elk park train stop to needleton

However, Im sure you could find a clearing to put a tent somewhere. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. We hiked from the Elk Park train stop to Needleton, which includes about 43 miles of hiking in the San Juan mountains. The water is gorgeous. After heading down more switchbacks, I spied a suitable place to call home of the next 2 nights. I took it out of its stuff sack and unrolled it and the looks on their faces were just priceless. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. Carrying a backpack downhill has wreaked havoc on my knees on my last few hikes, but I was spared this time. The map in my trip report is generated from a wordpress plugin, where I uploaded my GPX file of the hike. . There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. The Weminuche Loop is a classic 40-50 mile horseshoe hike that starts at Elk Park and ends at Needleton. The trail wasnt too steep most of the way up this morning. It has a mesh frame that holds the weight of the pack slightly off your back. I saw maybe 10 people on day 5, and probably about 60 on day 6. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Any and all kinds of weather! This was a pizza by the slice kind of place, and the slices were enormous! 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 recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! It moved away pretty quickly, but I could tell it was not a rattlesnake. Back up on the CDT, it was evident that the weather was not going to cooperate today. I updated this post to include a map of the Weminuche Wilderness, with trailhead locations marked. The sun was shining on the Twin Lakes now, and it was beautiful. Save on outdoor activities, tours & rentals. Creating new thru-hiking routes & guides, hiking videos, outdoor documentaries, backpacking trip reports, trail journals, photos and more! You write quite well. Excellent views all around. Eolus. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? Any way to access this trail without riding the train? Without going closer, theres no way of knowing what the rest of it looked like. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. I do regret getting the open-cart seats though, because it was raining and it was not dry inside. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about . What a place for a cabin though! Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hail/freezing rain/snow was falling, and it was Hunchback Pass all over again, with a little better visibility. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. 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. This was a class 3 in my opinion. This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. A mine along the trail leading down into Chicago Basin. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. So much for being packed. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. Nice! It was nice to know that we had a day off of hiking coming up tomorrow, at least for Lisa anyways. Yes, either hiking boots or hiking shoes are a very good idea on these trails. Cachanilla83. Your monthly pledge helps me bring you more quality hiking and outdoor adventure videos, trail guides and content. Once on board, you'll be able to ride back to Durango or Silverton to finish your adventure. I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! I can use train but according to DSNGRR schedule, their trains stops EITHER in Needlton OR in Elk Park, but not in BOTH. 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. I'm a traveler who loves to eat. Success! Great hike! Before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you know where youre going! Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. What a place for a cabin! Esta ruta es popular para mochilear, disfrutar de la observacin de aves y ir de camping, sin embargo, podrs disfrutar de algo de paz durante los momentos ms tranquilos del da. There was even a distinct trail that led much of the way up, until it could no longer be seen amongst the boulders. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. San Juan National Forest - Elk Creek Trail/ Colorado Trail (503) Apparently, they felt more threatened by that than the rocks whizzing by their heads. This was worth the trip alone and something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime! I figured the total mileage for today would be about 14 miles, but everything after mile 4 or so would be downhill. About a half hour later we arrived at the bridge, and it was a welcome sight. I didnt want to go crazy on day 1 anyways, so it worked out that it was a shorter 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. TR: Elk Park/Needleton Loop with extras - WhiteBlaze But if you need an even warmer quilt, weve heard very good things about the quilts from Enlightened Equipment. Looking back up the way I just came down from Windom Peak. Very useful. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Go figure, good weather on the last day. None of them seemed very dry though. Finally, with any backpacking trip, you should look for an emergency out. All we could do is move downhill as quickly as possible, and after descending another 1500 feet or so, all was well again. 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. 28 miles, a little over 8k' of elevation gain. Carry a comfortable pack with a water reservoir. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. It didnt rain extremely heavily at any time, but it was just so damn frequent. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. I hit the trail around 6:15 with full rain gear on. The weather started clearing up after about mile 4. 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). At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. Never miss a new post! One of the train employees told us a little about the history of the train and how things work. Pack your food in a bear sling or bear canister. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. There were no beavers. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. On this section of the trail, the views were mostly obstructed by trees until we reached the beaver pond at mile 3. Route Elk CReek campsite to Eldorado Lake. Then, we saw 2 mountain goats on the other side of Needle Creek that had just walked into someones camp. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. By now, there were clouds brewing in all directions, but nothing serious yet. Awesome, thanks! 2. Absolutely stunning! 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. I have done this one twice!! 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. I was awestruck with the beauty of those mountains. I was . For suggestions, see my guides to the best womens hiking boots and hiking gear for men. 7 of the Best Summer Backpacking Trips in the Mountain West Finally below the clouds after descending Hunchback Pass, These deer practically walked right up to us while we ate lunch. Parking for the train is available in Durango and Silverton. The on and off rain was definitely a bummer though. Basin and Range Trail (2020) Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? Soon enough it was back to the rain. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Trees blocked most of the views. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. Dogs are also able to. We spend a good while collecting firewood, but as wet as it was, it was a bit of a challenge. 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. Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! After a nice relaxing break, we hit the trail again. This was after 10 minutes of having rocks thrown at them.

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