Everything was still pretty wet from the rains overnight, and it was cold. I'll never forget it. 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. 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). There is no road access to either the Elk Park or Needleton trail access points. It was almost comical how many people waved at us as the train chugged through town. Some streams had a lot of flash flood debris jammed up in certain points, more so than wed seen in other areas. I followed the lake to its drainage, which for reference was directly south of the Miners Cabin. Farther downstream revealed a tall but tiny waterfall before the land leveled out near the lake. I guess thats good, because that was less people we saw on the other days. This time, we were sure to be acclimated to the elevation. The Animas River. I found nothing that was going to be snow free and chose the Gila. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each 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. The names of surrounding landmarks included Stormy Gulch and Storm King Peak, and now I understood why. To close the loop I have to get from Needleton fo Elk Park (6.5mi). There is no cover up here by Eldorado Lake, which sits well above the treeline at 12,300ft. I only followed the drainage a short ways, but another 100ft away it appeared to drop off. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. 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. Lisa spent the morning chasing away mountain goats. This will give you time to make it to your seats before the final boarding call. 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. 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. So, they suggested to take train from Needleton to Silverton, wait for 1.5h and then return back to Elk Park for the price of full ticket Durango-Silverton . Elk Park is a wide spot in the Animas River canyon located at milepost 490.5 on the Silverton Branch of the San Juan Extension. Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. Black flies were a pain the whole week. I did see a lot of goat hair stuck in the trees and bushes now, which we had not seen anywhere else yet along our hike. What a morale booster it was. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Venchka. Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. This will be especially helpful during creek crossings and on downhill areas with loose pebbles. Route Standard route up to Twin Lakes, ascended Windoms West face. Also, this area of the Weminuche has quite the rodent population. Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . 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. Leave a Comment. He sure did look delicious, haha. It might be tough to find a good alpine hike that early in the season. It was the kind of terrain, like sand, that feels like you take one step back for every two steps forward. They can be a lifesaver on a long hike. When we visited in September, the days were hot and the nights were cold. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. Purgetory was the popular trailhead of choice for non-train riders. I made it to the top before Lisa and snapped a few pictures before the rain returned moments later. Finally, some views! The Durango-Silverton railroad heading north to Elk Park. Thats how I do it these days. After going up a series of switchbacks, I had reached the Twin Lakes by around 7:15. There were a few pockets of snow tucked away here and there, but nothing too large. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! Done over 5 nights and 6 days. You can purchase a ticket to or from Elk Park onboard as long as space is availableno reservations are taken for this flag stop. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. Thanks for sharing this one. Thats for water drainage, and maybe goats. I laughed and told him how I lost the trail before it headed up. This particular mine only ran about 30ft or so, and was not that interesting. The benefit is being able to skip the train and park at the Lime Mesa TH. 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. It filtered a little more slowly than usual because we were at high elevation, but still worked well. Here are our top tips on preparing for a successful and safe loop from Elk Park to Needleton in the mountains of Colorado! (We didnt see any, but we heard they were plentiful.). 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Finally, the weather is cooperating! Cant wait to try this trip myself! I'm a traveler who loves to eat. Required fields are marked *. I only saw a steep trail consisting of loose rock. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. We also saw more people this morning than the rest of the trip combined! We camped at ~9300 ft. Things open up a bit after this pond and there are some meadows to camp in if you were so inclined. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. Very good tip report. . 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. I found a semi dry spot under a pine tree to hang out during the rain while Lisa took cover in the tent. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. 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. Route Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. Seating is only guaranteed if you book a seat in advance. Happy trails! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. From there, youll have a choice of where youd like to go. Lisa and I ended up taking a nap for about an hour and a half until the weather improved. This snowshoe hare looks as if it could shoot lasers from its eyes, Campsite along the Elk Park trail, around 10,300ft. Im interesting in making this same trip this year, and was wondering if you knew when the optimal season is? We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. Down from the pass, we still had a good 10 miles to cover today. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. Eolus. Any feedback appreciated. The skies were cloudy all around us though. My group is collectively only able to go last week of May/first week of June. See this list of my favorite freeze-dried meals if youre curious about what theyre like. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Hey Trey, Its been many years since I did this hike so pardon my memory here. It was well worn and looked much less difficult than I had imagined. That is, of course, after hot meal and long hot shower! Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. Before we knew it, we saw the Weminuche Wilderness boundary sign. Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. We passed 2 guys who had asked us how far Roell Creek was, but I wasnt familiar with that one. Everything was wet, including my feet. What a place for a cabin though! Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9fc6034fcd46f19ce6730fcccb725d8" );document.getElementById("b86db021e5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I'm Sarah! Once we reached a flat area around 11,650, there were a good amount of campsites scattered about. I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. Once on the other side, the path down to Eldorado lake was pretty clear. As we laid down to sleep tonight, all we could think about was laying down in that nice hotel bed tomorrow night. 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. After setting up camp, I decided to go down to the creek to purify some water. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip. Ive started research for a September 2017 trip and came across your report. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. I meandered around the lake a while and snapped some pictures before heading back to camp. Prueba esta ruta de punto a punto de 37,3-millas cerca de Silverton, Colorado. We were thrilled when a ranger who had just cleared out the trail told us the three 12,000-foot passes on our route were free of snow. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. We passed several waterfalls and areas of whitewater. Here, there were several more mountain goats hanging out on the rocks by a small pool of water. I watched the bolts of lightning in the distance for a while before going to bed. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. Success! After about an hour of rain, thunder and lightning, I gave up on the idea of a fire. I wasnt sore at all until day 4 or 5, with only moderate soreness in the hamstrings. So much for being packed. Were planning to do this trip in September 2022 and Ive got a couple of questions for you. We played leap frog with the other groups of hikers most of the day as we passed them on their breaks and vice versa. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Nine miles long, the route climbs 3,760 feet to the Continental Divide. We settled for this spot and set up camp by 4pm or so. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Elk Park/Needleton Loop, Colorado. Everywhere along the horizon, fog could be seen rising from the mountains. However, from the trailhead sign it was another 1/2 mile or so before we actually reached the train stop. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. For that reason, a small cart follows the train to check for any fires started by the train alongside the tracks. There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. From the bottom though, I couldnt tell where the switchbacks started. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. The trial follows the 44 road by Kite Lake. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. It was incredible to see the clouds taking over the area! But there would be no sleeping in tomorrow morning though, because we were off to the Great Sand Dunes National Park! 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. 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. I think we also got hailed on every day as well, with the exception of our last day. 2. Youll encounter very rocky terrain (skip the zero drop / barefoot style boots on these trails your feet will be too sore!). Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. The amazing view from Hunchback Pass clouds. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. It sounds funny, but for some reason hey turned and ran when I did that and never came back. Shortly after Elk Park along the Colorado Trail, also called the Elk Park trail for this section. Everyone in the shack jumped up immediately, rushing to put on boots and grab their gear as we rushed towards the tracks. I took advantage of the weather and took a ton of pictures up here. After all, it was Saturday evening. 2/21/22 12:49pm. 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. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Soon enough, wed be overtaken by the unavoidable fog. Morning of day 2, climbing up the Colorado Trail, Going up a funky section of the Colorado Trail, below the Miners Cabin. I chucked some rocks and shouted at them, but theyd just walk 5 feet away and stare back at us. For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. Todays hike was all uphill, but it wasnt too strenuous. They didnt seem to concerned with our presence though. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. 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. I decided to take pictures of the lake later and just head up Windom now. Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. Now back on the trail, we started gaining elevation en route to Hunchback Pass. with an Osprey water bladder. I used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) The hiker who told me about the mice up here had camped here last night. 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. The train moves very slow, around 18 MPH max speed. 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. I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. 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?? That's $100 bucks round-trip for a train ticket! I chose my path through the first boulder field above the lake and started moving. Would you advise camping at Twin Lakes? Heres an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. 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. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. Its easy to explore the Colorado wilderness from the Durango train. It ended up raining everyday, several times a day while we were here. The water was deep and fast flowing here. Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. I couldnt really see Kite Lake well from the the CDT, but as I said earlier, my mind was pretty much set. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. They ran downhill and out of sight, and I kept moving. I hung out up here a while longer before deciding to head down around 10am. I was happy we brought along puffer jackets and rain coats. Carry a comfortable pack with a water reservoir. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. Hiking through Vallecito Basin on our way up Columbine Pass. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. Actually, mid May. We ended up eating at Diorios Pizza which was pretty good. 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. Another option (which you should probably do anyway!) 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. 1. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. Never miss a new post! This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. 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. Caltopo is pretty awesome if you havent used it already. 5h 16m. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. Trains run daily, with wilderness access available during summer months. 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. But if you need an even warmer quilt, weve heard very good things about the quilts from Enlightened Equipment. Route Elk Park train stop to camp along Elk Creek at ~10,300ft. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. No hot dogs tonight, maybe night 3. 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. Share Followers 0. Really helpful report! It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. 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. Down to Eldorado. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. This hike primary route. The plan was to camp at either Kite Lake or Eldorado Lake, whichever looked more appealing. I did this loop in Late August in the mid 90s and must have gotten a lucky dry weather window. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. Miles Hiked 5.4 I saw maybe 10 people on day 5, and probably about 60 on day 6. The train gives outdoors lovers immediate access to the Weminuche Wilderness and San Juan National Forest for hiking, backpacking, rafting, fishing and other activities. Colorado Adventure 2022 San Juan Mountains Weminuche Wilderness Elk Park - Needleton Loop - YouTube Backpacking trip in the San Juan Mountains in July 2022. I took the driest looking campsite I could find, which wasnt saying much. We kept the food bags in our packs too, which is kept in OPsaks. Parking in Durango is $8 per day for cars and $10 per day for RVs. In fact, there wasnt a single cloud in sight now, just a beautiful deep blue sky in all directions. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! 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. This was $90 each person for a round trip ticket, plus $10 to each to haul your backpack. When youre leaving from Durango, youll need to have your gear in the boxcar at least 45 minutes before departure. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Route Chicago Basin to Needleton train stop. After lunch, we continued to climb in elevation until we reached the Miners Cabin just below the CDT. Tips for Camping With Your Kids in Durango, Colorado. 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. I decided to head downhill in a hurry. Our dehydrated meals said they were tested at 5,000-foot elevation, and to double the cook time for every additional 5,000 feet. This cabin would be a good place to wait out a storm, but its not suitable as an overnight shelter due to its condition. After setting up the tent in light rain, I decided to take shelter in the tent as the rain continued. I figured more people would be out here doing the full loop like we were doing, but that clearly wasnt the case. Not today, it gre more and more intense as time went on. At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. In the morning, I headed down to the railroad, and caught the train to Silverton, then rode back to Durango. Heres what we learned while preparing for the Elk Park to Needleton hike, plus a few things I wish Id known ahead of time! Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. They could not believe how small the pad was, but I got the impression it was too ultralight for them. Check out my AWESOME DIY stealth camper van build project! Thanks for your support you ROCK!. Browse different rides & seasonal events. Subscribe to receive an emial notification when new content is added, Sawtooth Mountains Idaho Landscape Photography Canvas Prints, Seeking Lost Logo Shirt - Unisex Softstyle T-Shirt, Basin and Range Trail Planning Kit: Guidebook, GPX, Maps, Waypoints, Water Chart, Vanadinite Mineral Specimen (North Geronimo Mine, AZ), Wulfenite on Fluorite Mineral Specimen (Red Cloud Mine, AZ). Note that these satellite device options typically require that you have an active subscription to use the features. Lower elevations and farther south, definitely no snow and the spring melt off is going to be done by then. Also, because I sunburn easily, I brought UV protective shirts (the BALEAF womens UPF50 quick-dry shirt).