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We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. I am going in Aug 2017 and want to make sure to get a good map. Shortly after, we saw the skull with spine still connected of some type of antlered animal alongside the trail. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. Sunlight Peak via Needle Creek Trail | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. Absolutely stunning! During the summer months, May-October, adventurers can access the wilderness from the Durango train. I didnt rain much though. And what a campsite that would be, killer views! The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. 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. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 37 mile less popular intermediate route located near Silverton Colorado. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! You would think that they would just find another place to hang out with no people nearby, but they kept trying to make their way down to our area. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. 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. Preparing for Elk Park to Needleton Loop - Champagne Tastes As the sun went down, the goats headed back up the mountainside for the evening. Also, bring a way to filter water. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? We made the decision to cut our trek short. 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. We are early 50s, fairly fit experienced hikers from Durango, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! However, to hike this trail as I did, you will need to secure a train reservation through the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. There were a bunch of waterfalls along Needle Creek though. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. After staring me down for a minute, they decided to move in my direction. Or are there other routes you could r commend for some stream and lake fishing? Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Never miss a new post! The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. I hope your backpacking trip is just as epic as ours was. The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. 7 of the Best Summer Backpacking Trips in the Mountain West 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. Fog billowed from distant peaks, and it was pretty dark around me as well now. For some reason, the mileage the GPS reports to me in the field is always more than the mileage it gives me at home when I am reviewing the final data. After all, it was Saturday evening. We changed clothes in the car and tried to mask our stench with deodorant and cologne/perfume before setting off into the city in search of food. drops you off in the middle of the wilderness (no car access) and do a loop that is absolutely beautiful. Im taking a group on essentially this same trip in a couple weeks, and your pictures and story are very inspiring. We saw a few more deer throughout the day, more snowshoe hare, and even a weasel. Finally, some views! Very useful. Thanks for sharing. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. 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. 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 . Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. 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. Thank you so much for your detailed description! Your email address will not be published. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. The rock is slippery and there is nothing to help you balance yourself on this very narrow section of trail, which happens to have a BIG drop on your left. Here comes my ride! Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. There was goat hair all around the campsite, but we had yet to see one. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. Actually, mid May. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. TR: Elk Park/Needleton Loop with extras - WhiteBlaze We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. So far, so good. 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. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. After setting up camp, I decided to go down to the creek to purify some water. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. This was my first hike of more than five miles. The trail flattens out at the basin below Columbine Lake and once you arrive you're in for a real treat. 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. Then on the way back, youll catch the southbound train at Needleton and ride back to Durango. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. The plan was to camp at either Kite Lake or Eldorado Lake, whichever looked more appealing. Check out my AWESOME DIY stealth camper van build project! You write quite well. You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. They didnt seem afraid of humans at all. Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. - John Glionna, Las Vegas Review-Journal article on the Basin and Range Trail, Watch Pioneering Nevada's Basin and Range Trail on other Streaming Services: Tubi, Xumo, Telus and Filmocracy, Like what you see? You take a train from Durango that. 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. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. 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. 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. 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. Hiking The Elk Park/Needleton Loop Weminuche Wilderness I couldnt resist the chance to whip out my Klymit Inertia X-Frame sleeping pad that I bought a few months back. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. It was cloudy and grey though, so pictures werent coming out good. Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) Its too bad that we had already eaten dinner before starting this fire, because we still had hot dogs that we could have cooked tonight. One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. Our stop is Elk Park, a 3 hour ride from Durango. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. Straddling sections of the infamous Continental . Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. The skies were cloudy all around us though. 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 . She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker. Carry a comfortable pack with a water reservoir. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. Elk Park to Needleton Backpacking Loop - Champagne Tastes Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! Avalanche debris was cleared. 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. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. Making reservations to ride the train to the wilderness is easy. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! Its easy to explore the Colorado wilderness from the Durango train. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. When youre leaving from Durango, youll need to have your gear in the boxcar at least 45 minutes before departure. John Werner: Backpacking Weminuche Wilderness not easy, but worth the I'll never forget it. 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. We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. One guy stopped and said Whoa, what are you doing going up that? I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. Shortly after Elk Park along the Colorado Trail, also called the Elk Park trail for this section. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. I feel like my extra efforts in training before this trip really made the difference in my knees. 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. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. 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. Strider1. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. 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. Absolute Best 5-7 Day Backpacking Trip ID,MT, or WY This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. You could see burnt trees the entire train ride, so I guess its a pretty real threat. 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. 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. Needleton Bridge Trailhead // Colorado 13ers The best times to visit this trail are May through September. That is, of course, after hot meal and long hot shower! In addition to us, there was also a group of 2, 3, and 4 other hikers who also got off the train. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Call the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at 1-888-872-4607 to book and make your reservation. I wonder how they get to their homes, since there are no roads anywhere near here. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. It was the kind of terrain, like sand, that feels like you take one step back for every two steps forward. 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. Twin Lakes, still waiting for early morning light to hit tis waters. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. On the trail by 7am today, we headed up to the CDT once again. The benefit is being able to skip the train and park at the Lime Mesa TH. Basin and Range Trail (2020) After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. Your email address will not be published. It was pretty hot when the sun was shining, but it didnt shine too long. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass.