Nine miles long, the route climbs 3,760 feet to the Continental Divide.Continental Divide Trail:At the Divide, the trail connects with the Continental Divide Trail. Our Outside Magazine and Mens Journal Gear of the Year award-winning storm shell is engineered for fast-and-light alpine climbs and all-day backcountry tours. The trail connects Wolf Creek Pass approximately 30 minutes east of Pagosa Springs, CO to Stoney Pass near Silverton, CO by traveling through the rugged beauty of both the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Don't forget the 14ers.com mobile app. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible.Chicago Basin:Aside from its splendid hiking terrain, Chicago Basin also serves as a base camp for mountain climbers intent on scaling summits. It makes a stop (when requested) at Needleton, a location near the confluence of Needle Creek and the Animas. Be prepared to spend on average 5 days to complete the loop, and make the proper arrangements. Looking good is important too. The summit provides quite a view of various 14ers, Elk Park basin, Sunlight, Windom, and a couple alpine lakes. The trail is approximately 3 miles, one way, but can be made into a 7.8 mile loop via a segment of the Continental Divide Trail to Cunningham Gulch Trail. Check out our trail access page for more information. Visitors to Chicago Basin typically ride the train from Durango or Silverton, get off at Needleton, and hike about 6 miles . The Silverton Steam excursion departing at 9:00am will not service any wilderness stops. Again we exchanged pleasantries as we had the last two days and Bob and I then made our way across the bridge and over to the railroad tracks that would carry us to Silverton. I'll never forget it. Watch for the trail turnoff to the east that crosses two forks of Needle Creek. Near 11,200', turn left . and found Eric and Whitney resting quietly just off the path leading to the bridge. When flagging the train in either direction, you must be on theeastside of the tracks. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). Andrew Hamilton's 2014 Attempt | 14er Speed Record Attempt For information regarding trail conditions, to acquire a trail map, or to purchase back country insurance (highly recommended), contact the U.S. Forest Service at 970-247-4874. You will have to do some hand-over-hand rock scrambling on these boulders, however you're not in danger of falling off a cliff and there's plenty of choices/routes to take to make it easier for you. The Weminuche Wilderness faces a lot of challenges and if we as a community dont stand up for the Weminuche, nobody will. An official website of the Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. We werent sure about the weather because it had been 80% chance of thunderstorms on NOAA; we got very lucky with lots of sunshine though. Summit 3 Peaks in the Chicago Basin, Durango, Colorado There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Took the train from Durango and got off at Needleton. Larger parties must book under one reservation. Online reservations will be available soon. This time wasn't as bad as 1993, where my ancient A-frame tent blew down, but I'd suggest doing it in August for longer days and less rain. We did this trip in September. Elevations in the Weminuche range from 7,000 to 14,000 feet. Plan accordingly. The best option for flying to the area is to fly into Durango La Plata County Airport. after one of the seven bands of Ute people who made the Southwest Colorado Rockies their home. When the sun shines brightly on fresh snow in the mountains your eyes will thank you for a quality pair of shades. Completed this loop early July 2021. Coal Bank Pass to Engineer Mountain Summit, Sunlight Peak, Windom Peak, Mount Eolus via Animas River Trail, Sunlight Peak via Animas River Trail and Needle Creek Trail, Jura Knob via Pass and Engineer Mountain Trail. Pack out and properly dispose of all trash. Increasing numbers of visitors are disturbing wildlife, impacting trails, polluting creeks and streams, and leaving all kinds of waste behind. 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. Trip, Outdoor Research Filament Hooded Down Jacket, Outdoor Research Stormtracker Sensor Gloves, Longs Peak: Rocky Mountain National Park. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. Several hundred miles of hiking trails provide endless options for multi-day backpacking trips that promise high mountain passes, beautiful, flower-filled basins and views as far as the eye can see. Site developed by Agency Tourism Marketing. Heading to a 14er soon? The Outdoor Research Echo Hoody also offers good sun protection. Durango has a number of great hotels, suites, and vacation rentals for you to stay in while youre in the area. All participants must read and sign an Assumption of Risks/Liability Waiver and agree to our Reservations and Cancellations Policies. The top of Columbine Pass is the end of Needle Creek Trail and beginning of Johnson Creek Trail #821, which descends over 3,500 feet in 7 milesto Vallecito Creek. Unoccupied seats will be sold as a no-show. Funds remaining at the end of the year are used to help pay for training and equipment for these teams. Highly recommend! Difficulty - Extremely Strenuous. Today well have the opportunity to explore Chicago Basin and potentially hike a 14er, Windom Peak (14,083 ft.) if weather allows. A required item on the majority of our programs, a baseball cap helps to keep harmful sun off your face. Trail conditions often change rapidly; please be well prepared! We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. Buy tickets in advance! This is great, loved it! Had to backpack from the road, but worth it. Stuff sacks are a great way to organize your gear in your pack and help to keep things tidy in a variety of ways. 5 miles to Chicago Basin 8.9 miles to Columbine Pass Minimum elevation: 8,230 feet (Needleton train stop) Maximum/ending elevation: 12,680 feet (Columbine Pass) At a Glance General Information Directions: From Durango, CO: Purgatory Flats Trail #511 to Animas River Trail #675: Drive ~26 miles. Backpackers with plenty of time on their hands might hike the Divide Trail north to either Stony Pass or the Highland Mary Lakes area.Vallecito Creek Trail:Heading south, the route leads to Hunchback Pass and from here to the upper end of the Vallecito Creek Trail. Absolutely incredible! epic views, love the goats, we even took a bath in the creek - it was freezing! There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Once at the saddle, choose which mountain to summit (or do both). 5 miles to Chicago Basin 8.9 miles to Columbine Pass Minimum elevation: 8,230 feet (Needleton train stop) Maximum/ending elevation: 12,680 feet (Columbine Pass) At a Glance General Information Directions: From Durango, CO: Purgatory Flats Trail #511 to Animas River Trail #675: Drive ~26 miles. The fund also supports SJMAs volunteer ranger program, which equips and trains local volunteers, empowering them to give back to the Weminuche. pack it in, pack it out. Reservations can only be made for Durango or Silverton origination. You may want to drop off the rest of your party and gear closer to the train and then park the car. This pack is well suited for weekend excursions or quick overnight forays when you are toting less than 40 pounds. Want to report conditions for this trail? Camped in Chicago Basin for the night. We took the train on a Thursday to Needleton, backpacked up too Chicago Basin that night, and allowed for climbing peaks on Friday and Saturday. Many hotels offer a free shuttle pickup. Serious Tallis and scree if youre between groups - missed the morning rush window and caught 6 people on their way down. pack up to 7 miles a day, endurance is key. Here, you will exit the dense cover of the forest and pass through a sparsely wooded meadow, continuing uphill alongside Needle Creek for another 2.6 km. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. Strangely we didn't see any mountain goats but heard they are normally so persistent that you have to pee on rocks and pack out #2 & all TP in bags that they give for free at the register box. This trail is often used as an approach for climbing the four 14ers found in the Needle Mountains. From Columbine Pass it is nine miles down to the Needleton trailhead and civilization. The Colorado Trail passes through the Weminuche from Stony Pass to Molas Pass as it links 486 miles of trails from Denver to Durango. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. If you are planning a trip to the Chicago Basin area during this time, you will have to share your wilderness experience with quite a few other people. Originating at the former mining camp of Needleton, Needle Creek Trail climbs along an old stage road that follows its namesake seven miles into Chicago Basin. Throw in access via an old steam-engine, narrow-gauge train and it becomes clear why this area grows in popularity every year. Failure to have gear loaded by the appointed time could cause you to lose your seats. Too many people and not enough camp spots. Do not be drawn up the climbers trail to the twin lakes between Eolus, Sunlight and Windom. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. Also, I only summited Windom. Backpackers and hunters may arrange for firearms to be transported as freight. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Extremely durable and lightweight 3D Flex insert for excellent ankle mobility Vibram. Take some time here to explore the area surrounding the alpine lakes while also soaking up the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including the three nearby fourteeners: Mount Eolus, Sunlight Peak, and Windom Peak. That and all the rocks you have to rock climb so put away those hiking sticks when you get past Twin Lakes. Gotta love this community! Then made my way back down to my camp at 12:30pm, packed up, and hauled butt back to the 3:45pm train, made it to train stop by 3pm. A cap of 15 people per party exists with a total cap of 9 parties per day at Needleton. For more information on accessing Chicago Basin, the San Juan Mountains and the Weminuche Wilderness area visit our Wilderness Access page here. Trail: Chicago Basin from Needleton Needleton Elevation: 8,212 ft. Camp Elevation: 11,000 ft. . Two 1 liter bottles is the standard for days in the mountains. From here, it's a 6 mile hike to reach Chicago Basin. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. Summer brings the certainty of afternoon thunderstorms with increased rain and storms during the monsoon season. Posted on August 4, 2022 by jim. This is a few blocks away from where you board the train. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Bring your water filter along with 1.5-2 liters of water with you. I'll be doing this loop this September 2023 except in reverse. For a detailed backpacking itinerary, dig into the associated guidebook. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. This is a unique experience and adds an interesting start and finish to our trekking trips unlike any other in the US. A great day in one of Colorados most beautiful areas. Feel free to text me at 616-443-9183. The access point to Chicago Basin is somewhat unusual, but that's what makes this trip so special. Supported by the Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund, the. Spruce beetle infestations and avalanche falls have led to thousands of downed trees that block trail access and affect local ecosystems. Most LED type headlamps will do but we recommend the Black Diamond Storm for its versatility. Chicago Basin (7/19-21/11) - Wilderness Wanderings Er zijn geiten in Chicago Basin. The catwalk is much more low key than the YouTube video makes it look. DURANGO DEPARTURES: Gear must be loaded in the boxcar 45 minutes prior to departure to allow you to be in your seatsbefore the final boarding call. elk park train stop to needleton - sky-cover.co.uk Along the way well have the opportunity to climb a 14er (Windom Peak), see wild mountain goats, hike on unbelievably well maintained trails, both above and below treeline, and see some of Colorados most beautiful wildflowers. Soft Shell fabric deflects biting gusts, and a tricot lining retains valuable heat. The best times to visit this trail are July through September. Gain access to the San Juan National Forest and the Weminuche Wilderness for backpacking, day hikes, rafting, and fishing trips via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad during the summer season. Planned on doing South Peak as well but conditions were too snowy/icy for me. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. As more and more Americans head to the backcountry, the fragile high-alpine environments of the Weminuche face numerous threats. Needleton Stop Needle Creek Trail: Originating at the former mining camp of Needleton, Needle Creek Trail climbs along an old stage road that follows its namesake seven miles into Chicago Basin. We highly encourage the consumption of coffee on our programs. Heading south, the route leads to Hunchback Pass and from here to the upper end of the Vallecito Creek Trail. We made it to Chicago Basin and I made it to the "saddle" of Sunlight peak before talking myself out of going up the rest of the way (regretting it to this day). Next morning at 7:30am I pushed up to Twin Lakes and then up to North Peak of Mt Eolus. A relic of the mining trade of the 1880s 1930s, the train is world famous as it is one of the few narrow gauge railroads left in existence. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Photo @brooklynwarren The leap of faith is surely the hardest move - but to some its optional since the geo marker is lower. Low-profile GORE WINDSTOPPER. We strongly recommend advanced booking to assure seating. Water can be found off the trail in most of the tributaries, but due to Giardia it should be filtered. Choose your footing wisely here as rocks will shift and fall away. The third bridge is gone due to an avalanche in the winter of 2004-2005 and there are no plans at this time to replace the bridge. So beautiful with many waterfalls and accessible water along the way. Debris form 2020 avalanches on the elk park section have been cleared but theres quite a bit of fallen trees blocking the needle creek trail out of the Chicago Basin. This hike is definitely a good one! You will need to pay for each day your vehicle will be in the lot. On our final day well hike to the top of Columbine Pass in the morning to enjoy some incredible scenery then pack up and hike out via the Needle Creek Trail where well eventually meet up with the train at Needleton and the finish of our trek.

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