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We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. 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. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. I'll never forget it. Top things to do in Durango, Colorado - Uncover Colorado After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. There were a few pockets of snow tucked away here and there, but nothing too large. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. The plan was to camp at either Kite Lake or Eldorado Lake, whichever looked more appealing. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. In good weather it should not be a problem. I feel like my extra efforts in training before this trip really made the difference in my knees. 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. After driving around town, we realized that there was zero parking available anywhere. 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. Excellent views all around. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. 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. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. Swampy, muddy areas where your foot sinks ankle deep in mud are also likely, as well as multiple creek crossings. Creating new thru-hiking routes & guides, hiking videos, outdoor documentaries, backpacking trip reports, trail journals, photos and more! 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. 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. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. This hike primary route. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. 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. While it did have some beautiful parts, Particularly at the top of the Continental Divide and Columbine Pass, I was disappointed by the avalanche debris in the first 6 miles and the lack of trail maintenance on the section below hunchback pass to the Vallecito Bridge. We did this trip in September. 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 . Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip. 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. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. We made the decision to cut our trek short. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. DRGW.Net | Elk Park, CO Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. We are early 50s, fairly fit experienced hikers from Durango, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. She said that several of them approached the campsite and some got extremely close. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. Very good tip report. Required fields are marked *. Strider1. Once past the tricky part near the top of the pass, it was your general steep descent via switchbacks. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. Dogs are also able to. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Just as I hit that switchback, a few hikers came into view on the way down from the CDT. That is, of course, after hot meal and long hot shower! I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. Physically, I did pretty well on this hike. Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 37 mile less popular intermediate route located near Silverton Colorado. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. 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. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Also, this area of the Weminuche has quite the rodent population. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. Never miss a new post! I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. San Juan National Forest. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. Lisa spent the morning chasing away mountain goats. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. Was the extra research and time spent preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton trip worth it? Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. To my amazement, the sky was 100% clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. The water is gorgeous. 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. They can be a lifesaver on a long hike. 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. Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. Your email address will not be published. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. It was very quiet once the train left Elk Park. Elk Park to Needleton Backpack Loop - YouTube This was true for much of the trip. Elk Park to Needleton Loop, plus side trips including:-Vestal Basin . My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. I was rewarded with an amazing view of the Weminuche Wilderness, unobstructed by clouds for the first time all week. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! We walked down to Needle Creek and took a side path over to a waterfall, but besides that, we spent the rest of the day relaxing in camp mostly. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. Awesome, glad it was useful to you. PS. Arriving via a coal-powered train on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this excursion into the dramatic Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado gets off to a unique start. Soul Rider. Oregon Desert Trail (2022) *Coming Soon They didnt seem afraid of humans at all. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! Success! Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. Apparently, they felt more threatened by that than the rocks whizzing by their heads. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. You can use this file with your GPS unit, or load it in caltopo.com (or your favorite mapping website or application). After about 20 minutes of hiking, I ran into my first mountain goats of the day. The food issue didnt bother me much, I was mainly worried about the rodents chewing on our sweaty gear. The mountain goats I saw on the rocks earlier were in the same general spot on my way back. Hello, solitude. Your email address will not be published. Either way, it was going to be another short day with only about 6 miles to cover. Absolutely stunning! Elk Park-Needleton Loop. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) 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. Miles Hiked 7.4 Leave a Comment. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. I headed up and made good time moving through here as it was pretty easy. Preparing for Elk Park to Needleton Loop - Champagne Tastes It even had some rails leading in and out of it. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. 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. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. This was perfect! I would have taken more pictures, but I didnt want my camera to get wet. Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. If youre boarding the train at a flag stop, you need to alert the conductor. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. There was a new amazing view after every turn. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. Since youll be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, you should be Bear Aware. Sultan Peak | Map, Guide - Silverton, CO | AllTrails Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. How bad was the narrow passage near Chicago Basin? Here, there were several more mountain goats hanging out on the rocks by a small pool of water. Elk Park to Needleton Backpacking Loop - Champagne Tastes I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. Lisa was quite scared here, and it took a lot of coaxing to get her to move. We saw very little traffic through our area where we camped, despite being right next to the trail. Parking is available at the Silverton Depot at no charge. Great hope they dont cause us any trouble tonight. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. We camped at ~9300 ft. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! Carry a comfortable pack with a water reservoir. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. 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. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. After taking some great photos near the lake, I started heading down. As crappy as the weather has been all day, I havent seen any lightning yet. El mejor momento para visitar esta . The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Im taking a group on essentially this same trip in a couple weeks, and your pictures and story are very inspiring. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. I have a trip report on the Mogollon Mountains in the Gila Wilderness, but the popular side is the east side with all the rivers. Thank you for taking the time to write it! The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. Reddit - Dive into anything There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. This hike is definitely a good one! I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Just import my GPX file and then you can print it out. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Sunlight Peak via Needle Creek Trail | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Tomorrow is going to be a long day. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. After setting up camp, I decided to go down to the creek to purify some water. Down to Eldorado. 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.