Browse different rides & seasonal events. Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. Our most reliable digital map was from Garmin, within the Garmin Explore app on my phone. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. I got injured jumping off the bridge there, so we couldn't complete the hike north over hunchback pass, and down Elk creekwe were kinda bummed. Cell service is highly unlikely. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. As of the 2013 season, a round-trip ticket is $90.10 + $10.00 for your pack. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. After all, it was Saturday evening. Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. 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. This was a class 3 in my opinion. 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). View Profile We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. 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 . We had cinders in your hair most of the trip, they didnt seem to go away! Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. It was very quiet once the train left Elk Park. It has been our group's favorite for several years. with an Osprey water bladder. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. 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?? Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. When we stopped for lunch, two deer wandered into our resting area. Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. Todays hike was all uphill, but it wasnt too strenuous. I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. This was perfect! Shortly after Elk Park along the Colorado Trail, also called the Elk Park trail for this section. I'll never forget it. Our morning routine is a little more polished now, and we were on the trail by 7am. Bob Marshall. So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. Your email address will not be published. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. 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. I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). There were no signs of private property here, so we hung out here while we waited for the train. Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. Once past the tricky part near the top of the pass, it was your general steep descent via switchbacks. Our total distance was about 42 miles. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. I'm a traveler who loves to eat. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. After taking some great photos near the lake, I started heading down. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet. Since cell service is unlikely, the Garmin InReach Mini 2 became our lifeline. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. It was raining up here and quite cold. As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Moderate (39) Weminuche Wilderness Photos (318) Directions Print/PDF Map Share Experience this 57.9-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. Great hope they dont cause us any trouble tonight. 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. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. So far, so good. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Moderate 4.6 (42) Weminuche Wilderness Photos (363) Directions Print/PDF map Length 37.5 miElevation gain 8,579 ftRoute type Point to point Head out on this 37.5-mile point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. 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. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. One of the things that makes this loop so special is that the trailheads can both be reached via the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad, a tourist train pulled by a steam locomotive that has been used in dozens of . It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. 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. We saw 3 hikers coming down Hunchback Pass earlier as we were going up, and didnt see anyone else today until we got about a mile from the Vallecito Creek Bridge. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. First, dont forget your sunglasses! It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! Thank you for taking the time to write it! Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. Have a good hike! We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip. I climbed up the highest hill along the edge which was roughly 12,700ft, which provided awesome views of Eldorado and everything else around. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. Awesome views all around, but it was still cold and precipitating out and thus my camera stayed under my rain jacket. It worked perfectly. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. He sure did look delicious, haha. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Leave a Comment. . 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. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. What a morale booster it was. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. Yet another day we found ourselves traversing a pass in bad weather. Getting down to the water and going through the process of purifying the water was a bit of a pain here, but I wanted to get it out of the way in case it started raining again. The water was deep and fast flowing here. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. Ill send this to your email as well. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. 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. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. Never miss a new post! Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. I like having dry gear! Down to Eldorado. Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. 2/21/22 12:55pm. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. The altitude will affect water filters and food cook time, which is usually explained on the packaging. Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. 5h 16m. It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete. There were a few more mines along the trail here, and one appeared to be deeper than the others we had explored. I think we also got hailed on every day as well, with the exception of our last day. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. Every campground, hotel, and intersection we passed, there were people waving at the train. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. Happy trails! Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. 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 This was my first hike of more than five miles. 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. Your email address will not be published. We didn't. Windward_Coug. Awesome, glad it was useful to you. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. El mejor momento para visitar esta . Where the lake began to drain out down the mountainside, there were remnants of an old dam here. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. Excellent views all around. Back, finally! 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. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. The views were awe inspiring, but of course, it began to rain. Todays hike will take us the rest of the way up the Elk Creek drainage along the Colorado trail, where well hit the Continental Divide Trail, or CDT. There were only one or two campsites occupied here, and it would have been a nice place to stay the night if we didnt already have our trip planned out. After climbing about a third of the way up to the CDT, I hit a switchback, which I gladly used the rest of the way up. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. 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. The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. This hike primary route. After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. 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. They didnt seem afraid of humans at all. You take a train from Durango that. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. Prepare to not have a cell signal. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. Id say we averaged 5 people seen per day on days 1-4. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. Where did you get the map? I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. I was very surprised that there were no seats available, the train was pretty packed. Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. Our food and gear were safe from the mice last night, so that was a relief. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. I put my poles away now as I found it necessary to use my hands a little here and there going up some of the boulders. 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). Actually, mid May. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. The Animas River. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. The plan was to camp at either Kite Lake or Eldorado Lake, whichever looked more appealing.