Also wish I packed in a small pack for the day hikes because our backpacking packs were large and felt a little unstable at some of the steeper parts. All livestock feed must be certified weed free. 15 Burnett Court The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. There are two other peaks very close by and it is possible to do all three in one day. 710 Main Street Owing to its easy access via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, its proximity to three of Colorados 14-ers, and its scenic beauty, Chicago Basin is a very popular backpacker destination in the Weminuche Wilderness. The best option for flying to the area is to fly into Durango La Plata County Airport. Disposal of human waste and wash water is prohibited within 100 feet (35 adult steps) of any water source. We strongly recommend advanced booking to assure seating. Follow the fork east along Needle Creek for approximately 0.75 miles. North Eolus was an easy transition across. A few turned around on Sunlights route due to overcrowding and rockfall. Below are some approximate driving times if youd like to drive to Durango. It resides at 8,277 feet of elevation in San Juan County. Below are just a few options catering to different lodging styles and preferences. Additionally, the trailhead is only accessible via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, so make sure to arrive early and leave yourself plenty of time for the return journey. Online booking is not available at this time. This will lead to the trail to Chicago Basin and the beginning of the climb. Just north of the flag stop is one of the last of two remaining wooden water tanks on the Durango and Silverton. https://youtu.be/2iDmEsqbobA. Buckhorn Limousine offers a shuttle as well. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. 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 beginning of the trail makes a very enjoyable day hike (great for kids) through a deep canyon filled with ponderosa pine forest, aspen and conifers. Updated for touchscreen compatibility, the StormTracker Sensor Gloves are equally at home alpine climbing, ski touring or ice climbing. Come and join us on a truly unforgettable trip in Colorados largest wilderness area! Call our reservation office for dates and times of other flagstops. Accessed from the Needleton Train Stop or the Animas River Trail, this well-maintained trail climbs steadily up Needle Creek for approximately 5 miles to Chicago Basin. Needle Creek to Chicago Basin: Accessed from the Needleton Train Stop or the Animas River Trail, this well-maintained trail climbs steadily up Needle Creek for approximately 5 miles to Chicago Basin. Elk Creek Trail:This trail travels east from the railroad, climbing into the upper reaches of the Needle Mountains. This area has excellent views and photographic possibilities. It took us 7 days to complete it. And the continuous mountain/valley views are second to none! We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! The Chicago Basin Hike is a challenging, but non-technical, adventure in the San Juan Mountains that will take you uphill for stunning views of the alpine terrain. United States government. Supported by the Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund, the. Elevations range from 8,000 feet at trailheads to over 14,000 at the peaks. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. We almost made the summit of Mt Eolus but due to more snow along the last 500' we opted not to chance it. Amazing hike and rough terrain. Typically a 4 oz. The unincorporated community of Needleton is very secluded east from the Highway 550. As it typically goes in Colorado, just as you think you are accomplishing something big, a trail runner comes in from Purgatory trail that morning and does all four WHILE finding the energy to run back 16 miles. There are no southbound stops at Needleton for departures from Silverton. 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. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. As always, being in excellent physical shape is an important component of our our programs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById('copyright').appendChild(document.createTextNode(new Date().getFullYear())) Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. The Needle Creek trail begins on the edge of the Weminuche Wilderness and ascends a narrow mountain valley along the banks of its eponymous creek, all the way to Chicago Basin. Once at the saddle, choose which mountain to summit (or do both). be aware of your place, take what you need! Please inform a reservation agent at time of booking as to the number of backpacks in your party. Beautiful but a tough hike 2 spots over 13k so many wildflowers and mountain goats! The best time to visit the Weminuche is early July through mid-September. , which equips and trains local volunteers, empowering them to give back to the Weminuche. Box 2261 (mailing) 15 Burnett Court (physical) Durango, CO 81302 970.385.1210 info@sjma.org, 2018 - All Rights Reserved - San Juan Mountains Association | Web Design by Sweet P Web Development, The Continental Divide Trail traverses more than 3,000 miles from New Mexico to Canada, with more than 80 miles within the Weminuche Wilderness. A great addition to any of our programs. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. The alpine meadows are full of blooming wildflowers in late July and August. Train to Needleton stop. At 6.5 miles you begin the steep climb to Columbine Pass. After climbing through the basin, you will push up a steep slope to arrive at the shores of two stunning alpine lakes with gorgeous mountain views. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. So I said goodbye to James, who would pack up the tent and sleeping bags and meet me down in Needleton to catch the train. Purgatory Flats trail heads straight down a series of switchbacks through a forest filled with aspen and xxx with the occasional view of the surrounding peaks (Twilights and Spud Mountain). Cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming, and cycling are great to build heart and lung endurance. Except for service animals accompanying their master/trainer, we will not carry any live animals in any cars on our train. Currently there are no permits required for recreational activities in the Chicago Basin. Once you have taken in the views and had your fill of exploring the rugged, mountainous terrain, you will follow the same route back downhill through the Chicago Basin to return to the trailhead where you began your lengthy adventure. In 2020, SJMA wilderness volunteers rose to the challenge of skyrocketing visitation by patrolling busy trails to promote Leave No Trace principles, distribute REStop bags to prevent human waste from polluting the backcountry, clean graffiti from rocks, and to remove trash from our trails. The Outdoor Research Echo Hoody also offers good sun protection. 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. These are wear all the time in all conditions base layer pants. When flagging the train in either direction, you must be on theeastside of the tracks. To reach Chicago Basin, use the Approach Page. We camped at ~9300 ft. Expect to see wild animals in the backcountry! From here, it's a 6 mile hike to reach Chicago Basin. It took us about 5 hours to get to Chicago Basin, arriving around 3:30pm or so. Was back at twin lakes by 930am and decided to just summit Sunlight and Windom as long as the clouds held up. Please refer to the Short Stop Table (to be added) to determine which train will be stopping at your desired flag stop on the date you will be boarding. 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. Check out this 37.5-mile point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. In order to reach the Chicago Basin, you will need to take the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and get off at the Needleton Flagstop. From there, the Elk Creek Trail heads 9 miles though the Weminuche to a junction with the Continental Divide trail, past iconic peaks of the Grenadier Range including Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks. Authorized Concessionaire in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are a few small stream crossings and some muddy areas but overall good conditions. By purchasing a CORSAR card you are contributing to the Search and Rescue Fund, which will reimburse these teams for costs incurred in your search and rescue. Needleton train stop: Ride in on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The third day we hiked ~11 miles, starting with 2 miles downhill and then 7 miles to the top of columbine pass and then 2 miles down to camp at Chicago basin. The Needle Creek Trail #504 is a wildly popular trail that brings backpackers from either the Animas River Trail #675 or theNeedleton train stop into Chicago Basin. The Weminuche is home to three of Colorados 14ers, Mount Eolus (14,083 ft), Sunlight Peak (14,059) and Windom Peak (14,082 ft), as well as multiple peaks over 13,000 ft. With the continental divide running through the heart of the Weminuche Wilderness, this area is the headwaters for the 5 rivers: Los Pinos (The Pine), Piedra, San Juan and Animas rivers on the west of the continental divide and the mighty Rio Grande river on the east side. We ride the narrow gauge train to the Needleton stop, where our trek will begin. Our guides always carry a comprehensive medical kit but it's nice to have your own as well. Windom peak was my first 14er. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 9 min to complete. From Durango:Reservations should be made in advancethrough the Durango ticket office. Heading south, the route leads to Hunchback Pass and from here to the upper end of the Vallecito Creek Trail. Thanks again. You need at minimum either a soft shell jacket or hard shell jacket for local Ouray based winter courses and programs. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Choosing the right base layer really makes a difference in comfort, moisture-wicking, and the balance between cool and warm at the right time and in the right places. This is a unique experience and adds an interesting start and finish to our trekking trips unlike any other in the US. We camped here and summited North Eolus the following day (we were wanting to summit Mount Eolus as well, but once we got to the saddle between the two, Mount Eolus looked way more exposed and precarious). , this is the most popular backpacking loop in the Weminuche. Heading to a 14er soon? Arriving at a fork, you will bear left to begin climbing the steep and rugged alpine terrain, eventually arriving at the scenic shores of the Twin Lakes after 1.8 km. We camped in the Chicago Basin, which was about a five hour hike from the train stop including a lunch break. Unless you have a current Season Pass OR originate in Silverton, there will be a freight charge per backpack. In order to successfully carry a 35 lb. Check local Fire Restrictions / Activity before you go: SJMAs online store provides many maps and guidebooks to help you plan your Weminuche adventure. An official website of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Coal Bank Pass to Engineer Mountain Summit Hike. The three tallest 14,059 foot Sunlight Peak, 14,084 foot Mount Eolus and 14,087 foot Windom Peak are the most popular climbs, but there are many other peaks offering mountaineering challenges and scenic wonder. This hike covers 34 miles and involves more than 8,000 feet of climbing. This will be the easiest part of the hike and where you'll see the most marmots and mountain goats (they get quite close to you but aren't aggressive at all). Highly recommend! We did this trip in September. For a detailed backpacking itinerary, dig into the associated guidebook. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? Camping Day 1 Chicago Basin, Day 2 Vallecito Creek bridge, Day 3 Rock Creek trail junction, Day 4 Eldorado Lake where I'm meeting some Colorado Trail thru hiking friends to hike with, Day 5 Elk Park and hiking out to Molas Pass on day 6. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Know what fire restrictions are in effect for San Juan and/or the Rio Grande National Forest. Wilderness Access is only available during our summer season which runs May-October. Either way, we offer plenty of fixed date trip options to get you out into Colorado's finest wilderness area! After adjusting our packs and preparing to hike we begin by hiking up Needle creek into the heart of the Chicago Basin. At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. 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. Bookings must be made by phone. Multiple airline options exist, and most connections originate from Denver, Phoenix, or Dallas. Dogs - Allowed. Buy tickets in advance! Hop aboard to be the first to hear about upcoming events, specials, and train news. The elevation is what makes this so hard. Day 1: Needleton -> Chicago Basin Distance: 7.4 mi Elevation: 3,773 Time: 4:40 hrs Day 2: Chicago Basin -> Sunlight & Windom Peaks Distance: 6.2 mi Elevation: 4,352 Time: 12:40 hrs Day 3: Chicago Basin -> Needleton Distance: 7.4 mi Elevation: -3,773 Time: 3:30 hrs Colo 14er Rank: #39, #32 Difficulty: Sunlight - class 4, Windom - class 2+ + We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. This was my first hike of more than five miles. The trail begins to the left of Twin Lakes and is easily followed until you hit the scree field that goes up the rocky divide between the two mountains. Another mile leads you to the junction with the Elk Park Train Stop spur. 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. At its core is a moisture-managing microfiber fabric that is wind resistant and able to control odor. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. These pants dig climbs that take them a few hundred feet off the deck. Highly recommend. Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund: In 2019, SJMA launched the Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund with the goal of empowering the local community to give back to our most treasured wilderness. Today well have the opportunity to explore Chicago Basin and potentially hike a 14er, Windom Peak (14,083 ft.) if weather allows. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. For trekking trips in Colorados Weminuche Wildernessyou should be ready for: Durango is located in the SW corner of Colorado, at the intersection of the sandstone towers of the desert, and the jagged, San Juan Mountains. This part of the trip follows Needle Creek the whole way, albeit reaching the creek is not easy (or advisable) since the trail is often much higher than the creek and there is foliage and steep drop-offs if straying off-trail. 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. The boundary of the Weminuche Wilderness is 2.7 miles up the trail, the fishing is fantastic. The Continental Divide Trail traverses more than 3,000 miles from New Mexico to Canada, with more than 80 miles within the Weminuche Wilderness. Trailhead Location - Needleton Trailhead (Train Stop) or Purgatory Trailhead. Took the train from Durango and got off at Needleton. connected to the .gov website. Het maakt een stop (op verzoek) bij Needleton, een locatie in de buurt van de samenvloeiing van Needle Creek en de Animas. There are no camping spots until you reach Chicago Basin. Summited at 10:30am. If I were to do it again, I wouldve done a few more miles the first day - theres a nice campsite before the first peak. Do not be drawn up the climbers trail to the twin lakes between Eolus, Sunlight and Windom. A variety is always best. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Summer brings the certainty of afternoon thunderstorms with increased rain and storms during the monsoon season. If symptoms persist, seek medical aid. join the progression with us Even took a quick dip in the lake because it was so hot out! We like the Spatha knife for its size, weight, versatility, and ability to clip onto a harness. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. It has been our group's favorite for several years. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Train Stop is a 36 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail that features beautiful wild flowers. The nature back there is unbelievable. The darker the better. A must have for alpine and ice climbing trips and objectives. Be aware that choosing a non-stop flight can sometimes be more expensive while saving you time. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 9 min to complete. AVY Course and a Solid crew Sunlight Peak is fairly remote and is surrounded by wild terrain, including a number of rugged mountains, the beautifully scenic Twin Lakes, and the vast Chicago Basin. is a place where the imprint of humans is substantially unnoticeable, where natural processes are the primary influencers and human activity is limited to primitive recreation and minimum tools. Feel free to text me at 616-443-9183. Regardless of which mountain you're hiking (Sunlight, Windom, Eolus, or North Eolus), you'll first have to hike to Twin Lakes by taking the trail to the end of Chicago Basin and then up one of its sides. This is a very popular area for camping, fishing, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Absolutely incredible! There are two ways to get into the Chicago Basin - a looong hike in from Purgatory or a ride on the Durango Silverton Train. The two main access locations are atNeedleton, the entrance to Chicago Basin; andElk Park, access point to the Colorado Trail. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir All Season mattress is lightweight, durable, extremely warm, and the ultimate solution to year-round backcountry comfort. Our total distance was about 42 miles. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. Trail: Chicago Basin from Needleton Needleton Elevation: 8,212 ft. Camp Elevation: 11,000 ft. . Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. 7/19 Bonus Hiking Trail: Chicago Basin/Twin Lakes Trail Camp Elevation: 11,000 ft. Junction Elevation: 11,204 ft. Elevation Total: 204 ft. Mileage Total: 1.9 miles TRIP REPORT: Durango-Silverton Train to Needleton (7/19) Start Time: 9:15am End time .

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