He sure did look delicious, haha. A group of seven hikers (2 men, 5 women) also loaded their packs, giving a total of 12 of us to be dropped at Elk Park. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. Trees blocked most of the views. Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. It took us 7 days to complete it. We saw very little traffic through our area where we camped, despite being right next to the trail. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. In addition to us, there was also a group of 2, 3, and 4 other hikers who also got off the train. Was the extra research and time spent preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton trip worth it? 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. Looking back, I wish I had checked it out. Basin and Range Trail (2020) The trail was much easier to hike than I was anticipating, and I was covering pretty good ground. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. Would that be too early in the season? On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! Miles Hiked 5.4 The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. Almost immediately, it began to rain a little. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. Every campground, hotel, and intersection we passed, there were people waving at the train. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. The altitude on this backpacking loop varies from around 8,000 to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. These guys didnt seem as threatening though. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. We stopped to eat lunch on a talus slope and observed many pikas, no marmots yet though. It was raining up here and quite cold. We knew that the odds were pretty good that goats would wander near us too, eventually. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. The Weminuche Loop is a classic 40-50 mile horseshoe hike that starts at Elk Park and ends at Needleton. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. 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. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. This satellite powered device is able to track your location on a digital map, share your location with friends/family, send basic text messages, and (most importantly) it has an emergency SOS button to get help. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. 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. So much for being packed. 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! Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. Have a good hike! This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. Call the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at 1-888-872-4607 to book and make your reservation. Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). Y0ou could really see just ow red it was with a little sunlight. 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." 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 So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. The water in Elk Creek was super clear, so I didnt have to pre-filter any of it before using my Steri-Pen Opti UV water purifier. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. 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 . Did this route from July 28 to August 3. It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. Maybe, MAYBE in a low snow year but from what I can tell the west is getting quite a bit of powder this year so my guess would be July before the route is fully snow free. They didnt seem afraid of humans at all. This was a pizza by the slice kind of place, and the slices were enormous! The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. Awesome, glad it was useful to you. 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. We didn't. Windward_Coug. Try this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. From a distance, I could see faint lines on the hillside that were definitely the switchbacks. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. 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 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. It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. As we gained elevation, the Animas River became more and more impressive. 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. I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. This route includes 3 trails. More jokes were cracked to the effect of mines smaller than yours and isnt it usually the other way around?. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. 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. After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. 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. Hi Ryan, Thats definitely too early in the season. What a place for a cabin though! Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. We had about 7 miles of downhill hiking to the train, which arrives at 3:30, and thus were not in a hurry. Our most reliable digital map was from Garmin, within the Garmin Explore app on my phone. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! with an Osprey water bladder. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. While the wilderness area has many access points, one of the best approaches is from the Durango & Silverton railroad stop of Elk Park, just outside of Silverton. Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. This is the beaver pond that people often reference when hiking this section of 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. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. You can purchase a ticket to or from Elk Park onboard as long as space is availableno reservations are taken for this flag stop. 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. 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. You have to make the backpacker train reservations by phone, not online. The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. 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. 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. Any and all kinds of weather! Next I found myself on the saddle below the approach to Windom Peak. At Twin Lakes, the terrain is a bit less hospitable, and fewer campsite options with all the rocks and stuff. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. False alarm. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. Thank you for taking the time to write it! Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. But we opted to take the train! We settled for this spot and set up camp by 4pm or so. Leave a Comment. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. I watched the bolts of lightning in the distance for a while before going to bed. With no campfire, stars to gaze at, or any other reason to remain awake, we went to bed as the sun went down. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 36 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Silverton, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. Very nice trip report! Im taking a group on essentially this same trip in a couple weeks, and your pictures and story are very inspiring. Your email address will not be published. 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. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. Strider1. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. 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. . The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. This was true for much of the trip. I dont know which to trust, but it was a long day regardless. As always, questions and comments are welcome! There were 2 large pines growing 3 feet apart, creating a dry spot large enough for our tent, all out gear, places to sit, and more. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. Required fields are marked *. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. Going down always looks much harder! Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Moderate (39) Weminuche Wilderness Photos (318) Directions Print/PDF Map Share Experience this 57.9-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) By the time we were leaving the treeline behind, foul weather had returned. At what point along your route could you hike out and call it quits (or hike out for help)? Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. 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. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. The skies were cloudy all around us though. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. Creating new thru-hiking routes & guides, hiking videos, outdoor documentaries, backpacking trip reports, trail journals, photos and more! I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. Vallecito Basin, which lies below Columbine pass, was pretty nice. Purgetory was the popular trailhead of choice for non-train riders. Great hike! We just finished this trail. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. This was a class 3 in my opinion. Id say we averaged 5 people seen per day on days 1-4. 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. 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. Sometimes 2 to a flower. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. Any way to access this trail without riding the train? Soul Rider. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. Yes there is. Very well done! Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. You would think that they would just find another place to hang out with no people nearby, but they kept trying to make their way down to our area. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. I only saw a steep trail consisting of loose rock. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. Carry a comfortable pack with a water reservoir. 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. The train gives outdoors lovers immediate access to the Weminuche Wilderness and San Juan National Forest for hiking, backpacking, rafting, fishing and other activities. The other guy was impressed with its small size. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. 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. It has a mesh frame that holds the weight of the pack slightly off your back. 2. We brought along this Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. Looking for a slightly larger backpacking pack that will still fit a short torso? 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). It also didnt hurt that we pampered ourselves a little afterwards with a leisurely day at Pagosa Springs. 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. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. 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. Back, finally! Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) It was well worn and looked much less difficult than I had imagined. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. Or are there other routes you could r commend for some stream and lake fishing? They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Where the lake began to drain out down the mountainside, there were remnants of an old dam here. Venchka. Everything was wet, including my feet. Your email address will not be published. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. Since cell service is unlikely, the Garmin InReach Mini 2 became our lifeline. We snacked on sour patch kids by the fire for a while before letting it burn out. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. This was perfect! You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The names of surrounding landmarks included Stormy Gulch and Storm King Peak, and now I understood why. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. 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. Since there are no fires allowed in Chicago Basin or the rest of the Needle Creek drainage, and the fact that I was planning on climbing in morning, we called it an early night and went to bed shortly after sundown. Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. Bugs were pretty bad this year. Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Down from the pass, we still had a good 10 miles to cover today. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). 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. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. I was rewarded with an amazing view of the Weminuche Wilderness, unobstructed by clouds for the first time all week. I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. Great backpacking experience!! You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. Looking down on Columbine Lake near the top of Columbine Pass. Avalanche debris was cleared. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. The fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. San Juan National Forest. I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. My GPS said we did 16 miles today, including going up Hunchback Pass, but later when I reviewed the data for this trip it calculated the day at 14.5 miles. 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 . First, dont forget your sunglasses! The oldest cart on the train was built in 1879, and the oldest engine was from 1925 I believe. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. There were a few more mines along the trail here, and one appeared to be deeper than the others we had explored. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. The food issue didnt bother me much, I was mainly worried about the rodents chewing on our sweaty gear. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. Length: 7.9 mi Est. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. They didnt seem to concerned with our presence though. Continental Divide Trail (2018), "His breathing is measured as he narrates his journey, describing the personal allure of the great outdoors, the difference between mere hobby and real passion. 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. I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. Given the popularity of Kite Lake, being right next to a 44 road just outside of the wilderness boundary, I pretty much had my mind set on Eldorado. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip.
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