Trees blocked most of the views. tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. Avalanche debris was cleared. A hiking boot is preferable. 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. There were a lot of berries along the trail, although not all edible. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. In addition to us, there was also a group of 2, 3, and 4 other hikers who also got off the train. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. PDF Trip to Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest, Colorado Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. Of course, now it starts to rain for the first time today. I couldnt resist the chance to whip out my Klymit Inertia X-Frame sleeping pad that I bought a few months back. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Heres my caltopo map of the Elk Park/Needleton hike: There are no fees or permits needed to hike or camp in the Weminuche Wilderness. Thats how I do it these days. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . Finally, it was time to start this hike. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. It took us 7 days to complete it. Your email address will not be published. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! 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. The trail flattens out at the basin below Columbine Lake and once you arrive you're in for a real treat. Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. . Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. Reddit - Dive into anything Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. I climbed up the highest hill along the edge which was roughly 12,700ft, which provided awesome views of Eldorado and everything else around. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. Oh well. As always, questions and comments are welcome! More mountain goats as I leave the Twins Lake area. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. The Elk Park to Needleton backpacking loop near Silverton, Colorado, covers over 40 miles and features stunning mountain vistas. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. This hike primary route. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. Check out this 17.3-mile out-and-back trail near Durango, Colorado. Cant wait to try this trip myself! (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). Finally, the weather is cooperating! First, dont forget your sunglasses! Expect to pay for the train tickets, a baggage fee (for your backpack, which goes in the boxcar train), and an overnight parking fee. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) 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. - 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? Here comes my ride! After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. A very convenient spot for an abandoned shack to be located. 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. Its also a good idea to drink lots of water (more so than at sea level). Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. Since cell service is unlikely, the Garmin InReach Mini 2 became our lifeline. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. I headed up and made good time moving through here as it was pretty easy. Lisa had a bit of trouble last year in the Maroon Bells when we hiked the Four Pass Loop, and I may have had a slight headache that first day as well. When taking a train leaving from Durango, you need to be in your seat 30 minutes before departure. 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. Other trip reports Ive read have indicated that its been this way for years. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. 2. Hiking The Elk Park/Needleton Loop Weminuche Wilderness The best times to visit this trail are June through October. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? Hikers can be seen on the Continental Divide Trail, above on the ridgeline, The path up to the CDT is a long, winding series of switchbacks. Venchka. The only stop on the southbound trail in the afternoon is Elk Park. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. The skies were cloudy all around us though. One option for a multi-day trip is from the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. . Route Eldorado Lake to Vallecito Creek Bridge. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. Needleton Bridge Trailhead // Colorado 13ers It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. The water tasted great and was very cold. Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It moved away pretty quickly, but I could tell it was not a rattlesnake. Excellent views all around. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. 2023 Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Silverton | AllTrails After all, it was Saturday evening. This is where Eldorado Lake drains off the mountainside and down to the Miners Cabin area we passed earlier today, Looking up at 13,627ft White Dome from the Eldorado Lake drainage. On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! 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. That is, of course, after hot meal and long hot shower! It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). 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. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. At least we had somewhere to sit now, that was nice. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. Miles Hiked 10.4 Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! It was very quiet once the train left Elk Park. So much for being packed. Also, bring a way to filter water. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. Where did you get the map? For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. It has a mesh frame that holds the weight of the pack slightly off your back. There were 2 large pines growing 3 feet apart, creating a dry spot large enough for our tent, all out gear, places to sit, and more. 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. 7 of the Best Summer Backpacking Trips in the Mountain West 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. Was the extra research and time spent preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton trip worth it? The water was deep and fast flowing here. 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. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. Thanks for sharing. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. The trail was much easier to hike than I was anticipating, and I was covering pretty good ground. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. One of the biggest drawing points of the Elk Creek trail is the unique opportunity to combine a Wilderness trip with a ride on a steam locomotive. 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. The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! Its easy to explore the Colorado wilderness from the Durango train. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. There were a few more mines along the trail here, and one appeared to be deeper than the others we had explored. . The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. Needleton, Colorado - Activities and Events | San Juan County Strider1. There were tons of mines dotting the mountainside, some of which looked pretty difficult to get to. We also packed an MSR PocketRocket Deluxe backpacking stove to boil water for all our freeze-dried meals, our hand-pump espresso machine, and a lightweight hatchet multitool to help with campfires. The times we've done this, the train departed Silverton about 2:45 PM and dropped us of by 3:45 PM. I figured the total mileage for today would be about 14 miles, but everything after mile 4 or so would be downhill. Bugs were pretty bad this year. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. We ended up finishing around 5pm on the 5th day, so instead of waiting around for the return train to Durango on day 6, we took the train to Silverton for lunch, then rode the whole return trip to Durango. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. There was only one truck by Kite Lake, and we saw no people. View Profile Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. 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. Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. Today we slept in to 6am. I was following a GPX track on my GPS of another person who had hiked this loop, and his track led me off trail a little bit. However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. 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. 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. The Elk Park to Needleton loop in the Weminuche Wilderness, to be precise. I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. The fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Back Packing Train We made the decision to cut our trek short. Required fields are marked *. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. Learn more about this exciting opportunity for outdoor recreation youll find only in Durango. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. Not this time though! Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. This was my first hike of more than five miles. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. Miles Hiked 14.5 I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. Next stop: Wilderness. Excellent trip report, thanks for doing this. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. After crossing the bridge over the Animas River to the train tracks on the other side, we spotted an abandoned shack. 18-21 September 2017. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. By tnmule20, February 10, 2022 in Camping & High Adventure. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. After the train dropped us off at Elk Park, it was pretty quiet. Weminuche Wilderness in southern Colorado. You take a train from I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) 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 .