Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. False alarm. The other guy was impressed with its small size. My breakfast today was a very hearty helping of granola and almonds (about 800 calories worth), and some dried strawberries. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. Strider1. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. At what point along your route could you hike out and call it quits (or hike out for help)? The stars were barely visible now that the morning light was fast approaching, but this was the most Id seen of stars the entire trip. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. 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. Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. 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 food issue didnt bother me much, I was mainly worried about the rodents chewing on our sweaty gear. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! In good weather it should not be a problem. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. John Werner: Backpacking Weminuche Wilderness not easy, but worth the My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? After all, it was Saturday evening. Weminuche Wilderness - Elk Park to Needleton - The Wild Perspective Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Clothes and gear is now dry (mostly), and we wreaked of smoke. This was worth the trip alone and something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime! I did this loop in Late August in the mid 90s and must have gotten a lucky dry weather window. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. 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. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. This looks more like some of the pictures Id seen of the San Juans before our trip. Miles Hiked 10.4 Recommended Posts. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. Cell service is highly unlikely. I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. Im sure the views would have been great here in the absence of the clouds, but this was still pretty cool. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) 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. Twin Lakes, still waiting for early morning light to hit tis waters. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. 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). He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. 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. Por lo general, se considera una ruta moderada, que se tarda una media de 20 h 5 min en recorrer. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). We snacked on sour patch kids by the fire for a while before letting it burn out. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails I took it out of its stuff sack and unrolled it and the looks on their faces were just priceless. Parking is available at the Silverton Depot at no charge. I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. Hiking The Elk Park/Needleton Loop Weminuche Wilderness As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. 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. Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). The fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. El mejor momento para visitar esta . 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. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. 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. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. Getting down to the water and going through the process of purifying the water was a bit of a pain here, but I wanted to get it out of the way in case it started raining again. It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. 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. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. Leave from Durango or Silverton and get off to explore at Elk Park, Needleton or one of the flagstops. Black flies were a pain the whole week. Sad to see all the beetle damage. I like having dry gear! They were finally able to scare the goats away for good by barking at them like a dog. Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). Completed this loop early July 2021. I couldnt resist the chance to whip out my Klymit Inertia X-Frame sleeping pad that I bought a few months back. We returned back to the shack for a while, but decided to wait at the track 15 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. I have done this one twice!! You write quite well. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. I highly recommend it. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). It was a little windy last night, which can make it hard to sleep. My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. The trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. There were also a lot of flowers alongside the trail, and there were tons of butterflies on them. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). Would that be too early in the season? We made the decision to cut our trek short. Weminuche Loop - The JimmyJam Hiking Club Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. There were no beavers. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. He sure did look delicious, haha. Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. Your email address will not be published. . 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. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. The nature back there is unbelievable. Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. 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. DRGW.Net | Elk Park, CO This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. Today we slept in to 6am. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. Lisa spent the morning chasing away mountain goats. We brought along this Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. 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 passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! There was only one truck by Kite Lake, and we saw no people. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & 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. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Success! Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. Now back on the trail, we were approaching the CDT. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. Sunlight Peak via Needle Creek Trail | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Never miss a new post! These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. View Profile Lisa made it up 15 minutes later, but we didnt stick around too long. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. It was well worn and looked much less difficult than I had imagined. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. Tips for Camping With Your Kids in Durango, Colorado. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. As of the 2013 season, a round-trip ticket is $90.10 + $10.00 for your pack. Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. It was eerie and mesmerizing at the same time. Make sure everyone in your party books the train together. 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 trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. First, dont forget your sunglasses! Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. Nice! This route includes 3 trails. There was a snowshoe hare, or multiple hares, that I kept seeing as I gathered wood. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. Finally, some views! 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 . Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. A mine along the trail leading down into Chicago Basin. Down to Eldorado. Excellent views all around. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. We settled for this spot and set up camp by 4pm or so. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. Columbine Pass The crowning jewel on our recent vacation to Colorado was an epic backpacking trip. 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. It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. Eolus. The water was deep and fast flowing here. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. I modified my workout regimen before this hike to try and strengthen certain parts of the leg muscles that support the knee function, some intense stair climb sessions (45lb pack), as well as doing a lot more stretching. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Awesome, glad it was useful to you. By the time we were leaving the treeline behind, foul weather had returned. Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. The skies were cloudy all around us though. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. Miles Hiked 7.4 On day three, we made our way up and over the Continental Divide and into the beautiful meadow just below Hunchback Pass. Awesome views all around, but it was still cold and precipitating out and thus my camera stayed under my rain jacket. 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 They didnt seem afraid of humans at all. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! Go figure, good weather on the last day. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). There were many stream crossings and several large waterfalls that we passed, but due to the weather and number of miles we had to cover, we didnt spend any time checking most of them out. The cinders get in your eyes too, and they recommend that you wear sunglasses as a form of protection. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . Very useful. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Great hope they dont cause us any trouble tonight. They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. They watched as I hiked right past them, which I did after taking a few pictures. Still, there were several more people that were waiting by the train tracks and elsewhere. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. 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. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. You can use this file with your GPS unit, or load it in caltopo.com (or your favorite mapping website or application). I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. At the bridge over New York Creek, there was a waterfall right there along the trail.. Animas River, from the bridge at the Needleton train stop. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. . For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. The mountain goats I saw on the rocks earlier were in the same general spot on my way back. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. At Twin Lakes, the terrain is a bit less hospitable, and fewer campsite options with all the rocks and stuff. Also, bring a way to filter water. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. 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. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. 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. The train gives outdoors lovers immediate access to the Weminuche Wilderness and San Juan National Forest for hiking, backpacking, rafting, fishing and other activities. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. From the drainage area, it was easy to cross to the other side of the lake. So far, so good. Would you advise camping at Twin Lakes? This time wasn't as bad as 1993, where my ancient A-frame tent blew down, but I'd suggest doing it in August for longer days and less rain. It also didnt hurt that we pampered ourselves a little afterwards with a leisurely day at Pagosa Springs. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. Its too bad that we had already eaten dinner before starting this fire, because we still had hot dogs that we could have cooked tonight. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. They were just ahead of me on the trail, but again, I was able to scare them off by simply throwing my arms in the air. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Hiking Route | Trailforks Soon enough it was back to the rain. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. with an Osprey water bladder. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. At 36 miles in length, this trip would likely span four or five days for average hikers, and it offers the unique ability to ride the Durango-Silverton train to access the trail. Highly recommend. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. 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.