elk park train stop to needleton

The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. 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. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. From there, youll have a choice of where youd like to go. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Wilderness Access Train Rides - Durango.com We kept the food bags in our packs too, which is kept in OPsaks. 18-21 September 2017. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. But we opted to take the train! Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? The trail leading down to Kite Lake from the CDT, View of Kite Lake, before it disappeared in the growing fog. But, thats another story for another trip report. 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. Back, finally! West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. Your email address will not be published. Weminuche Wilderness in southern Colorado. You take a train from We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. Yet another day we found ourselves traversing a pass in bad weather. With no campfire, stars to gaze at, or any other reason to remain awake, we went to bed as the sun went down. 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). Keep a close eye on your belongings: these feisty critters can chew threw packs quickly. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. Are there fishing opportunities along this route? Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. Prueba esta ruta de punto a punto de 37,3-millas cerca de Silverton, Colorado. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. We got to the train station around 7:15am, as we were told to be there 45 minutes early. The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. Finally, it was time to start this hike. Bugs were pretty bad this year. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. Its easy to explore the Colorado wilderness from the Durango train. I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. 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. Venchka. 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 . Molas Lake to Animas River via Molas Trail, Vestal Basin via Colorado and Elk Creek Trail, Stony Pass, ATV Trail 821, and Cinnamon Pass OHV Route. Oregon Desert Trail (2022) *Coming Soon 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 . The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. They can be a lifesaver on a long hike. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. This time, we were sure to be acclimated to the elevation. We camped at ~9300 ft. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. 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. The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. Down to Eldorado. 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. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. 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. Soul Rider. It was great to get some hot food in our stomachs before heading to our hotel in Pagosa Springs. There were tons of mines dotting the mountainside, some of which looked pretty difficult to get to. Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. The other guy was impressed with its small size. Thats how I do it these days. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. I climbed up the highest hill along the edge which was roughly 12,700ft, which provided awesome views of Eldorado and everything else around. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. Try this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. Weminuche Wilderness, CO - Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. He sure did look delicious, haha. I guess thats good, because that was less people we saw on the other days. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. 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. The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) By tnmule20, February 10, 2022 in Camping & High Adventure. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. As always, questions and comments are welcome! Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. 2/21/22 12:49pm. 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 I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. 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. Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. 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. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton - Colorado | AllTrails Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. Check out this 17.3-mile out-and-back trail near Durango, Colorado. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. Sultan Peak | Map, Guide - Silverton, CO | AllTrails Recommended Posts. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. The names of surrounding landmarks included Stormy Gulch and Storm King Peak, and now I understood why. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. Looking back, I wish I had checked it out. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. One option for a multi-day trip is from the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton. Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). The ones that did look edible werent ripe yet. From a distance, I could see faint lines on the hillside that were definitely the switchbacks. 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 Hello, solitude. This was true for much of the trip. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. The map in my trip report is generated from a wordpress plugin, where I uploaded my GPX file of the hike. The on and off rain was definitely a bummer though. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. I only saw a steep trail consisting of loose rock. I had also been considering a climb up Sunlight Peak as well, but it was so nice up here on Windom Peak that I decided to relax, and just enjoy the beautiful view. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Not cheap by any means, but it was a cool way to enter and leave the wilderness. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. 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. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. 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 updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. Swampy, muddy areas where your foot sinks ankle deep in mud are also likely, as well as multiple creek crossings. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. Alternatively, if you feel you have any information youd like to share with others regarding this hike, please feel free to leave that below in a comment as well. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) Prepare to not have a cell signal. She said that several of them approached the campsite and some got extremely close. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. We brought along this Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. Any feedback appreciated. This is the beaver pond that people often reference when hiking this section of trail. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) Weminuche Wilderness Trails - Durango Trails I headed up and made good time moving through here as it was pretty easy. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. From the drainage area, it was easy to cross to the other side of the lake. Success! It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. Also, bring a way to filter water. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails I didnt rain much though. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Either way, it was going to be another short day with only about 6 miles to cover. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Back Packing Train To board at a flagstop, you must be on the east side of the tracks. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. There is no cover up here by Eldorado Lake, which sits well above the treeline at 12,300ft. The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. As of the 2013 season, a round-trip ticket is $90.10 + $10.00 for your pack. Your email address will not be published. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Bob Marshall. People really are friendly in Colorado! Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. Any and all kinds of weather! After about 20 minutes of hiking, I ran into my first mountain goats of the day. Elk Park to Needleton Backpacking Loop - Champagne Tastes From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. If I were to do it again, I wouldve done a few more miles the first day - theres a nice campsite before the first peak. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? 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. Today we slept in to 6am. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. Closing loop Needleton - Elk park - Durango Forum - Tripadvisor Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. 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. The mountain goats I saw on the rocks earlier were in the same general spot on my way back. Here, theres a good view of Vestal Peak. 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. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. 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. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. We just finished this trail. Make sure everyone in your party books the train together. 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. Reddit - Dive into anything What a place for a cabin! I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. 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. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. Our total distance was about 42 miles. San Juan National Forest. 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. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. Weminuche Loop - The JimmyJam Hiking Club Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. 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. Fog billowed from distant peaks, and it was pretty dark around me as well now. I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. 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. During the summer months, May-October, adventurers can access the wilderness from the Durango train. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. 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. Since youll be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, you should be Bear Aware. Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. None of them seemed very dry though. 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. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 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. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. The correct way to flag the train and let the conductor know youd like to board is by waving your hands across your knees. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. Absolutely stunning! Length: 7.9 mi Est. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. 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. One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. 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. 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. 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. 2. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip.

Baby's Head Measuring 1 Week Behind, Missing Persons Illinois 2021, Articles E