needleton to chicago basin

The trailhead for the Chicago Basin Hike can be found at the Needleton Flagstop along the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Want to report conditions for this 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 trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. Nearly everyone who comes by Needleton does so via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Remember, wilderness areas prohibit mountain bikes as well as motorized vehicles. Donations to this fund go directly to educate wilderness visitors and implement on-the-ground stewardship projects in the Weminuche. The Weminuche Wilderness faces a lot of challenges and if we as a community dont stand up for the Weminuche, nobody will. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton: 42 Reviews, Map - AllTrails All of the packs are unloaded and the train departs leaving you (and about 30 other people) all alone. $76 Cheap Flights to Needles , CA - Expedia.com The combination of convenient access via the narrow gauge train to Needleton and the access to iconic 14ers attracts visitors from around the world making Chicago Basin a heavy use area . 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. Absolutely stunning! We rode the train from Silverton to the trailhead. Overall this was a wonderful challenge. With an average elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level, the Weminuche is known for its challenging, rugged terrain from the deep Animas River Gorge to the wildflower-filled basins to towering peaks. Visitors to Chicago Basin typically ride the train from Durango or Silverton, get off at Needleton, and hike about 6 miles . We ended up finishing around 5pm on the 5th day, so instead of waiting around for the return train to Durango on day 6, we took the train to Silverton for lunch, then rode the whole return trip to Durango. Supported by the Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund, the San Juan Wilderness Stewardship Crewprovides a boots on the ground education and stewardship presence in the wilderness to improve access, restore damage, and enhance the visitor experience. This hike covers 34 miles and involves more than 8,000 feet of climbing. Supported by the Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund, the. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. To prevent altitude sickness, pace yourself, drink water, and eat snacks. 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. From Durango:Reservations should be made in advancethrough the Durango ticket office. Trail conditions often change rapidly; please be well prepared! The correct method is bywaving your hands horizontally across your knees. Chicago Basin - Wikipedia Continue another 2.5 miles to reach the junction with the Animas River and the Animas River Trail. Site developed by Agency Tourism Marketing. There are switchbacks for the next 2 miles and an ascent of 1,500 feet. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=43092&actid=50, Minimumelevation: 8,230 feet (Needleton train stop), Maximum/ending elevation: 12,680 feet (Columbine Pass). Be prepared to spend on average 5 days to complete the loop, and make the proper arrangements. Again, we did North Eolus, which is the same trail as Mount Eolus (until you reach the saddle). Altitude Elevations in the Weminuche range from 7,000 to 14,000 feet. This is a few blocks away from where you board the train. High waters can also be the result of afternoon thunderstorms, so be prepared. From the Needleton drop cross the Animas River on a good footbridge. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! Lip balm is important to bring on all trips. 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. This pack is well suited for weekend excursions or quick overnight forays when you are toting less than 40 pounds. We recommend wide mouth Nalgene (or similar) water bottles for the majority of our programs. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. That and all the rocks you have to rock climb so put away those hiking sticks when you get past Twin Lakes. Mount Eolus looked pretty hairy with steep drop-offs. Head out on this 17.4-mile out-and-back trail near Silverton, Colorado. To prevent altitude sickness, pace yourself, drink water, and eat snacks. Once at the saddle, choose which mountain to summit (or do both). City of Ouray Ouray Ice Park Ouray Via Ferrata. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). With its jagged peaks, mountain sides blanketed with wildflowers, cascading waterfalls and endless creeks, streams and rivers filled with fish, the Weminuche Wilderness is a dream-come-true for backpackers and mountaineers. Hiking The Chicago Basin 14ers - San Juan Mountains, Colorado Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. The nature back there is unbelievable. 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. Some route finding on the way to the top to Eolus. At its core is a moisture-managing microfiber fabric that is wind resistant and able to control odor. Bring 2-3 pairs depending on the type of trip. Follow the fork east along Needle Creek for approximately 0.75 miles. Stunning! This area has excellent views and photographic possibilities. All rights reserved. The elevation is what makes this so hard. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! The boundary of the Weminuche Wilderness is 2.7 miles up the trail, the fishing is fantastic. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Insulating water bottle parkas are recommended in the winter months, for ice climbing or cold weather alpine trips. Want to learn more about our current projects, ways to stay involved and news from the San Juan Mountains Association? You'll eventually come to a rock wall composed of large, stable, granite boulders. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. Passengers must abide by any camping, fire, or other restrictions per USFS regulations and are responsible for understanding any policy impacting the area they are visiting. , which equips and trains local volunteers, empowering them to give back to the Weminuche.

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