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. Day Hiking Trails Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. The card is not insurance. Mount Eolus looked pretty hairy with steep drop-offs. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. City of Ouray Ouray Ice Park Ouray Via Ferrata. Watch for the trail turnoff to the east that crosses two forks of Needle Creek. Guiding and instruction with an AMGA Certified/Trained Guide, Group camping and cooking equipment (tents, stoves, etc. 1 2 3 4 5 6 We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. All great except the rain!!! We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We strongly suggest purchasing aColorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) Card. Pine River to Emerald Lake: The Pine River alternates between meadows and canyon, frequently flowing peacefully on the flat valley floor. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. The elevation is what makes this so hard. Consider supporting Colorado Search and Rescue by purchasing a 1-year or 5-year CORSAR Card. When the sun shines brightly on fresh snow in the mountains your eyes will thank you for a quality pair of shades. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton: 42 Reviews, Map - AllTrails By following this drainage downstream for 8.5 miles, it is possible to hike up Johnson Creek for a little over five miles to Columbine Pass. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). From Highway 550, the Molas Trail winds its way down 4 miles to the Animas River and the entrance to the Weminuche. Operating under special use permit in the San Juan National Forest and the Grand Mesa/Uncompahgre National Forest Denali National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Silverton BLM Moab BLM. All rights reserved. North Eolus was an easy transition across. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. 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. Waterproof Gore-Tex abrasion resistant polyester uppers with a patented TPU Thermo Tech Application. The 6 miles to the basin alternates between shade and sun and is a steady incline, although not unbearable, even while carrying a 30 lb pack. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. Increasing numbers of visitors are disturbing wildlife, impacting trails, polluting creeks and streams, and leaving all kinds of waste behind. Hiked to base camp - lots of sites but it can be crowded for a reason. The downed trees in forums were cleaned up and the trail was very well maintained. To prevent damage to your own and others equipment, we require objects such as ice axes, crampons, and fishing equipment to be enclosed in a protective covering. Visitors to Chicago Basin typically ride the train from Durango or Silverton, get off at Needleton, and hike about 6 miles . We did North Eolus instead, which had more of those large granite boulders that took us to the top. A great addition to any of our programs. At approximately 1.5 miles, the trail reaches Purgatory Flats, a wide open area along Cascade Creek. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. Camped in Chicago Basin for the night. Throw in access via an old steam-engine, narrow-gauge train and it becomes clear why this area grows in popularity every year. This is a few blocks away from where you board the train. A slim cut helps the CoEfficient Hoody fit comfortably under your shell, and with a redsigned, trim fit, this layer takes up little space in your pack. This allows you to pick the cheapest days to fly if your trip allows flexibility and score cheap flight deals to Needles. Wilderness 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. Incredible hike all told, with amazing views, up-close wildlife, and streams/creeks the whole way. Eolus, Windom Peak, and Sunlight Peak Routes. We camped in the Chicago Basin, which was about a five hour hike from the train stop including a lunch break. Andrew Hamilton's 2014 Attempt | 14er Speed Record Attempt Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. There is no southbound wilderness drop offs for Needleton. Funds remaining at the end of the year are used to help pay for training and equipment for these teams. Check local Fire Restrictions / Activity before you go: SJMAs online store provides many maps and guidebooks to help you plan your Weminuche adventure. Excellent trip, lots of varied terrain, meadows, forests, small mountain ponds and lakes, avalanche tree slides, large and small rock slides, multiple high passes with great views. Route. Additional information websites:Weminuche Wilderness Trip Planning Information:http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/sanjuan/wilderness. 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. [emailprotected]. 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. on official, secure websites. 1 - 2 Large, durable bags for oragnizing and transporting your gear during airline travel etc. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. 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. 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. ( There are switchbacks for the next 2 miles and an ascent of 1,500 feet. From Columbine Pass it is nine miles down to the Needleton trailhead and civilization. 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. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. It is obvious where people have camped so be sure to follow suit. It took us 7 days to complete it. Please refer to the timetable below to find the dates & times of the train scheduled to allow pick up and drop off at these flagstops. Simple, effective and infinitely adaptable, Original BUFF headwear is the product that started the multifunctional headwear revolution. Buy a ticket for the train that stops at Needleton and ride the train 2.5 hours (~30 miles) to the Needleton stop. A mecca for climbing, hiking, cycling, and foodies; make sure you plan to spend some time in town before and after your SJMG trip. Stunning! SILVERTON DEPARTURES:You will be booked on one of the afternoon trips out of Silverton and arrive at Elk Park flag stop about 30 minutes after leaving Silverton. pack up to 7 miles a day, endurance is key. 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. Please contact Special Handling in the Reservation Office at 970-385-8832 to make arrangements. ) or https:// means you've safely A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. The best time to visit the Weminuche is early July through mid-September. 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. Be aware that as temperatures increase, snowmelt swells every creek and river making crossing challenging or even impossible. 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). Next morning at 7:30am I pushed up to Twin Lakes and then up to North Peak of Mt Eolus. Today well have the opportunity to explore Chicago Basin and potentially hike a 14er, Windom Peak (14,083 ft.) if weather allows. Due to the popularity of the Weminuche Wilderness, it is important to choose your camp wisely. It was quite a workout, but well worth it. Fog and trees seen from Chicago Basin. United States Department of Agriculture regulations prohibit the D&SNGRR from transporting live animals. The nature back there is unbelievable. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The Highland Mary Lakes are rated fair for rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout, but keep in mind, like most subalpine lakes, tend to remain frozen until summer. Needleton is a popular trailhead for hiking into the Needle Mountains. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. Lip balm is important to bring on all trips. some lite scrambling is neccessary. From this junction, the trail climbs almost3,000 feet in 5 milesalongthe creek until it reaches the lower end of Chicago Basin. From here, it's a 6 mile hike to reach Chicago Basin. Filter your water again at Twin Lakes and then continue to your mountain of choice. Excellent 3-day trip!! SPF 30 would be our minimum recommendation. Mulaz outsole with a technical edging platform and aggressive rear lugs for superior traction. Located in Southwest Colorado, the Weminuche Wilderness area (pronounced whem-a-nooch) is the largest Wilderness area in Colorado, spanning 499,771 acres across the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests. Gorgeous view, nice walk to the basin, and challenging but not sketchy hike on the 14ers. be aware of your place, take what you need! I'd definitely had Sunlight (class 4) and Windom ("hard class 2" according to me). epic views, love the goats, we even took a bath in the creek - it was freezing! Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. 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 . The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. 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+ +
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October 2nd - 4th, 2020