elk park train stop to needleton

Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. Strider1. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? Here's an overview! I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. This is when the fog really started growing. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. 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. I knew the vegetation was still wet from last evenings rain, and didnt feel like being soaked to the bone if the trail happens to go through dense foliage. 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 didn't. Windward_Coug. 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. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. Wed been in Colorado a week now, doing other cool stuff like the Colorado National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Denver & Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park, Telluride, etc. Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. Enjoy the hike, its a good one! At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. 2. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. We camped at ~9300 ft. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. 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. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. We snacked on sour patch kids by the fire for a while before letting it burn out. Very good tip report. Bugs were pretty bad this year. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. We had cinders in your hair most of the trip, they didnt seem to go away! El mejor momento para visitar esta . It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. 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. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. There were a few pockets of snow tucked away here and there, but nothing too large. Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? The oldest cart on the train was built in 1879, and the oldest engine was from 1925 I believe. Had never seen so many mountains (we're from OK). At what point along your route could you hike out and call it quits (or hike out for help)? Where the lake began to drain out down the mountainside, there were remnants of an old dam here. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. Train ride through the beautiful San Juan mountains on the way to our drop off point at Elk Park. By tnmule20, February 10, 2022 in Camping & High Adventure. We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. Would that be too early in the season? At least we had somewhere to sit now, that was nice. We made the decision to cut our trek short. The ones that did look edible werent ripe yet. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. It was the kind of terrain, like sand, that feels like you take one step back for every two steps forward. The times we've done this, the train departed Silverton about 2:45 PM and dropped us of by 3:45 PM. Trees blocked most of the views. Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). She said that several of them approached the campsite and some got extremely close. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The skies were cloudy all around us though. This hike is definitely a good one! Our stop is Elk Park, a 3 hour ride from Durango. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 36 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Silverton, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. I dont know which to trust, but it was a long day regardless. Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). Either way, it was going to be another short day with only about 6 miles to cover. 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. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. He discourses on his own mortality, about getting too old to have such adventures, and striking your own path in life while you still can." Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Looking back, I wish I had checked it out. Basin and Range Trail (2020) I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. PDF Trip to Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest, Colorado We were on the trail at 7:30, and saw a few more goats as we made our way out of Chicago Basin. Lisa made it up 15 minutes later, but we didnt stick around too long. 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. 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 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. Eolus. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. Sometimes 2 to a flower. I think we also got hailed on every day as well, with the exception of our last day. It was well worn and looked much less difficult than I had imagined. I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am. Actually, mid May. Preparing for Elk Park to Needleton Loop - Champagne Tastes You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. 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. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. The cinders get in your eyes too, and they recommend that you wear sunglasses as a form of protection. 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. I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. False alarm. 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. 2/21/22 12:49pm. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. 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. As of the 2013 season, a round-trip ticket is $90.10 + $10.00 for your pack. What a morale booster it was. Black flies were a pain the whole week. Seeking Lost: Thru-Hiking & Backpacking Adventures, Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 8 Day Rockhounding & Mineral Collecting in the Santa Teresa Mountains, AZ (Nov 2022), How Much Did It Cost?? Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). I saw maybe 10 people on day 5, and probably about 60 on day 6. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. Elk Park Stop Elk Creek Trail This trail travels east from the railroad, climbing into the upper reaches of the Needle Mountains. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. The correct way to flag the train and let the conductor know youd like to board is by waving your hands across your knees. Thanks for sharing this one. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. Comments are not currently showing up on my site right now, need to troubleshoot that. We returned back to the shack for a while, but decided to wait at the track 15 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival. On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. Since youll be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, you should be Bear Aware. The views were awe inspiring, but of course, it began to rain. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. Share Followers 0. The nature back there is unbelievable. The water tasted great and was very cold. Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. Recommended Posts. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. 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 final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. 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. Sad to see all the beetle damage. 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. Now back on the trail, we were approaching the CDT. I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. Weminuche Wilderness Trails - Durango Trails As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. I watched the bolts of lightning in the distance for a while before going to bed. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. I like having dry gear! PS. 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. Esta ruta es popular para mochilear, disfrutar de la observacin de aves y ir de camping, sin embargo, podrs disfrutar de algo de paz durante los momentos ms tranquilos del da. We did not have gloves (other than one pair of fingerless gloves I use when gathering/breaking firewood and climbing), so our hands were getting a little numb. A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. The on and off rain was definitely a bummer though. 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). The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! It was pretty hot when the sun was shining, but it didnt shine too long. To close the loop I have to get from Needleton fo Elk Park (6.5mi). When youre in the Chicago Basin, watch for mountain goats! (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Cant wait to try this trip myself! Needleton Bridge Trailhead // Colorado 13ers 18-21 September 2017. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. I wonder how they get to their homes, since there are no roads anywhere near here. 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. San Juan National Forest - Elk Creek Trail/ Colorado Trail (503) Tomorrow is going to be a long day. There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train. After driving around town, we realized that there was zero parking available anywhere. Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. I'm a traveler who loves to eat. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. There was goat hair all around the campsite, but we had yet to see one. We heard later that there was a porcupine in the area chewing on things, so it couldve been the culprit. 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). This was worth the trip alone and something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime! 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 trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Our most reliable digital map was from Garmin, within the Garmin Explore app on my phone. . Are there fishing opportunities along this route? The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. 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! Miles Hiked 5.4 Bob Marshall. I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. This route includes 3 trails. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. 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. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Back Packing Train These guys didnt seem as threatening though. Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. It was very quiet once the train left Elk Park. In good weather it should not be a problem. I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. 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. It worked perfectly. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. When we visited in September, the days were hot and the nights were cold. The water was deep and fast flowing here. I figured the total mileage for today would be about 14 miles, but everything after mile 4 or so would be downhill. That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! We saw very little traffic through our area where we camped, despite being right next to the trail. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. Excellent views all around. They were finally able to scare the goats away for good by barking at them like a dog. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. I can use train but according to DSNGRR schedule, their trains stops EITHER in Needlton OR in Elk Park, but not in BOTH. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. The Weminuche Loop is a classic 40-50 mile horseshoe hike that starts at Elk Park and ends at Needleton. I decided to head downhill in a hurry. Other trip reports Ive read have indicated that its been this way for years. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. I took the driest looking campsite I could find, which wasnt saying much. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. 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. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. This is the beaver pond that people often reference when hiking this section of trail. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. The amazing view from Hunchback Pass clouds. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. Leave a Comment. 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. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. When youre leaving from Durango, youll need to have your gear in the boxcar at least 45 minutes before departure. Y0ou could really see just ow red it was with a little sunlight. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. There was only one truck by Kite Lake, and we saw no people. So far, so good. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. Past that meadow, the trail begins to climb past the treeline. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. Today was going to be almost all uphill, heading over Columbine Pass and down into Chicago Basin. Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. This route climbs 8,523 ft with a max elevation of 12,843 ft then descends -9,174 ft. Local Trail Association Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. This was my first hike of more than five miles. A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). Clothes and gear is now dry (mostly), and we wreaked of smoke. Down to Eldorado. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. The water in Elk Creek was super clear, so I didnt have to pre-filter any of it before using my Steri-Pen Opti UV water purifier. I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. You'll need to reserve this option in advance, but it makes for a great opportunity to explore the San Juan National Forest. Completed this loop early July 2021. 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. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. 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. 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). I was mainly happy to dry out my boots. We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. Would you advise camping at Twin Lakes? 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. 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 All of our gear was dry and life was good. The skies did not look good and I was not sure whether or not I would be climbing tomorrow. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. We saw several deer and prairie dogs before getting into the mountains.

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