You can purchase a ticket to or from Elk Park onboard as long as space is availableno reservations are taken for this flag stop. He had camped in this area, not by Eldorado, and thus had left the trail to set up his camp. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. Miles Hiked 14.5 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 Tomorrow is going to be a long day. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. 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. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). 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. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. Thanks for sharing. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. Heres what we learned while preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike, plus a few things I wish Id known ahead of time! Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. I took it out of its stuff sack and unrolled it and the looks on their faces were just priceless. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. There were a lot of berries along the trail, although not all edible. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. Also, this area of the Weminuche has quite the rodent population. After driving around town, we realized that there was zero parking available anywhere. 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. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. Since cell service is unlikely, the Garmin InReach Mini 2 became our lifeline. The mountain goats I saw on the rocks earlier were in the same general spot on my way back. It was raining up here and quite cold. 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. I watched the bolts of lightning in the distance for a while before going to bed. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. Any feedback appreciated. Where did you get the map? I used a Garmin InReach Mini 2 to track our location, and any time we came to an unmarked trail junction, we knew which way to go. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. As crappy as the weather has been all day, I havent seen any lightning yet. Back, finally! Miles Hiked 5.4 I climbed up the highest hill along the edge which was roughly 12,700ft, which provided awesome views of Eldorado and everything else around. Todays hike will take us down by Kite Lake, over Hunchback Pass, and all the way down to the Vallecito Creek bridge, near Johnson Creek. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. Breathtaking! This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. Thanks for sharing. They watched as I hiked right past them, which I did after taking a few pictures. In addition to us, there was also a group of 2, 3, and 4 other hikers who also got off the train. 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. The map in my trip report is generated from a wordpress plugin, where I uploaded my GPX file of the hike. 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. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. This route includes 3 trails. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. After crossing the bridge over the Animas River to the train tracks on the other side, we spotted an abandoned shack. Just import my GPX file and then you can print it out. Looking down on Columbine Lake near the top of Columbine Pass. I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. Excellent trip, lots of varied terrain, meadows, forests, small mountain ponds and lakes, avalanche tree slides, large and small rock slides, multiple high passes with great views. It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. 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. Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. 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. We had about 7 miles of downhill hiking to the train, which arrives at 3:30, and thus were not in a hurry. I only saw a steep trail consisting of loose rock. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. So, they suggested to take train from Needleton to Silverton, wait for 1.5h and then return back to Elk Park for the price of full ticket Durango-Silverton . I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. The altitude on this backpacking loop varies from around 8,000 to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. Great backpacking experience!! At least we had somewhere to sit now, that was nice. Creating new thru-hiking routes & guides, hiking videos, outdoor documentaries, backpacking trip reports, trail journals, photos and more! The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Trees blocked most of the views. Vallecito Basin, which lies below Columbine pass, was pretty nice. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. The nature back there is unbelievable. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. Whitewater rafting with professional guides. 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. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. There was goat hair all around the campsite, but we had yet to see one. After taking some great photos near the lake, I started heading down. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. 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. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. There was only one other campsite occupied the we could see in the area, so it wasnt too crowded. Very well done! Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. 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). Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! 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. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. When taking a train leaving from Durango, you need to be in your seat 30 minutes before departure. 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. People really are friendly in Colorado! The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. I was mainly happy to dry out my boots. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. It was about 1/3 the size of his sleeping pad, and as far as I know, is the lightest one on the market at 9.1 ounces. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. Browse different rides & seasonal events. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. It was incredible to see the clouds taking over the area! This is the beaver pond that people often reference when hiking this section of trail. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. 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. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. I hope your backpacking trip is just as epic as ours was. Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. I didnt rain much though. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. This route climbs 8,523 ft with a max elevation of 12,843 ft then descends -9,174 ft. Local Trail Association Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. 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. 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. After working so hard to get to the top, I couldnt justify turning around immediately. 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. 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. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. At Twin Lakes, the terrain is a bit less hospitable, and fewer campsite options with all the rocks and stuff. During the summer months, May-October, adventurers can access the wilderness from the Durango train. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. The Elk Park to Needleton backpacking loop near Silverton, Colorado, covers over 40 miles and features stunning mountain vistas. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) 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 Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. 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. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. The water is gorgeous. Venchka. Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. Your email address will not be published. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. Any and all kinds of weather! Sad to see all the beetle damage. Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. There were no other campsites nearby and extremely close to the trail leading up to the three 14ers in Chicago Basin: Windom Peak, Sunlight Peak, and Mt. After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. . I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. The water tasted great and was very cold. It was cloudy and grey though, so pictures werent coming out good. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. Where the lake began to drain out down the mountainside, there were remnants of an old dam here. What a place for a cabin though! I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. Thanks for sharing this one. The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. All of our gear was dry and life was good. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. 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. It even had some rails leading in and out of it. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Thanks for the trip report, I had originally planned just on Chicago Basin but will now do the whole loop after seeing your report and talking to the forest service rangers. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. It was a little windy last night, which can make it hard to sleep. 2/21/22 12:49pm. A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. More jokes were cracked to the effect of mines smaller than yours and isnt it usually the other way around?. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. Next stop: Wilderness. Miles Hiked 7.4 It has been our group's favorite for several years. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. Or are there other routes you could r commend for some stream and lake fishing? I was following a GPX track on my GPS of another person who had hiked this loop, and his track led me off trail a little bit. Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. I dont know which to trust, but it was a long day regardless. Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. Leave a Comment. Not once did we get wet crossing a stream. 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. . PS. I like having dry gear! The other guy was impressed with its small size. 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. Your email address will not be published. 18-21 September 2017. Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. Before we knew it, we saw the Weminuche Wilderness boundary sign. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. Yet another day we found ourselves traversing a pass in bad weather. 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 Thank you so much for your detailed description! Hi Ryan, Thats definitely too early in the season. That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. Looking for a slightly larger backpacking pack that will still fit a short torso? It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. False alarm. Very useful. Any way to access this trail without riding the train? This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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. But we opted to take the train! 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. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. I figured more people would be out here doing the full loop like we were doing, but that clearly wasnt the case. I didnt want to push Lisa too much in the first few days so I think the plan for days 1 and 2 were pretty good. With no campfire, stars to gaze at, or any other reason to remain awake, we went to bed as the sun went down. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. So far, so good. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. Make sure everyone in your party books the train together. I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. 2. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. Prueba esta ruta de punto a punto de 37,3-millas cerca de Silverton, Colorado. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery | Weminuche HD Video. There was an insane amount of biting flies and mosquitoes by the river here though, and I was regretting my decision to leave the bug spray and mosquito head net behind. The skies were cloudy all around us though. Try this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. This hike primary route. Eventually, it became steeper, to the point where there were some moments of exposure. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Im taking a group on essentially this same trip in a couple weeks, and your pictures and story are very inspiring.

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