There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. I'm hoping that we weren't unncessarilly cautious and missed out. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. The plan was to camp at either Kite Lake or Eldorado Lake, whichever looked more appealing. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. 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. It was the kind of terrain, like sand, that feels like you take one step back for every two steps forward. I wonder how they get to their homes, since there are no roads anywhere near here. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. The trail follows Elk Creek, and I believe it was called the Elk Creek Trail. We did this trip in September. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. But, thats another story for another trip report. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. Weminuche Wilderness, CO Elk Park/Needleton Loop Hike. Thank you so much for your detailed description! There was a lot of toilet paper and poop laying around near some of the campsites though, evidence of heavy usage. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. What a place for a cabin though! Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. 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. It was pretty hot when the sun was shining, but it didnt shine too long. The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. Bob Marshall. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. Before reaching the trails down to Kite/Eldorado Lakes, we had to hike over a 100ft rocky ridge, just as the clouds looked their worst. From the bottom though, I couldnt tell where the switchbacks started. Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. This page has a map of the Weminuche Wilderness near the top, with trails and trail heads. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. We made the decision to cut our trek short. The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! Id say we averaged 5 people seen per day on days 1-4. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. Finally, it was time to start this hike. If we werent wet and hungry, I might have stopped to check it out further, but again, we were on a mission to find camp. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? By the time Lisa made it to the top, we had to continue down the other side immediately. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. 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. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. I took it out of its stuff sack and unrolled it and the looks on their faces were just priceless. When we visited in September, the days were hot and the nights were cold. There were a few more mines along the trail here, and one appeared to be deeper than the others we had explored. 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. 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. Not once did we get wet crossing a stream. Anyways, with breakfast in our stomachs and all our wet gear packed away, we hit the trail around 7:30. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Although it was monsoon season during our trip, we were told that the coal cinders often start forest fires. If youre boarding the train at a flag stop, you need to alert the conductor. To my amazement, the sky was 100% clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning. As we waited by the tracks, one of the hikers we were talking to in the shack was showing another guy his sleeping pad. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. The ones that did look edible werent ripe yet. We ended up finishing around 5pm on the 5th day, so instead of waiting around for the return train to Durango on day 6, we took the train to Silverton for lunch, then rode the whole return trip to Durango. 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. Back, finally! Would that be too early in the season? We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . This is when the fog really started growing. Next stop: Wilderness. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. 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. We departed about 15 minutes late, and slowly made our way out of Durango. Yes there is. Very useful. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. People really are friendly in Colorado! Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton. Miles Hiked 5.4 Our backpack would take us on a horseshoe loop from Elk. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton is a 37 mile less popular intermediate route located near Silverton Colorado. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. The people were yelling at them and throwing rocks to try and scare them away, but the goats were pretty stubborn. The first morning of a hike always takes the longest to get going. Most were quick to check out the shack as we did, so the cinder block and wood plank benches filled up fast. Recommended Posts. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. 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 Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). Interesting views in the upper Chicago Basin area. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. Get around Durango in style with rental vehicles. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. Hiking The Elk Park/Needleton Loop Weminuche Wilderness Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. 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. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. Here's an overview! I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. All of our gear was dry and life was good. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. with an Osprey water bladder. Our morning routine is a little more polished now, and we were on the trail by 7am. Two other climbers reached the top during my stay up here. I wasnt sore at all until day 4 or 5, with only moderate soreness in the hamstrings. After 3 hours, we were finally back in Durango. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. Oregon Desert Trail (2022) *Coming Soon Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. While we ate our sandwiches, they grazed about 40 feet away as if we werent even there. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. Thanks for sharing. Also, A creek ran through the area and created an interesting looking gorge that I wish I had more time to check out, but we really wanted to get to camp right now. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. Or the Osprey Eja 58 pack I preferred the Airspeed suspension system on it. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. 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. After checking our gear and getting set up, we were on our way. When taking a train leaving from Durango, you need to be in your seat 30 minutes before departure. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. Your email address will not be published. Bugs were pretty bad this year. The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. Excellent trip report, thanks for doing this. There were more mountain goats in the evening as well. First, dont forget your sunglasses! They must not have found much in this one and abandoned it. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. Prepare to not have a cell signal. I've begun planning my adventures for this summer, and while there will be a handful of overnighters and long weekends, I've settled on the Elk Park-Needleton Loop for my main trip. 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. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. Closing loop Needleton - Elk park - Durango Forum - Tripadvisor 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. We saw a few more deer throughout the day, more snowshoe hare, and even a weasel. Weminuche Loop - The JimmyJam Hiking Club I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. Cachanilla83. I packed a peanut butter sandwich, some jerky, and a Metrx bar to eat later, as well as 2 liters of water. Since we paid for parking at the railroad, we drove back there and parked while we set out on foot once gain. From the drainage area, it was easy to cross to the other side of the lake. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. The fire burned quite well once established, despite the soggy wood. Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. On the Elk Park to Needleton loop, the emergency outs are limited. Weminuche Wilderness in southern Colorado. You take a train from Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. 18-21 September 2017. View Profile 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. Looking up, it looked very easy and straight forward. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. Looking back up the way I just came down from Windom Peak. Lisa made it up 15 minutes later, but we didnt stick around too long. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. Also, bring a way to filter water. Within 10 or 15 minutes, I found a decent campsite near the Lake. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton - Colorado | AllTrails Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. Strider1. Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! The skies were pretty blue now and there was abundant sunshine. This time, we were sure to be acclimated to the elevation. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. I have a trip report on the Mogollon Mountains in the Gila Wilderness, but the popular side is the east side with all the rivers. - 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? Great hope they dont cause us any trouble tonight. Either way, it was going to be another short day with only about 6 miles to cover. 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. Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. Happy trails! Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 10 min to complete. On day three, we made our way up and over the Continental Divide and into the beautiful meadow just below Hunchback Pass. The train follows the overall route of the Animas River northward from Durango and stops at Silverton, however, we werent going that far. Passing through a colorful meadow on the morning of day 2, Nearing the treeline, the views start improving. We chatted for a while and took turns taking pictures of each other before they headed down. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! This was a class 3 in my opinion. Sad to see all the beetle damage. It was slippery and a little scary in the rain. Awesome, thanks! Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! A full train schedule is available on the Durango Train website. El mejor momento para visitar esta . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Soon enough it was back to the rain. They were finally able to scare the goats away for good by barking at them like a dog. Success! The low clouds were back, engulfing Mount Kennedy southwest of us. tnmule20 68 Posted February 10, 2022. tnmule20. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. Weminuche Wilderness Trails - Durango Trails Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. Especially considering the status of cell phone service (which well discuss below). 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. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. Very well done! Expect to pay for the train tickets, a baggage fee (for your backpack, which goes in the boxcar train), and an overnight parking fee. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! If youre doing the whole Elk Park to Needleton loop, take the Durango-Silverton diesel train north from Durango to Elk Park. There were tons of mines dotting the mountainside, some of which looked pretty difficult to get to. I used a Garmin InReach Mini 2 to track our location, and any time we came to an unmarked trail junction, we knew which way to go. For some reason, the mileage the GPS reports to me in the field is always more than the mileage it gives me at home when I am reviewing the final data. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. Elk Park flag stop to Needleton flag stop between Durango and Silverton 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. Very good tip report. For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. Complete Weminuche Wilderness Photo Gallery | Weminuche HD Video. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. We spend a good while collecting firewood, but as wet as it was, it was a bit of a challenge. Y0ou could really see just ow red it was with a little sunlight. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. This hike is definitely a good one! However, if you can afford it, the train ride is fun, and it sure is nice once you reach Elk Park and realize you don't have to make that 1,700' climb back up to Molas Pass. Black flies were a pain the whole week. If needed, when you reach the Vallecito and Johnson Creek trail junction, you could hike about 10 miles to the Vallecito Reservoir, a popular lake area. These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. They can be a lifesaver on a long hike. Id say we averaged about 4-5 bouts of rain per day. Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. 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. I like having dry gear! After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. I dont know why these animals are so persistent about going to a specific location when there are humans there. They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. Youll be hiking in a wilderness area. I modified my workout regimen before this hike to try and strengthen certain parts of the leg muscles that support the knee function, some intense stair climb sessions (45lb pack), as well as doing a lot more stretching.