I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? Also, this area of the Weminuche has quite the rodent population. Back up on the CDT, it was evident that the weather was not going to cooperate today. Still, I was glad to have spent the night at Eldorado Lake. 1. 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. I'll never forget it. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Tips for Camping With Your Kids in Durango, Colorado. It even had some rails leading in and out of it. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. Purgetory was the popular trailhead of choice for non-train riders. 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. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Needleton Bridge Trailhead // Colorado 13ers One slice was probably between the size of a small and medium pizza at most places, but it was extremely thin. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. Continental Divide Trail At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. Expect to pay for the train tickets, a baggage fee (for your backpack, which goes in the boxcar train), and an overnight parking fee. My breakfast today was a very hearty helping of granola and almonds (about 800 calories worth), and some dried strawberries. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. Avalanche debris was cleared. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. 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. If you found my trip report useful, please dont hesitate to leave a comment! Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Eolus. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. It was eerie and mesmerizing at the same time. Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. We kept the food bags in our packs too, which is kept in OPsaks. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. It was great to get some hot food in our stomachs before heading to our hotel in Pagosa Springs. After realizing that, I looked around and could see where the trail picked up again, and started hiking directly towards the trail in the distance. It moved away pretty quickly, but I could tell it was not a rattlesnake. Awesome, thanks! Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. Actually, mid May. Breathtaking! On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. Check out my AWESOME DIY stealth camper van build project! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Sunlight Peak via Needle Creek Trail | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. The third day we hiked ~11 miles, starting with 2 miles downhill and then 7 miles to the top of columbine pass and then 2 miles down to camp at Chicago basin. This is when the fog really started growing. From above, I spotted a deer down below on the trail to Kite Lake. Im sure the views would have been great here in the absence of the clouds, but this was still pretty cool. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. During the summer months, May-October, adventurers can access the wilderness from the Durango train. Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. When we stopped for lunch, two deer wandered into our resting area. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter day. Obviously I skipped this route on our way up here, opting to go the traditional way up the switchbacks to the CDT, but I was curious if it was doable. Awesome views all around, but it was still cold and precipitating out and thus my camera stayed under my rain jacket. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. When youre in the Chicago Basin, watch for mountain goats! Weminuche Wilderness, CO - Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike Hello, solitude. Nine miles long, the route climbs 3,760 feet to the Continental Divide. Soon enough it was back to the rain. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. Next I found myself on the saddle below the approach to Windom Peak. See the beauty of the San Juans on a guided tour. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. The correct way to flag the train and let the conductor know youd like to board is by waving your hands across your knees. The trail leading down to Kite Lake from the CDT, View of Kite Lake, before it disappeared in the growing fog. There were many stream crossings and several large waterfalls that we passed, but due to the weather and number of miles we had to cover, we didnt spend any time checking most of them out. We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. Dark skies now approached from all sides, and there was even some lightning in the distance. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. The water in Elk Creek was super clear, so I didnt have to pre-filter any of it before using my Steri-Pen Opti UV water purifier. I decided to head downhill in a hurry. Our stop is Elk Park, a 3 hour ride from Durango. 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. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. Elk Park/Needleton Loop, Colorado. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. The trail follows the 44 road past the lake, and then winds towards the trail leading up to Hunchback Pass. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. Thats how I do it these days. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails Sultan Peak | Map, Guide - Silverton, CO | AllTrails Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. The cinders get in your eyes too, and they recommend that you wear sunglasses as a form of protection. Very useful. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. This was my first hike of more than five miles. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. There was goat hair all around the campsite, but we had yet to see one. 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. Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. Parking is available at the Silverton Depot at no charge. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. We returned back to the shack for a while, but decided to wait at the track 15 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival. I think we also got hailed on every day as well, with the exception of our last day. Or are there other routes you could r commend for some stream and lake fishing? To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. We saw very little traffic through our area where we camped, despite being right next to the trail. Thanks for sharing. Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. Here comes my ride! For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Really, it shouldnt be called a creek, but a river instead. The skies were cloudy all around us though. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. Now through this little plateau area, the trail starts heaving down pretty quick. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. There were also a lot of flowers alongside the trail, and there were tons of butterflies on them. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. We saw a few more deer throughout the day, more snowshoe hare, and even a weasel. Unlike Snowmass though, the trail here was more open and very well worn, and not much here to get me wet. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. 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. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. My home area is the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and am looking for a backcountry trip in Colorado. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. 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 train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. Enjoy the hike, its a good one! Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). There were no beavers. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. He mentioned a possible shortcut to get up here from the Colorado Trail, by going up the drainage. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. 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. 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. I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am. There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. It took us 7 days to complete it. The rain subsided and we dipped below the clouds into a new valley. If youre boarding the train at a flag stop, you need to alert the conductor. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. This hike is definitely a good one! The Twin Lakes were still in the shadows, as the sun had not yet risen high enough to illuminate it. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. It has been our group's favorite for several years. The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. 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. We camped at ~9300 ft. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! View Profile 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. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. Needless to say, our rain gear would be used heavily on this trip. Hikers exchanged stories about their experiences in the Weminuche Wilderness and beyond to kill the time. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. 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. Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. It felt good to be hiking today its amazing what a little sunshine can do. Very good tip report. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. Many jokes were cracked regarding the stench of ones self or others in their group. 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. At 2:45, we heard a train approaching that sounded its whistle. 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. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. Wilderness Access Train Rides - Durango.com 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. The weather was cloudy and more scattered rain throughout the rest of the day. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. 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.