Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. There was another group who did this, and the train staff didn't seem to have any problem with it (we had paid for a RT ticket anyway). On the train, make sure to talk to the train staff! The free version of caltopo only allows 5 pages max in your pdf, so just break it up into blocks of 5 pages or less and print out the entire map that way. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. 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). This was already painting a picture of what Chicago Basin might be like tomorrow, as it is supposed to be the most heavily used area in the Weminuche Wilderness. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. One option for a multi-day trip is from the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton. Looking for a 40-60 mile, week trip. 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. Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. I was very surprised that there were no seats available, the train was pretty packed. First week of June, the only people out there will probably be CDT thru hikers, and theyll be up against a lot of snow still. Vallecito Basin, which lies below Columbine pass, was pretty nice. The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. Not cheap by any means, but it was a cool way to enter and leave the wilderness. We heard later that there was a porcupine in the area chewing on things, so it couldve been the culprit. For example, early access to youtube videos, stickers, t-shirt, behind the scenes info on my new thru hiking route creations, special thank you card and more! It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. There was a very brief moment of sunlight right as we crossed Red Rock Creek, which was nice to have at this moment. I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. While we ate our sandwiches, they grazed about 40 feet away as if we werent even there. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! To close the loop I have to get from Needleton fo Elk Park (6.5mi). It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. The final approach of Columbine Pass was pretty steep, but manageable. At mile 4.25 or so, there were some nice camping spots in the meadow. We knew that the odds were pretty good that goats would wander near us too, eventually. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. Very useful. There was goat hair all around the campsite, but we had yet to see one. Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. Also, if youre looking for a GPX file, you can download that here http://metalbackpacker.com/gpx-files/. These guys didnt seem as threatening though. Trail Name - Elk Park/Needleton Loop Location - Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, CO Park Type - National Forest, Wilderness Area Fees & Permits - None Length Of Time Hiked - 6 days, 5 nights Trail Type - Semi loop - Train drops you off and picks you up Miles Hiked - 48 Trail Difficulty - 8 This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. Id say there were about 20 people total here waiting for the train. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. This looks more like some of the pictures Id seen of the San Juans before our trip. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) There are a lot of trees down throughout the Johnson Creek and Needle Creek drainages - another hiker counted 155 trees across the trail on the way down from Chicago Basin to Needleton, but it looks like the FS is working their way up, clearing from the bottom up. After staring me down for a minute, they decided to move in my direction. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. I think we also got hailed on every day as well, with the exception of our last day. At 36 miles in length, this trip would likely span four or five days for average hikers, and it offers the unique ability to ride the Durango-Silverton train to access the trail. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. Most of our clothing was wet, including our backpacks and other gear, so we finally had a chance to dry them out some. Your email address will not be published. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. 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. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. Not once did we get wet crossing a stream. The stars were barely visible now that the morning light was fast approaching, but this was the most Id seen of stars the entire trip. Past that meadow, the trail begins to climb past the treeline. Thanks for the great report! My husband had an offline map downloaded in his Google Maps app, although we found it to be unreliable in the Vallecito Creek area. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. We brought along this Weminuche Wilderness National Geographic map. 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. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! It was about 1/3 the size of his sleeping pad, and as far as I know, is the lightest one on the market at 9.1 ounces. It was eerie and mesmerizing at the same time. After about 20 minutes of hiking, I ran into my first mountain goats of the day. Browse different rides & seasonal events. There was only one other campsite occupied the we could see in the area, so it wasnt too crowded. 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. Its easy to explore the Colorado wilderness from the Durango train. Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. 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. Besides that, she was very happy to have a day off to rest. Columbine Pass The crowning jewel on our recent vacation to Colorado was an epic backpacking trip. Elk Park to Needleton Backpack Loop 5,560 views Aug 5, 2008 9 Dislike Share Save Elizabeth Black 394 subscribers From the steam engine train we backpack for 6 days on a 40 mile loop out in. Our lunch spot today was next to a waterfall. Required fields are marked *. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. After setting up camp, I decided to go down to the creek to purify some water. When youre leaving from Durango, youll need to have your gear in the boxcar at least 45 minutes before departure. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Finally, some views! Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. Lisa spent the morning chasing away mountain goats. Where did you get the map? 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. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Down from the pass, we still had a good 10 miles to cover today. 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. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. Elk Park-Needleton Loop. 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. 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. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. If you found my trip report useful, please dont hesitate to leave a comment! It took us 7 days to complete it. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. We kept the food bags in our packs too, which is kept in OPsaks. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. One guy stopped and said Whoa, what are you doing going up that? In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. 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. 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. This route includes 3 trails. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Thank you so much for your detailed description! 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. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). Since there are no fires allowed in Chicago Basin or the rest of the Needle Creek drainage, and the fact that I was planning on climbing in morning, we called it an early night and went to bed shortly after sundown. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. It was a little windy last night, which can make it hard to sleep. Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. The rocks were still icy and required some careful footwork in some spots to negotiate. No hot dogs tonight, maybe night 3. I like having dry gear! Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. There havent been any bugs out the last 2 nights though, and I was really wishing we had a fire like this on night one. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. Success! All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. I was rewarded with an amazing view of the Weminuche Wilderness, unobstructed by clouds for the first time all week. Our morning routine is a little more polished now, and we were on the trail by 7am. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. This route climbs 8,523 ft with a max elevation of 12,843 ft then descends -9,174 ft. Local Trail Association This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. False alarm. Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 35 min to complete. Fortunately it was all downhill, so we could cover some serious ground, which I assumed would be at the expense of my knees. This will give you time to make it to your seats before the final boarding call. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work.
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elk park train stop to needleton