Tips for Camping With Your Kids in Durango, Colorado. We set our packs up on a rock ledge with rain covers on, hoping thats be enough to keep them dry. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! - 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 used a Deuter Kids 40 pack (it has an adjustable torso section for short people!) The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. This seemed pretty pointless though, because we just stood around until about 7:50. Basin and Range Trail (2020) It was only 11:45, so we had 3:45 to wait. 1. The skies were grey to start the day, but gave way to some blue patches by mid morning. Here, there were several more mountain goats hanging out on the rocks by a small pool of water. After crossing the bridge over the Animas River to the train tracks on the other side, we spotted an abandoned shack. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. We stopped to eat lunch on a talus slope and observed many pikas, no marmots yet though. Thanks for sharing this one. Venchka. Really helpful report! is to leave an itinerary with a responsible person back home, as well as a time and date when they should call for help if they dont hear from you. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 9 min to complete. The rain sucked, but it sure did make you appreciate what little sunshine we did get. Have a good hike! My breakfast today was a very hearty helping of granola and almonds (about 800 calories worth), and some dried strawberries. Weve also been testing this Deuter Aircontact Ultra 45 + 5 pack and love it. Im considering doing this loop this summer and you have really helped! Trees blocked most of the views. I hope your backpacking trip is just as epic as ours was. I couldnt see the mountains behind me at all now, they were lost in the clouds. Length: 7.9 mi Est. 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. 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. The train kept on going though, as this one wasnt scheduled to stop here. Within the first mile, we encountered a snake on the trail. Eventually, I was able to scare them off pretty good by simply throwing my arms up in the air. Depending on where you plan to board the train, plan ahead and determine which parking option meets your needs best. Almost immediately, it began to rain a little. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Campsite in Chicago Basin for nights 4 and 5. This route climbs 8,523 ft with a max elevation of 12,843 ft then descends -9,174 ft. Local Trail Association It was around 1:45pm when we rolled into camp today. Arriving via a coal-powered train on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, this excursion into the dramatic Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado gets off to a unique start. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. I only saw a steep trail consisting of loose rock. Patreon is a service that allows you to provide monthly financial support to your favorite content creators. The weather was holding out all morning, shine shining and blue skies. Eolus. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. 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. Did the 38.6 mile loop from Elk. It was raining up here and quite cold. Thanks for your support you ROCK!. Lisa just made it up over the last rocky ridge on the CDT, giving way to views of Eldorado Lake. 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 still panned on climbing Windom and maybe Sunlight. It was extra sunny during the day, and there were thunderstorms most evenings. The trail follows the 44 road past the lake, and then winds towards the trail leading up to Hunchback Pass. A hiking boot is preferable. Of course, this is contingent on cooperating weather. There were tons of waterfalls everywhere, many more than our hike in the Maroon Bells last year. About a half hour later we arrived at the bridge, and it was a welcome sight. 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. To my amazement, the sky was 100% clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning. For details on the hike itself, see my post about the various trail segments. Shortly after, we saw the skull with spine still connected of some type of antlered animal alongside the trail. This was comical, yet useful information at the same time. 18-21 September 2017. Theres also a Deuter backpacking pack thats a standard size, if youre taller than I am! Early morning at the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station. Not long after, we watched the same goats cross the creek and head towards our general area. The top of Hunchback Pass offered no views, as the visibility was around 200 feet. Id say we averaged 5 people seen per day on days 1-4. Elk Park Stop Elk Creek Trail This trail travels east from the railroad, climbing into the upper reaches of the Needle Mountains. I recommend bringing a trekking pole to help support and steady yourself on the trail. The Needleton stop also gives you access to the Needle Creek Trail, Johnson Creek Trail and the Chicago Basin. They can be a lifesaver on a long hike. He sure did look delicious, haha. This looks more like some of the pictures Id seen of the San Juans before our trip. We used a Sawyer Squeeze water filter. 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. This was a class 3 in my opinion. Or some come at it from the opposite (Needleton) end, via Purgatory Flats Trail and the Animas River Trail (about 10 miles). Bugs were pretty bad this year. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. There were cairns here and there marking the way as well, which could be seen since the Twin Lakes. My boots were the driest theyd been since day 1, and I really didnt want to get stuck in rain today. Miles Hiked 5.4 Not too bad, but this was definitely not a class 2+ as described on 14ers.com. 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. What a morale booster it was. Very nice trip report! Amherst and Organ mountains in the background. This entry was posted on August 29, 2013. Are you planning a backpacking adventure in the Weminuche Wilderness of southern Colorado? 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. This will give you time to make it to your seats before the final boarding call. 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. As with the other days, we passed many streams and waterfalls on the way up. First, dont forget your sunglasses! Swampy, muddy areas where your foot sinks ankle deep in mud are also likely, as well as multiple creek crossings. Our brakeman Sam was a wealth of knowledge about any kind of train-related questions we had. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Your email address will not be published. Now back on the trail, we were approaching the CDT. It worked perfectly. We kept the food bags in our packs too, which is kept in OPsaks. Seeing the fog rise from the mountains and engulf the peaks around us was incredible. Once I got a little closer to the drainage, I could see the water flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the rock. The pictures dont even come close to being there first hand. This is the beaver pond that people often reference when hiking this section of trail. The trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. I asked one of the train workers if we could sit in the covered carts even though we had tickets for the open cart, and he said sure, if theres a seat available. Even though I initially didnt want to build a fire, I was really glad to have it going now. By the time we reached the lake, the peaks around us were completely engulfed by the clouds. Expect to see (or at least hear) marmots and pikas, as well as lots of chipmunks. Narrow Gauge Railroad preservation & legacy. After driving around town, we realized that there was zero parking available anywhere. The nature back there is unbelievable. I felt a few drops of rain just as the trail leaves the Twin Lakes area and dips back into Chicago Basin. Other hikers trickled in to the area as time went on. However, the clouds were building now and threatened to block the sun for the first time today. So far, so good. Id say there were about 20 people total here waiting for the train. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. Whitewater trips for more experienced adventurers. We were able to cross the creek by hopping rocks and logs, just as we were able to with every other stream crossing on this trip. From Twin Lakes, I made it back to my campsite in 35 minutes. They really wanted to be right there, and werent taking no for an answer. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Keep a close eye on your belongings: these feisty critters can chew threw packs quickly. 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. The altitude will affect water filters and food cook time, which is usually explained on the packaging. It was great to get some hot food in our stomachs before heading to our hotel in Pagosa Springs. I like having dry gear! 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). At columbine Lake, I dont think youd have an issue finding a suitable site. The trail was much easier to hike than I was anticipating, and I was covering pretty good ground. There were no other campsites nearby and extremely close to the trail leading up to the three 14ers in Chicago Basin: Windom Peak, Sunlight Peak, and Mt. While the wilderness area has many access points, one of the best approaches is from the Durango & Silverton railroad stop of Elk Park, just outside of Silverton. Youre hiking at high elevation in a very sunny spot, so protecting your eyes is important. If you are open to suggestions, maybe have a look at the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. We stayed up a little later tonight due to the fire, and ended up going to bed around 11pm. 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?? I proceeded downhill now alongside the edge of this. There was another meadow a mile or so past our camp that would have been a nice place to spend the night. Its easy to explore the Colorado wilderness from the Durango train. The water tasted great and was very cold. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Still a good ways from the pass, we pushed on as the rains started in their usual off and on fashion. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. Copyright 2015-2023 Champagne TastesAll Rights Reserved. We didn't. Windward_Coug. There was only one other campsite occupied the we could see in the area, so it wasnt too crowded. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. The San Juan mountains are notorious for being snowy and the best time is probably mid July to Mid September. 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. I ended up spending an hour and a half up here just hanging out. Instead of heading over to Sunlight, I decided to follow the drainage leading to Twin Lakes and explore that area. There were many campsites to choose from in the area near the Vallecito Creek Bridge. The skies did not look good and I was not sure whether or not I would be climbing tomorrow. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. El mejor momento para visitar esta . I had no way of keeping my gear out of the reach of the rodents. Will b taking my 19 yr old son in early August this year for his first extended back country pack trip. The ride is slow and sooty and other than the crying kids that overpopulated our car, the ride really was wonderful. It was one of our Black Diamond Alpine carbon trekking poles, which was extra sad. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Its an extra 9 miles I believe from Purgatory to Needleton. The Elk Park to Needleton loop in the Weminuche Wilderness, to be precise. I knew I was going to punish them here and figured itd be best to give them any help they can get. After 6 days of hiking, we couldnt wait to get to the hotel. Wilderness access gives riders an opportunity to book with the intention of getting off the train and getting outdoors. Actually, mid May. We use the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double 20 quilt. Mojave-Sonoran Trail (2021) 2/21/22 12:49pm. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. There are also sections with loose pebbles where youll want good traction. The Weminuche Loop is a classic 40-50 mile horseshoe hike that starts at Elk Park and ends at Needleton. Never miss a new post! There was a snowshoe hare, or multiple hares, that I kept seeing as I gathered wood. Please be aware that reservations can only be made from Durango and Silverton originations. Check out this 17.3-mile out-and-back trail near Durango, Colorado. So much for being packed. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. It was a little windy last night, which can make it hard to sleep. I dont like to sit in the tent if I dont have to. Food takes longer to cook at high altitudes. There are national and state parks nearby where you can push your limits on some shorter trails first. 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. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. By tnmule20, February 10, 2022 in Camping & High Adventure. 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. For your monthly pledge, at various tier levels starting at $5, you receive perks and benefits in return. These odor proof bags have never let me down, and with all the rodents around, it was going to be a real test tonight. 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. From a distance, I could see faint lines on the hillside that were definitely the switchbacks. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. Getting close to the top of Hunchback Pass. we get old because we stop hiking" on the back. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. Coming down Columbine Pass into Chicago Basin? Lisa was out roaming too, watching the many Ptarmigan birds in the area. These guys didnt seem as threatening though. It took us 7 days to complete it. After being in the rain all week, we were still getting rained on during the train ride back. Required fields are marked *. Miles: 45 Days: 6-8 Difficulty: Strenuous. This is a popular trail for birding and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Cant wait to try this trip myself! First week of June, the only people out there will probably be CDT thru hikers, and theyll be up against a lot of snow still. Check out my AWESOME DIY stealth camper van build project! I just forwarded the link so he get get psyched up! Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. For comparison, where we live is around 800 feet above sea level. This hike is definitely a good one! Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Awesome, thanks! The only way to combat them is it cover up your skin with long sleeves, jacket hood, etc. 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. We did the Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Loop which was 36 miles. The times we've done this, the train departed Silverton about 2:45 PM and dropped us of by 3:45 PM. The other guy was impressed with its small size. Our most reliable digital map was from Garmin, within the Garmin Explore app on my phone. Thanks for sharing. From the bottom though, I couldnt tell where the switchbacks started. 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 best times to visit this trail are June through October.