Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. Sultan Peak | Map, Guide - Silverton, CO | AllTrails On the trail by 7am today, we headed up to the CDT once again. 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. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. Heres what we learned while preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike, plus a few things I wish Id known ahead of time! 1. Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. We also brought along these touch-screen activewear gloves, Buffs to help protect us from sun (or keep our ears warm), silk thermals for a base layer, and a balaclava to keep warm at night. Very useful. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. The Weminuche Loop is a classic 40-50 mile horseshoe hike that starts at Elk Park and ends at Needleton. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. Today we slept in to 6am. At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). 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. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. It rained a little very briefly when I got back, then was party sunny the rest of the day with only a few intermittent showers. The skies were cloudy all around us though. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Down from the pass, we still had a good 10 miles to cover today. 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. From a distance, I could see faint lines on the hillside that were definitely the switchbacks. I figured the total mileage for today would be about 14 miles, but everything after mile 4 or so would be downhill. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. Other trip reports Ive read have indicated that its been this way for years. I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet. 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. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. We heard later that there was a porcupine in the area chewing on things, so it couldve been the culprit. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. In good weather it should not be a problem. Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. Continental Divide Trail (2018), "His breathing is measured as he narrates his journey, describing the personal allure of the great outdoors, the difference between mere hobby and real passion. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. Yes there is. 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. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. 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. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. They could not believe how small the pad was, but I got the impression it was too ultralight for them. Apparently, they felt more threatened by that than the rocks whizzing by their heads. Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. We were on the trail at 7:30, and saw a few more goats as we made our way out of Chicago Basin. Thanks for sharing. The skies did not look good and I was not sure whether or not I would be climbing tomorrow. 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. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. The amazing view from Hunchback Pass clouds. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. False alarm. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. 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. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. 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. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. We made the decision to cut our trek short. As another hiker had told me earlier today, there were a lot of rodent holes in this area, and I could see mice running around everywhere. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. DRGW.Net | Elk Park, CO The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. 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). I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! When we stopped for lunch, two deer wandered into our resting area. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. Your email address will not be published. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. I highly recommend it. As of the 2013 season, a round-trip ticket is $90.10 + $10.00 for your pack. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. Very nice trip report! No hot dogs tonight, maybe night 3. Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. As crappy as the weather has been all day, I havent seen any lightning yet. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. Complete Camper Van Build Parts & Materials Spreadsheet, Zion National Park Hiking Angels Landing & The Narrows, CDT Section Hike 2021 Never Summer Wilderness & Parkview Mountain, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 9: Quartzsite to Kofa, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 8: Bouse to Quartzsite, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 7: Lake Havasu to Bouse, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 6: Bullhead City to Lake Havasu, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 5: Searchlight to Bullhead City, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 4: Boulder City to Searchlight, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 3: Callville Bay to Boulder City, Mojave-Sonoran Trail Thru Hike 2021 Section 2: Echo Bay to Callville Bay, Las Vegas Review-Journal article on the Basin and Range Trail, Location Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO, Park Type National Forest, Wilderness Area, Trail Type Semi loop Train drops you off and picks you up, Fires Allowed Yes (No fires in Chicago Basin or Needleton drainage). Tomorrow is going to be a long day. The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. Great hike! The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. This will give you time to make it to your seats before the final boarding call. Soul Rider. It resides at 8,277 feet of elevation in San Juan County. Twin Lakes, still waiting for early morning light to hit tis waters. 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. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. PS. San Juan National Forest. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. Then on the way back, youll catch the southbound train at Needleton and ride back to Durango. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. Actually, mid May. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. As the evening progressed, we saw several deer both near our camp and off in the distance. I'm hoping that we weren't unncessarilly cautious and missed out. Hello, solitude. Wouldnt you know it, as soon as we got all the wood together, it started raining. All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. So much for being packed. The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Here, there were several more mountain goats hanging out on the rocks by a small pool of water. The water was deep and fast flowing here. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. The cinders get in your eyes too, and they recommend that you wear sunglasses as a form of protection. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. We departed about 15 minutes late, and slowly made our way out of Durango. They watched as I hiked right past them, which I did after taking a few pictures. 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 is a wide spot in the Animas River canyon located at milepost 490.5 on the Silverton Branch of the San Juan Extension. 2. Some of the rocks were covered in ice making them extremely slippery too, so I had to be very careful once I neared the top. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. Not cheap by any means, but it was a cool way to enter and leave the wilderness. Passing through a colorful meadow on the morning of day 2, Nearing the treeline, the views start improving. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. 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. The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. Miles Hiked 14.5 Closing loop Needleton - Elk park - Durango Forum - Tripadvisor My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Cant wait to try this trip myself! One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! Black flies were a pain the whole week. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. This was our third trek on this trail. Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). Miles Hiked 7.4 This route includes 3 trails. Wilderness Access Train Rides - Durango.com I forced myself to get out of the tent and go explore the area. Your email address will not be published. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? Looking for a slightly larger backpacking pack that will still fit a short torso? The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. I took it out of its stuff sack and unrolled it and the looks on their faces were just priceless. Thanks for sharing. Prepare to not have a cell signal. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. There were tons of mines dotting the mountainside, some of which looked pretty difficult to get to. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. Excellent views all around. My husband had an offline map downloaded in his Google Maps app, although we found it to be unreliable in the Vallecito Creek area. 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. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. Id say there were about 20 people total here waiting for the train. It was a little windy last night, which can make it hard to sleep. I guess thats good, because that was less people we saw on the other days. You write quite well. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! 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. Never miss a new post! Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. This is when the fog really started growing. Elk Park Stop Elk Creek Trail This trail travels east from the railroad, climbing into the upper reaches of the Needle Mountains. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. 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. Go figure, good weather on the last day. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. What a place for a cabin though! Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. They were finally able to scare the goats away for good by barking at them like a dog. 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. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. Thanks for sharing this one. Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! 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. Length: 7.9 mi Est. 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. I feel like my extra efforts in training before this trip really made the difference in my knees. 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. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. Just as I hit that switchback, a few hikers came into view on the way down from the CDT. The trail flattens out at the basin below Columbine Lake and once you arrive you're in for a real treat. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. This time, we were sure to be acclimated to the elevation. Browse different rides & seasonal events. This was a pizza by the slice kind of place, and the slices were enormous! 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. 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. 2/21/22 12:55pm. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Just import my GPX file and then you can print it out. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton 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. This was my first hike of more than five miles. 18-21 September 2017. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. At least we had somewhere to sit now, that was nice. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. You can use this file with your GPS unit, or load it in caltopo.com (or your favorite mapping website or application). Here comes my ride! Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. A hiking boot is preferable. These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. However, to hike this trail as I did, you will need to secure a train reservation through the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The other guy was impressed with its small size. Very well done! Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. It has been our group's favorite for several years. 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?? Basin and Range Trail (2020)
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