Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. And what a campsite that would be, killer views! . Some hikers we met said that it sleeted on them one evening (when it had only rained on us). 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! There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Oh well. So far, so good. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. Are there fishing opportunities along this route? The train gives outdoors lovers immediate access to the Weminuche Wilderness and San Juan National Forest for hiking, backpacking, rafting, fishing and other activities. Every campground, hotel, and intersection we passed, there were people waving at the train. - 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? I didnt want to push Lisa too much in the first few days so I think the plan for days 1 and 2 were pretty good. Getting down to the water and going through the process of purifying the water was a bit of a pain here, but I wanted to get it out of the way in case it started raining again. Finally, some views! The altitude on this backpacking loop varies from around 8,000 to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. He sure did look delicious, haha. . Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 37 mile less popular intermediate route located near Silverton Colorado. We snacked on sour patch kids by the fire for a while before letting it burn out. I was . 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. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. Shortly after Elk Park along the Colorado Trail, also called the Elk Park trail for this section. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. Hiking The Elk Park/Needleton Loop Weminuche Wilderness The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. Nice! Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. 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). I have done this one twice!! We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. I did put a knee brace on, both knees, for the first time ever. 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. 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. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. 2/21/22 12:49pm. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk This was worth the trip alone and something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime! There didnt appear to be any evidence of beavers here either. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. It has been our group's favorite for several years. The on and off rain was definitely a bummer though. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. Todays hike will take us down by Kite Lake, over Hunchback Pass, and all the way down to the Vallecito Creek bridge, near Johnson Creek. Sure enough, they appeared at the top of the trail heading down to our camp from the main trail. Very useful. PS. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! When taking a train leaving from Durango, you need to be in your seat 30 minutes before departure. I am really loving the granola & almonds, its chocked full of complex carbs and good fats, perfect for hiking. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. 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. It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. Thanks for the great report! TR: Elk Park/Needleton Loop with extras - WhiteBlaze It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. I love being above the treeline, and I was excited to hike today. Then on the way back, youll catch the southbound train at Needleton and ride back to Durango. 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. 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. 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. They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. 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. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. The benefit is being able to skip the train and park at the Lime Mesa TH. There were a few pockets of snow tucked away here and there, but nothing too large. I still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. Length: 7.9 mi Est. A Garmin InReach is one of the pricier emergency options, but there are also less expensive satellite emergency locator beacons (with less functionality). Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. I knew the vegetation was still wet from last evenings rain, and didnt feel like being soaked to the bone if the trail happens to go through dense foliage. instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton - Colorado | AllTrails I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. Cell service is highly unlikely. NOTE: As of 2021, we have been informed that you cannot board the train in Silverton and get dropped off at Needleton. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. More views ruined by the weather, and as a result I took few pictures in this area. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. We departed about 15 minutes late, and slowly made our way out of Durango. Sad to see all the beetle damage. I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. Maybe, MAYBE in a low snow year but from what I can tell the west is getting quite a bit of powder this year so my guess would be July before the route is fully snow free. Browse different rides & seasonal events. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. Highly recommend! Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). At the bridge over New York Creek, there was a waterfall right there along the trail.. Animas River, from the bridge at the Needleton train stop. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) with an Osprey water bladder. Not once did we get wet crossing a stream. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. To reach this trail on foot, some hikers make a longer loop from the Molas Trail (about four miles). The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. After climbing about a third of the way up to the CDT, I hit a switchback, which I gladly used the rest of the way up. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) 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. Nine miles long, the route climbs 3,760 feet to the Continental Divide. We stopped to eat lunch on a talus slope and observed many pikas, no marmots yet though. I figured the total mileage for today would be about 14 miles, but everything after mile 4 or so would be downhill. A hiking boot is preferable. Elk Park to Needleton Backpack Loop - YouTube We passed many more campsites along the trail shortly after leaving our camp this morning. If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Down to Eldorado. A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. 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. We got to the train station around 7:15am, as we were told to be there 45 minutes early. We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. I always recommend carrying a waterproof paper trail map on a hike (because even if you have a digital map, sometimes technology fails). 18-21 September 2017. 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 I'm a traveler who loves to eat. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Weminuche Wilderness in southern Colorado. You take a train from The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Top things to do in Durango, Colorado - Uncover Colorado I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. 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. Great hike! For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. I saw maybe 10 people on day 5, and probably about 60 on day 6. Between the trailhead marker and train stop was actually private property with a few shacks, cabins, and homes built. Miles Hiked 14.5 Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Try this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. Start your next Durango outdoor adventure from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. Straddling sections of the infamous Continental . Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. 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. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. 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. After leaving Chicago Basin, the trail was actually kind of boring compared to the rest of our hike. Have a good hike! Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) 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. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. It took us 7 days to complete it. There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. Once past the tricky part near the top of the pass, it was your general steep descent via switchbacks. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton | Map, Guide - Colorado | AllTrails You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. From the bottom though, I couldnt tell where the switchbacks started. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. Recommended Posts. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass.
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