Camped in Chicago Basin for the night. The trail from basin up to any of the 4 peaks is impossible to find due to heavy snow coverage still. 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+ + Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Two 1 liter bottles is the standard for days in the mountains. Took the train from Durango and got off at Needleton. Click here for more information on parking. SPF 15 or higher is recommended. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. These special areas require the visitor to be mentally and physically prepared to take nature on its own terms and to be able to travel without mechanical transport. Needleton is a popular trailhead for hiking into the Needle Mountains. Whether you want to be involved in a long term effort like our volunteer program, join for a single-day campsite clean up or donate to SJMAs Weminuche Wilderness Stewardship Fund. Visitors to Chicago Basin typically ride the train from Durango or Silverton, get off at Needleton, and hike about 6 miles . incredible views reward lots of effort!!! The soft yarn blend will provide a cozy sanctuary throughout winters chill. I realized after spending 30 years in the San Juans, I havent put a dent in the terrain A headlamp is recommended for all of our programs and is an essential piece of equipment you will use in a variety of circumstances. Was back at twin lakes by 930am and decided to just summit Sunlight and Windom as long as the clouds held up. An ultra-compressible piece youll never leave behind, its so light and packs down so small youll forget its clipped to your harness until you throw it on to ward off a sudden mid-route downpour. All freight itemsmust be properly tagged with ownership and destination. Once up the scree field, the trail picks up again on the right hand side but isn't always obvious. 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. Backpacking in Chicago Basin by way of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. The best times to visit this trail are July through September. 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. It has been our group's favorite for several years. Hiking The Chicago Basin 14ers - San Juan Mountains, Colorado It resides at 8,277 feet of elevation in San Juan County. Windom Peak - West Ridge | Route | 14ers.com For more in depth information, check out the Continental Divide Trail Coalition webpage. It's mainly visited for hikers departing on overnight backpacking trips into Chicago Basin. To prevent altitude sickness, pace yourself, drink water, and eat snacks. We highly encourage the consumption of coffee on our programs. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk: Drive to Durango and follow signs to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Stuff sacks are a great way to organize your gear in your pack and help to keep things tidy in a variety of ways. Great trail. The best option for flying to the area is to fly into Durango La Plata County Airport. Bezoekers van Chicago Basin meestal een rit op de trein van Durango of Silverton, uitstappen bij Needleton, en wandel ongeveer 6 mijl op Needle Creek naar het bassin zelf. 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. Elk Park Train Stop to Needleton Train Stop is a 36 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail that features beautiful wild flowers. We did this trip in September. Weather remained beautiful, although the white fluffy clouds were building up, and Eventually slugged myself to Windom, catching the last 2 hikers of the day at 1pm. In order to successfully carry a 35 lb. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Book This Mulaz outsole with a technical edging platform and aggressive rear lugs for superior traction. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The day after that we hiked out. epic views, love the goats, we even took a bath in the creek - it was freezing! I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! I went down to the starting location. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. Backpackers with plenty of time on their hands might hike the Divide Trail north to either Stony Pass or the Highland Mary Lakes area. Recreational livestock are prohibited from being restrained within 100 (35 adult steps) of water. Needle Creek Trail #504 to Chicago Basin, CO Hike During the Summer of 2023, San Juan Mountain Guides will be offering the Chicago Basin Backpacking trip only by Private Arrangement. Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose #5 Excursions, K-28 100th Anniversary Fall Photo Special, Ghost Crawl: Haunted Durango Train Museum Experience, http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/sanjuan/wilderness. 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. 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. Heading to a 14er soon? Due to the popularity of the Weminuche Wilderness, it is important to choose your camp wisely. Had to backpack from the road, but worth it. Many hotels offer a free shuttle pickup. 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. Route. Het maakt een stop (op verzoek) bij Needleton, een locatie in de buurt van de samenvloeiing van Needle Creek en de Animas. It makes a stop (when requested) at Needleton, a location near the confluence of Needle Creek and the Animas. The boundary of the Weminuche Wilderness is 2.7 miles up the trail, the fishing is fantastic. Synthetic socks area must for all outdoor activities. Cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming, and cycling are great to build heart and lung endurance. $76 Cheap Flights to Needles , CA - Expedia.com Gorgeous backpacking trail. Waterproof, breathable and lightweight, the GORE-TEX Foray Pants provide dependable rain protection and shrug off the wear-and-tear of the trail and cityscape alike. You will need to pay for each day your vehicle will be in the lot. Aside from its splendid hiking terrain, Chicago Basin also serves as a base camp for mountain climbers intent on scaling summits. A cap of 15 people per party exists with a total cap of 9 parties per day at Needleton. Filter your water again at Twin Lakes and then continue to your mountain of choice. Trees seen from campsite. 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. Planned on doing South Peak as well but conditions were too snowy/icy for me. 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 second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Again, we did North Eolus, which is the same trail as Mount Eolus (until you reach the saddle). after one of the seven bands of Ute people who made the Southwest Colorado Rockies their home. Typically a 4 oz. It spattered at us but wasn't too bad. Be sure to bring any necessary equipment and supplies for a long journey into the mountains. We took the Durango train to the Needleton train stop ($116 round trip, must purchase over the phone). 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. Follow the fork east along Needle Creek for approximately 0.75 miles. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Consider supporting Colorado Search and Rescue by purchasing a 1-year or 5-year CORSAR Card. Weve chosen a couple more popular routes to highlight below, but if you study a map, you will see the endless backpacking trails and route possibilities within the Weminuche. https://youtu.be/2iDmEsqbobA. You may want to drop off the rest of your party and gear closer to the train and then park the car. 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. This hike covers 34 miles and involves more than 8,000 feet of climbing. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. Altitude Elevations in the Weminuche range from 7,000 to 14,000 feet. Super exciting squeezing through the rocks like a spider goat and once again had the summit all to myself by 11am! What a trip! Highly recommend. If experiencing any symptoms which include headache, loss of appetite, and weakness or drowsiness, descend quickly. Highly recommend! In order to protect the watershed, camping is not permitted within 100 feet (approximately 35 adult steps) of streams or lakes, except as designated or posted. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Insulating water bottle parkas are recommended in the winter months, for ice climbing or cold weather alpine trips. The trip from Durango to the Needleton stop is about 2.5 hours (the train is very slow). Thanks again. This is great, loved it! The trail is easy to follow but quite steep, ascending 3,000 feet before reaching the basin.Johnson Creek Trail:Beyond the basin, the main trail climbs another 1,400 feet over two miles to Columbine Pass where it meets up with the Johnson Creek Trail, which drops into the Vallecito Creek drainage. Pine River to Emerald Lake: The Pine River alternates between meadows and canyon, frequently flowing peacefully on the flat valley floor. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. As more and more Americans head to the backcountry, the fragile high-alpine environments of the Weminuche face numerous threats. The most difficult/technical part of the climb was sort of bouldering, but basically scrambling up a pile of rocks-not difficult, but also not a walk in the park. The basin is a popular spot for climbers and backpackers and is home to three Colorado Fourteeners (mountains over 14,000 feet). 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. 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. Chicago Basin is situated within the Weminuche Wilderness at 11,200 ft elevation (timberline is 11,800 ft). 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. There are 31 trailheads providing several hundred miles of maintained trails, including sections of the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. We will meet at the San Juan Mountain Guides office at 0730 and then proceed to the Durango and Silverton Railroad Station where we board the historic Narrow Gauge Train. This 850+ down fill sleeping bag has a 64" shoulder girth and 39" foot girth. At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. Lots of deer. Wilderness Access is only available during our summer season which runs May-October. We like the Spatha knife for its size, weight, versatility, and ability to clip onto a harness. 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. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The tough but stretchy, breathable but wind-resistant Ferrosi fabric stays cool during long approach hikes, moves with you while talus wrangling and high-stepping on the sharp end, and blocks wind during long hours of belaying up high. 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. We just finished this trail. We opted for the Durango Silverton train, and I booked tickets back in April to get us choice seats in the first-class Knight Sky car. connected to the .gov website. Nine miles long, the route climbs 3,760 feet to the Continental Divide. We rode the train from Silverton to the trailhead.
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