The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. Weminuche Wilderness Trails - Durango Trails 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! Share Followers 0. 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. The water tasted great and was very cold. Clothes and gear is now dry (mostly), and we wreaked of smoke. Ill send this to your email as well. Oregon Desert Trail (2022) *Coming Soon Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. Past that meadow, the trail begins to climb past the treeline. Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. This is when the fog really started growing. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. I wonder how they get to their homes, since there are no roads anywhere near here. Lisa was quite scared here, and it took a lot of coaxing to get her to move. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). Would that be too early in the season? I only saw a steep trail consisting of loose rock. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. 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. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. There were tons of mines dotting the mountainside, some of which looked pretty difficult to get to. Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. One guy stopped and said Whoa, what are you doing going up that? Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. Im sure the views would have been great here in the absence of the clouds, but this was still pretty cool. I decided to head downhill in a hurry. 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. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. The train showed up about 5-10 minutes late, but was a welcome sight nonetheless. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. As crappy as the weather has been all day, I havent seen any lightning yet. 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. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. The water was deep and fast flowing here. After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. PS. Lower elevations and farther south, definitely no snow and the spring melt off is going to be done by then. Our food and gear were safe from the mice last night, so that was a relief. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. The trail follows the 44 road past the lake, and then winds towards the trail leading up to Hunchback Pass. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. 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. However, to hike this trail as I did, you will need to secure a train reservation through the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 2023 Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Silverton | AllTrails I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. After realizing that, I looked around and could see where the trail picked up again, and started hiking directly towards the trail in the distance. If you found my trip report useful, please dont hesitate to leave a comment! Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). It also didnt hurt that we pampered ourselves a little afterwards with a leisurely day at Pagosa Springs. The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. I feel like my extra efforts in training before this trip really made the difference in my knees. Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. For shelter, we carried a backpacking tent, as well as a double sleeping pad, Sea to Summit Thermolite sleeping bag liners, and a compressible backpacking quilt. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. 5h 16m. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! Vestal Peak : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. You write quite well. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. Very good tip report. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. 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. Just as I hit that switchback, a few hikers came into view on the way down from the CDT. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. The Elk Park to Needleton backpacking loop near Silverton, Colorado, covers over 40 miles and features stunning mountain vistas. And what a campsite that would be, killer views! Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. John Werner: Backpacking Weminuche Wilderness not easy, but worth the All of our gear was dry and life was good. So much for being packed. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! 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. We were on the trail at 7:30, and saw a few more goats as we made our way out of Chicago Basin. 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. There were a bunch of waterfalls along Needle Creek though. The views were awe inspiring, but of course, it began to rain. You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. The Elk Park to Needleton loop in the Weminuche Wilderness, to be precise. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. PDF Trip to Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest, Colorado These guys didnt seem as threatening though. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. Next I found myself on the saddle below the approach to Windom Peak. Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. When we visited in September, the days were hot and the nights were cold. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. 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. 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 . There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. Weminuche Wilderness - Elk Park to Needleton - The Wild Perspective Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. But there would be no sleeping in tomorrow morning though, because we were off to the Great Sand Dunes National Park! After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. Thanks for sharing. Top things to do in Durango, Colorado - Uncover Colorado The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. Weminuche Loop - The JimmyJam Hiking Club Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. They watched as I hiked right past them, which I did after taking a few pictures. 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. Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. On the trail by 7am today, we headed up to the CDT once again. Absolutely stunning! When youre in the Chicago Basin, watch for mountain goats! The weather was cloudy and more scattered rain throughout the rest of the day. If we werent wet and hungry, I might have stopped to check it out further, but again, we were on a mission to find camp. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. Your email address will not be published. We made it to Chicago Basin and I made it to the "saddle" of Sunlight peak before talking myself out of going up the rest of the way (regretting it to this day). Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. I guess thats good, because that was less people we saw on the other days. 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. To board at a flagstop, you must be on the east side of the tracks. We got to the train station around 7:15am, as we were told to be there 45 minutes early. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. Now back on the trail, we were approaching the CDT. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. My backpack did get burned by an ember though, so I was a little bummed about that, but it should be something I can patch up. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. The on and off rain was definitely a bummer though. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. As the evening progressed, we saw several deer both near our camp and off in the distance. This hike primary route. 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. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. 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. Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. The weather was once again threatening to rain as I made it to the top, finally sitting up on the CDT. Any way to access this trail without riding the train? Apparently, they felt more threatened by that than the rocks whizzing by their heads. Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! 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. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. The skies did not look good and I was not sure whether or not I would be climbing tomorrow. You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. I asked one of the train workers if we could sit in the covered carts even though we had tickets for the open cart, and he said sure, if theres a seat available. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. 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. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. I can use train but according to DSNGRR schedule, their trains stops EITHER in Needlton OR in Elk Park, but not in BOTH. You have to make the backpacker train reservations by phone, not online. More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. View Profile With no campfire, stars to gaze at, or any other reason to remain awake, we went to bed as the sun went down. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Hi Ryan, Thats definitely too early in the season. By tnmule20, February 10, 2022 in Camping & High Adventure. 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. Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. Tips for Camping With Your Kids in Durango, Colorado. 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 . About a half hour later we arrived at the bridge, and it was a welcome sight. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Required fields are marked *. As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Miles Hiked 5.4 Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete. If youre boarding the train at a flag stop, you need to alert the conductor. Leave a Comment. This was already painting a picture of what Chicago Basin might be like tomorrow, as it is supposed to be the most heavily used area in the Weminuche Wilderness. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. If needed, when you reach the Vallecito and Johnson Creek trail junction, you could hike about 10 miles to the Vallecito Reservoir, a popular lake area. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. Miles Hiked 5.4 What a place for a cabin though! To my amazement, the sky was 100% clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. Basin and Range Trail (2020) 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. But we opted to take the train! Thank you for taking the time to write it! Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. Breathtaking! He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. In summer, you may want to bring along a bug net to fit over your hat to protect yourself from mosquitoes, gnats and black flies. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? 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. Fog billowed from distant peaks, and it was pretty dark around me as well now. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). I have done this one twice!! This route includes 3 trails. It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. Where the lake began to drain out down the mountainside, there were remnants of an old dam here. Length: 7.9 mi Est. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Reddit - Dive into anything On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. We snacked on sour patch kids by the fire for a while before letting it burn out. Trees blocked most of the views. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Thanks for sharing this one. But, thats another story for another trip report. He sure did look delicious, haha. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. The trail leading down to Kite Lake from the CDT, View of Kite Lake, before it disappeared in the growing fog. Not this time though! However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. I was mainly happy to dry out my boots. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. People really are friendly in Colorado! When we stopped for lunch, two deer wandered into our resting area. Leave from Durango or Silverton and get off to explore at Elk Park, Needleton or one of the flagstops. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. Thats why, if you come from a lower elevation like us, I recommend easing yourself into it while youre preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike! Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. 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. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. Oh well. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! Swampy, muddy areas where your foot sinks ankle deep in mud are also likely, as well as multiple creek crossings. Elk Park to Needleton Backpacking Loop - Champagne Tastes This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. I saw maybe 10 people on day 5, and probably about 60 on day 6. 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. 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. All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. Thanks for sharing. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. How bad was the narrow passage near Chicago Basin? Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. A hiking boot is preferable. I've begun planning my adventures for this summer, and while there will be a handful of overnighters and long weekends, I've settled on the Elk Park-Needleton Loop for my main trip. Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. Y0ou could really see just ow red it was with a little sunlight. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. I highly recommend it. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. 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. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! 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. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton - Colorado | AllTrails This hike is definitely a good one! Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. At Twin Lakes, the terrain is a bit less hospitable, and fewer campsite options with all the rocks and stuff. The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Was the extra research and time spent preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton trip worth it? Our morning routine is a little more polished now, and we were on the trail by 7am. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain.
