Ill send this to your email as well. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. 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. Go to the print button at the top and choose print to pdf. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. Elk Park to Needleton Backpack Loop - YouTube We departed about 15 minutes late, and slowly made our way out of Durango. We only had to wait 30 minutes before suiting up. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. Id say we averaged 5 people seen per day on days 1-4. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. This was perfect! 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. Dogs are welcome and may be off-lead in some areas. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. Thats how I do it these days. Lisa was still far below me, and the other hikers told her to hike directly to her right a ways until she hit the switchbacks, as they had a clear view from above us. I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt). 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 . Awesome, thanks! Seeking Lost: Thru-Hiking & Backpacking Adventures, Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 8 Day Rockhounding & Mineral Collecting in the Santa Teresa Mountains, AZ (Nov 2022), How Much Did It Cost?? After lunch, the trail had gained enough elevation to start giving us some better views as it passed alongside some cliffs. We woke up today at 5:30 and began to slowly pack up camp. Oh well. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. I like these Sunski polarized sunglasses and Shady Rays sunglasses. You can use this file with your GPS unit, or load it in caltopo.com (or your favorite mapping website or application). 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. Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. Bob Marshall. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. We spend a good while collecting firewood, but as wet as it was, it was a bit of a challenge. Literally just yards below the top of the pass, on the Chicago Basin side, the trail gets extremely steep and pretty sketchy. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. Comments are not currently showing up on my site right now, need to troubleshoot that. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton - Colorado | AllTrails When youre in the Chicago Basin, watch for mountain goats! 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). 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. 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. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. Nice! 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. Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. 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. Otherwise, you can order a big map from mytopo.com. It was very quiet once the train left Elk Park. They could not believe how small the pad was, but I got the impression it was too ultralight for them. I wonder how they get to their homes, since there are no roads anywhere near here. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. I used to do that, but it gets expensive to print out those big maps all the time, especially for places I likely wont return to for years. Shortly after Elk Park along the Colorado Trail, also called the Elk Park trail for this section. The altitude will affect water filters and food cook time, which is usually explained on the packaging. Reddit - Dive into anything Before I knew it though, I was was past the steeper summit section and back down to a more obvious trail. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. This section of trail is also part of the Colorado Trail, a 400 mile trail that goes from Durango to Denver. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. 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. There was only one truck by Kite Lake, and we saw no people. People really are friendly in Colorado! My knees were holding up very well so far this trip and I figured, why not? There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. I purified some more water for todays hike and ate breakfast, a Metrx bar and some granola & almonds. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. We headed down towards Kite, watching as the fog grew more and more around us. Early morning often leaves thick fog in valleys, only to be burnt away later by the sun. 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. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. But, thats another story for another trip report. 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. Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Hiking Route | Trailforks A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. Would you advise camping at Columbine Lake? From there, youll have a choice of where youd like to go. Strider1. Thanks for sharing. Miles Hiked 5.7 (summit Windom Peak starting from camp in Chicago Basin) You have to make the backpacker train reservations by phone, not online. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. Thank you for taking the time to write it! Lisa was quite scared here, and it took a lot of coaxing to get her to move. Finally, it was time to start this hike. There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. No hot dogs tonight, maybe night 3. Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). Whitewater rafting with professional guides. 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. 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. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. It was quite a sight to see, unlike anything Ive ever witnessed before. Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. Not once did we get wet crossing a stream. Needleton, Colorado - Activities and Events | San Juan County We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. The Elk Park to Needleton loop in the Weminuche Wilderness, to be precise. Thats why, if you come from a lower elevation like us, I recommend easing yourself into it while youre preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike! I guess thats good, because that was less people we saw on the other days. That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. This was a class 3 in my opinion. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. I got injured jumping off the bridge there, so we couldn't complete the hike north over hunchback pass, and down Elk creekwe were kinda bummed. 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 . After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. I reached the summit of Windom Peak (14,087ft) by around 8:30. Back up on the CDT, it was evident that the weather was not going to cooperate today. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. I decided to head downhill in a hurry. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. A group of seven hikers (2 men, 5 women) also loaded their packs, giving a total of 12 of us to be dropped at Elk Park. Completed this loop early July 2021. Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. This was our third trek on this trail. You write quite well. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. 2023 Best 10 Trails and Hikes in Silverton | AllTrails I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. 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. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. Todays hike was all uphill, but it wasnt too strenuous. I feel like my extra efforts in training before this trip really made the difference in my knees. Maybe not a traditional campsite, but it was by far the driest campsite Id seen on this trip yet. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. 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. 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. 2/21/22 12:49pm. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. I didnt rain much though. After crossing the bridge over the Animas River to the train tracks on the other side, we spotted an abandoned shack. 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. We settled for this spot and set up camp by 4pm or so. Weminuche Wilderness - Elk Park to Needleton - The Wild Perspective Success! Climb aboard and make memories youll cherish forever by planning an outdoor adventure that starts on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. So far, so good. Discover this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. One mine was fairly close to the trail, so we took a quick detour and had a look inside. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. Miles Hiked 14.5 Eolus. DRGW.Net | Elk Park, CO There were a few more mines along the trail here, and one appeared to be deeper than the others we had explored. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. The clouds seemed to be chasing us up Hunchback Pass. Here comes my ride! The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. 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. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. From the drainage area, it was easy to cross to the other side of the lake. Avalanche debris was cleared. Miles Hiked 10.4 You can download the GPX file here: http://metalbackpacker.com/wp-content/uploads/gpx/WeminucheRouteHiked.gpx. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. 2. Bugs were pretty bad this year. Other trip reports Ive read have indicated that its been this way for years. 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. There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. Any and all kinds of weather! Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. One night while we slept inside our River Country trekking pole tent, something chewed the cork handle off one of the poles (presumably because of salt residue from sweat). 2/21/22 12:55pm. 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. For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete. There was goat hair all around the campsite, but we had yet to see one. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Sad to see all the beetle damage. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Thanks for sharing. The weather started to improve a little as we set up the tent and took care of the usual camp chores. It was well worn and looked much less difficult than I had imagined. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. The Elk Park to Needleton backpacking loop near Silverton, Colorado, covers over 40 miles and features stunning mountain vistas. . A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. 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. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. This route includes 3 trails. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. The weather looked like it was holding out as we neared the top, but it looked like it could turn bad at any moment. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Your email address will not be published. We just finished this trail. Past that meadow, the trail begins to climb past the treeline. San Juan National Forest - Elk Creek Trail/ Colorado Trail (503) My GPS said we did 16 miles today, including going up Hunchback Pass, but later when I reviewed the data for this trip it calculated the day at 14.5 miles.