb. The train gives outdoors lovers immediate access to the Weminuche Wilderness and San Juan National Forest for hiking, backpacking, rafting, fishing and other activities. When youre in the Chicago Basin, watch for mountain goats! This was already painting a picture of what Chicago Basin might be like tomorrow, as it is supposed to be the most heavily used area in the Weminuche Wilderness. Weminuche Wilderness in southern Colorado. You take a train from I hope your backpacking trip is just as epic as ours was. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. El mejor momento para visitar esta . Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. TR: Elk Park/Needleton Loop with extras - WhiteBlaze 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. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. The benefit is being able to skip the train and park at the Lime Mesa TH.