Required fields are marked *. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. 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. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. Very well done! Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. I dont trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. We knew that the odds were pretty good that goats would wander near us too, eventually. Bugs were pretty bad this year. We made the decision to cut our trek short. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. It seems that most people in Chicago Basin came from the Needleton stop, hiked here, and turned around and went back the way they came. This was my first hike of more than five miles. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. 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. Looking for a slightly larger backpacking pack that will still fit a short torso? We did this trip in September. It was the kind of terrain, like sand, that feels like you take one step back for every two steps forward. Learn more about the wildlife in the area. People really are friendly in Colorado! Todays hike was all uphill, but it wasnt too strenuous. We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. The other guy was impressed with its small size. The weather was cloudy and more scattered rain throughout the rest of the day. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. Very good tip report. There was an insane amount of biting flies and mosquitoes by the river here though, and I was regretting my decision to leave the bug spray and mosquito head net behind. As the evening progressed, we saw several deer both near our camp and off in the distance. 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. Finally, some views! Since youll be hiking in the Rocky Mountains, you should be Bear Aware. Lisa really wanted a fire, and although I knew we could get one going, but I didnt want to go through the effort of gathering wood only to have it rain again . We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. The Elk Park to Needleton loop in the Weminuche Wilderness, to be precise. 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. You have to make the backpacker train reservations by phone, not online. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. This route includes 3 trails. We had to stand guard for a while to make sure they didnt walk right into our camp. There was only one truck by Kite Lake, and we saw no people. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. While we ate our sandwiches, they grazed about 40 feet away as if we werent even there. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. San Juan National Forest. Any and all kinds of weather! Comments are not currently showing up on my site right now, need to troubleshoot that. The only stop on the southbound trail in the afternoon is Elk Park. Before we knew it, we saw the Weminuche Wilderness boundary sign. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). Looking back up the way I just came down from Windom Peak. After setting up camp, I decided to go down to the creek to purify some water. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. After working so hard to get to the top, I couldnt justify turning around immediately. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. We stopped to eat lunch on a talus slope and observed many pikas, no marmots yet though. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. I figured more people would be out here doing the full loop like we were doing, but that clearly wasnt the case. 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. A mine along the trail leading down into Chicago Basin. Im taking a group on essentially this same trip in a couple weeks, and your pictures and story are very inspiring. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. Call the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad at 1-888-872-4607 to book and make your reservation. From there, youll have a choice of where youd like to go. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Y0ou could really see just ow red it was with a little sunlight. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. 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. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? Shortly after, we saw the skull with spine still connected of some type of antlered animal alongside the trail. The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. The Elk Park to Needleton backpacking loop near Silverton, Colorado, covers over 40 miles and features stunning mountain vistas. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. The weather started to improve a little as we set up the tent and took care of the usual camp chores. Back up on the CDT, it was evident that the weather was not going to cooperate today. It was cloudy and grey though, so pictures werent coming out good. I'll never forget it. I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. There was a new amazing view after every turn. After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. 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. The food issue didnt bother me much, I was mainly worried about the rodents chewing on our sweaty gear. We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. 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. Very nice trip report! 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. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. Miles Hiked 10.4 Any feedback appreciated. This hike is definitely a good one! Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. 09-23-2015, 12:45 #12. This is the beaver pond that people often reference when hiking this section of trail. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. Creating new thru-hiking routes & guides, hiking videos, outdoor documentaries, backpacking trip reports, trail journals, photos and more! Ride the train to a day of ziplining on the longest course in the US. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! 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. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. 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. 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. When we stopped for lunch, two deer wandered into our resting area. Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. On the trail by 7am today, we headed up to the CDT once again. There were a bunch of waterfalls along Needle Creek though. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. What a morale booster it was. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? . Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Id say there were about 20 people total here waiting for the train. Thank you so much for your detailed description! Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). 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. Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. Once I gained a few hundred feet in elevation, I could see that there wasnt any threat of getting soaked and I took off the extra layers. One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. I learned this the hard way when hiking around Snowmass Lake last year. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. We returned back to the shack for a while, but decided to wait at the track 15 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival. However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. If you found my trip report useful, please dont hesitate to leave a comment! I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. 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. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. Make sure everyone in your party books the train together. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. Highly recommend. 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). Excellent trip report, thanks for doing this. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. Actually, mid May. 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. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. Would that be too early in the season? So much for being packed. Check out this 17.3-mile out-and-back trail near Durango, Colorado. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. Go figure, good weather on the last day. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. Not cheap by any means, but it was a cool way to enter and leave the wilderness. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. The views were awe inspiring, but of course, it began to rain. So far my knees have been doing great this hike, but an entire day going downhill worried me. Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) Now back on the trail, we were approaching the CDT. . It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. 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. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. I feel like my extra efforts in training before this trip really made the difference in my knees. Carry a comfortable pack with a water reservoir. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. Eventually, it became steeper, to the point where there were some moments of exposure. with an Osprey water bladder. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. We camped at ~9300 ft. At Twin Lakes, the terrain is a bit less hospitable, and fewer campsite options with all the rocks and stuff. Going down always looks much harder! Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. 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 mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. Given the popularity of Kite Lake, being right next to a 44 road just outside of the wilderness boundary, I pretty much had my mind set on Eldorado. Down to Eldorado. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) Thanks for the great report! There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. Thats how I do it these days. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. 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. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. The map in my trip report is generated from a wordpress plugin, where I uploaded my GPX file of the hike. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. Completed this loop early July 2021. One guy stopped and said Whoa, what are you doing going up that? 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. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! It looked like a nice spot, close to the water, but the views werent excellent. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. While the wilderness area has many access points, one of the best approaches is from the Durango & Silverton railroad stop of Elk Park, just outside of Silverton.
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