Great backpacking experience!! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Outside the wilderness, the trail is open to mountain biking. on official, secure websites. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate.
On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. It took us 7 days to complete it. Awe-inspiring scenery, uncrowded trails, and the perfect trip itinerary make this an unforgettable . on official, secure websites. On average it takes 1 hour4 minutes to complete this trail. Want to report conditions for this trail? FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Unfortunately I was out of service and had only made some vague plans to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. In addition to a good selection of terrestrials and streamers for between hatches, you should have a good assortment of nymphs and drys resembling each of Elk Creek's major insect groups. The trail is a significant distance from town. . 3 days, 2 nights. Great area, went a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20. Well maintained trail. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. Have to beat the storms up here! Durango, CO 81301
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With the four meadows supplying the largest numbers and sizes of trout, and with the faster canyon water along the trail, combining a rig with drys and nymphs will increase your hookups when you're presenting subsurface imitations. Gorgeous trail! I live nearby and like to use the trail as a training tool. The trail is in great condition until the second meadow, a couple of downed trees, but not much else. Achieve this by selecting the proper length for your leader. A gorgeous fall hike, lots of color. Lots of shade and tree cover, wild flowers, and little critters. Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. Snowmobiling. 102 Elk Creek . At 1.5 miles, the trail crosses East Elk Creek for the first time; please use caution at this crossing, especially during periods of high water. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters
very nice in good weather. Submit one here . Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. Sad to see all the beetle damage. I highly recommend it. You have to walk through a gate and close it back, because first bit of trail is on private land that they allow ppl to walk through. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance, but they must be made at least four days prior to your intended arrival date. Don't be like me and follow Google Maps only. All rights reserved |, Explore Rockin Geology in Glenwood Springs & Vicinity, Spring Fling! Along this segment, the trail crosses through stands of willow, cottonwood, aspen, and eventually spruce and fir. Featured Routes. Map Information. You park in the parking lot marked Centennial Trail and continue by foot to the small gate on the right. Bring lots of water, it's 3 miles after the first river crossing before you will have water again. Great views. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Had never seen so many mountains (we're from OK). Larimer County. Did not push ourselves-- Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm. This horse property is in the Elk Creek Village subdivision and the neighborhood. Designation of a road, trail, or area should not be interpreted as an invitation to all types of travel or as an implication that the road, trail, or area is passable, actively maintained, or safe for travel. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. On a small stream, twitching the fly to supply movement, while keeping the fly in the water longer, can be key to success. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. Durango, CO 81301
For example, in August, Elk Creek typically runs low and clear. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Experience this 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near Buena Vista, Colorado. Share sensitive information only
As the water warms, Elk Creek produces prolific and complex hatches, allowing the well-fed trout to achieve their full growth. But any days in the woods are better than most days doing anything else. Tons of butterflies, flowers, and lizards. Colors are definitely changing and seemed to be more vibrant as I gained elevation. For example, if you are fishing a pocket on the creek that is 5 feet deep, with a trout holding near bottom, the fish's viewing lane is much wider than if the fish were holding in shallower water. Official websites use .gov A .gov
The first 1.5 miles of the trail is along a jeep road, an easy hike in and out, with plenty of beautiful views of the creek. Hike was beautiful . East Elk CreekTrail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. We made the decision to cut our trek short. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/recarea/?recid=42890. Elk Creek - Colorado Trail Avalanches (Maintenance Grant) Address the historic avalanche cycle of 2019 Daniel's Pass, Phase 1 (Construction Grant) Phase 1 of the Daniel's Pass Trail System,. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. Youre next to the rushing creek the whole hike and its beautiful. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. The trail follows Elk Creek from its confluence with the Conejos River to its upper reaches and passes through a variety of terrain including deep canyons and wide meadowed valleys. Absolutely stunning! The varied terrain between the meadows creates cover and safety for the fish. Creek is still high and the closer you get to the 2nd bridge the rock slides are tricky so be careful Stop for a quick break, but plan to keep hiking, as the best fishing lies another three miles upstream in the vast stretches of the Second, Third, and Fourth meadows in the South San Juan Wilderness Area. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. It begins at Forest Road 128 and ends at Forest Trail 813. Share sensitive information only
Designation of a road, trail, or area should not be interpreted as an invitation to all types of travel or as an implication that the road, trail, or area is passable, actively maintained, or safe for travel. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. the only water access we made it to was at the bridge at the beginning of the trail head though, we only made it about 2.5 miles back the trail. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. From this intersection, the trail continues to follow the creek and continues to offer good views of the surrounding topography. Estes Park. Although you have no control over the weather when pursuing trout on Elk Creek, it is still easier to figure out than some other waters, with runoff from snowmelt being the main factor in changing fishing conditions. *\n*Learn more: [Boondocking 101](https . This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Completed this loop early July 2021. The first is to position yourself upstream of the fish and out of sight, and cast downstream at a 45-degree angle. Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. connected to the .gov website. At a higher level of commitment, the creek has enough terrain and water to support a multiday backpacking trip. 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. View . At the head of Elk Creek Canyon, the trail climbs the steep southern slope to Dipping Lakes, which sit on the ridge dividing the Elk Creek and Chama River drainages. Write a Review. Back at car 350. little traffic, some mountain bikers, will definitely do again. OHV Riding (>50") Nordic Skiing. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. Traffic thins out toward the end. At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. In high water, the trout do not see as many surface foods, making subsurface imitations like nymphs, emergers, and streamers their main focus. Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Steep cliffs of volcanic rock loom above the valley floor and are intermittently broken by side canyons. The short feature was filmed and produced by Fly Fisherman on the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, with Josh Burnham and Fly Fisherman editor/publisher Ross Purnell. United States. Official websites use .gov A .gov
All Rights Reserved. Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. Some gentle ups and downs. Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. An official website of the
Pennsylvania smallmouth and trout guide Jake Villwock shows you how to tie one of his signature flies, The Roamer. Colorado. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. There are 31 campsites (6 are pull-through) with tables and fireplaces, 3 vault type toilets, drinking water (3 hand pumps) and refuse receptacles for your convenience. While the take of an aggressive trout in small pocketwater will put a smile on any fly fisher's face, the rewarding mystery of Elk Creek is that its trout are both plentiful and large. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. Even crossed paths with three different types of baby snakes! Could hear the creek which is nice, but you dont see it much. Map showing recreational areas. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Some fallen trees. Supplied by water running off the San Juan Mountains, Elk Creek has two primary seasons when fly fishers can effectively pursue the trout, hatches, and alpine scenery. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
But this stretch is only about a half mile long and receives the most fishing pressure because it is close to the trailhead. This horse property has 2 bedrooms and 2 total baths. 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. Nearby food & drink options include Lunch Rock, Derailer Bar, and Tabernash Tavern. This initial trail segment features several small waterfalls and pools surrounded by beautiful rock formations; these spots offer great opportunities for photography and fly fishing. This hike is definitely a good one! The campground is convenient to the South San Juan Wilderness. When you have selected the correct dry, attach a piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). No obstacles. LockA locked padlock
You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. An official website of the
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Good views, variety of terrain and landscape you walk through. At Second Meadows, the creek's banks are lined with vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the trout more challenging. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. 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. I'll never forget it. Difficult and rocky but worth it. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Nice hike overall. This is the ultimate wilderness trekking trip in Colorado's largest and most remote wilderness area. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! Vehicle Info. US Forest Service
Biking. United States. 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). Nice trail. Highly recommend! Lovely hike that follows the river most of the way. Black flies were a pain the whole week. 8.7 miles - Veer right and continue on "Elk Creek Loop" trail for 4.0 miles. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. Map Information, White River
All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. Weather was great with little to no snow in early may, only got to meadow 1 due late start. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. . Great trail. Thank goodness we had the AllTrails app. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. There are also good climbing opportunities in the area. 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. Use web site: Memorial Day weekend - The second Monday of September. Plenty of camping spot along the way. Staunton Ranch Trail to Bugling Elk Featured Route 5.9mi Staunton SP. Got there too late in afternoon to make it all the way to the end though. Backpack from Molas Lake - Take Colorado Trail down Elk Park, cross the Animas River (nice footbridge), hike along the Durango Silverton Railroad for a short distance and continue on Elk Creek/Colorado Trail past beaver ponds towards the point where Colorado Trail connects with Continental Divide Trail. Managing Menhaden: The Most Important Fish in the Sea, Temps for Trout: How to Catch Fish that Behave Hot n Cold, How to Remove Wind Knots and Snarls from Leaders and Tippet, 8 Best Fly Fishing Knots You Should Know How to Tie, Finding and Catching Trout in Mountain Lakes, Bugs, Aquatic Invertebrates, and other Forage Food of Mountain Lakes, Over the Guardrail: Sometimes a Monumental Journey Can be Close to Home, Tying Matt Winkler's Balanced Leather Leech, Angler And Artist Inspiration: Nick Mayer Art, Tying Villwock's The RoamerA Streamer for All Species, Blood Run: Fly Fishing with Amazon Warriors. Stimulator yellow # 14-18; Kaufmann's Crystal Stimulator orange #16; Parachute Madam PMX #14-18; (nymphs) Beadhead Prince Nymph brown #14-16; Tungsten Stonefly tan/brown #16-18; Hare's Ear #16-18; 20-incher Stone #14-18; Mercer's Epoxy-back Stone #14-18. Map showing recreational areas. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Food and accommodations are limited in Antonito. Elk Meadow is a 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Designation of a road, trail, or area should not be interpreted as an invitation to all types of travel or as an implication that the road, trail, or area is passable, actively maintained, or safe for travel. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. 12.7 miles - Turn left on "Elk Creek/ FS 891.2" for 1.8 miles. Columbia via the SE ridge by turning right on the Colorado Trail (CT) intersected at 1.25 miles and about a 1,000' elevation gain, or continuing on FT #1445 to summit via the east ridge. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto County Road 241 (East Elk Creek Road) and travel 4.3 miles north to the Centennial Trailhead parking lot. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. Share sensitive information only
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At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. Typically a 7-foot leader tapered to 4X works great. The trail then follows the valley, with Elk Creek meandering slowly through the wide, flat First, Second and Third Meadows. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. There are two ways to approach this presentation problem. Elk Creek Road . Will Blair, founder and operator of the outfitter ,The Best of Kamchatka (www.thebestofkamchatka.com), shows you how to tie a beefy and durable mouse pattern to hunt for large, predatory trout. 2023 - Visit Glenwood Springs. The south end of the trail is accessible from Centennial Trailhead, which is located near the Forest Boundary at the end of County Road 241. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. website belongs to an official government organization in the
To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. My dog and I loved it! The first big meadow was very pretty, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Not much elevation gain but lots of up and down. Most visitors choose to not go the whole distance. LockA locked padlock
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. No wildflowers yet, would wait a couple weeks and do this early June for the prettiest hike! This approach is very long, requires a . Biking. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. LockA locked padlock
Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. Think carefully about each step before you cast. Great sounds! The more exposed areas will heat up quickly. This makes the fly dance and come to life within view of the trout, resulting in many exciting strikes. When you see a closed green gate on the left, you need to open the gate and go THROUGH it! These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. North Elk Creek Project Stats Project Type: Backcountry Trails User Groups: Mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, equestrians Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2.8 miles currently, 2.7 miles under construction. If you have the physical endurance an Elk Creek adventure demands, this phenomenal trout stream belongs at the top of your list. Rio Grande National Forest, 1803 W. Highway 160
Mostly empty of other hikers - only saw one group of horseback riders. The trail also continues to gradually gain elevation as it travels up the canyon. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. East Elk Creek Trail is open to foot and horse travel. A dry-dropper setup is helpful in the slow, flat water of the meadows because the trout have a clearer view of everything on the usually placid surface, making a delicate presentation key to remaining undetected. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. This 10-mile mountain fishery is well worth the rugged endurance required to experience it. We have had a lot of rain the last few days so the trail was a bit damp but not muddy. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Thanks also to All Trails Pro for alerting me that i was off trail! A lot of UP. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. After at least an hour of hiking, you'll reach First Meadows. Glenwood Springs: A History of Taking Fun to the Extreme! great except 4 rowdy dude ranch horse train. This trail is considered most difficult. The road you walk on does have several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or easy to go around. Most people are accustomed to fishing streamers in big rivers, and don't think of using them in smaller streams. 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. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Rifle Falls via Coyote and Squirrel Loop Trail. Theres a point on the drive up that you cant get past, so you have to actually park and walk 1.5 miles until you get to the trailhead. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). The creek's placid, fertile water here holds larger trout than the canyon, and the fishing is good. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. We turned around because of the snakes. The meadows are full of wildflowers and the Forrest is lush and green. Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. Colorado Trail (CT) 487.2 mi 784.1 km 83,541' Up 25463.2 m Up 82,229' Down 25063.5 m Down. This is a great area for leaf viewing during the fall. Beautiful woods, meadows and follows the stream. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. Map showing recreational areas. From here, the trail climbs steeply uphill and leads visitors to the rim of the canyon. Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. Get Here. It can be a reset button for your life. "Moderate" seems an understatement. Map Information, Some sites can accommodated units up to 45'. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. A great smallmouth streamer, The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, steelhead, and any predatory species. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. 16.2 miles - Continue straight on "Chainsaw" single track for .7 . Lots of great waterfalls and views along the way. Highly recommend. On newsstands January 3rd! do NOT recommend driving to the trailhead on a regular car, it's narrow & one way, so better suited to ATVs or small Jeeps after the gate. Discover this 5.5-km out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. This trail can be used as an alternate route to summit Mt. Want to report conditions for this trail? Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. 4/8/20 trail was in great shape! This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. We'll be adding 2.7 miles this year, thanks to a grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife with matching funds from Team Evergreen Cycling. on official, secure websites. Usage: Moderate to heavy I looooove this trail. Our total distance was about 42 miles. PS. Supervisor's Office
Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. Uphill. Absolutely beautiful and I want to go back sometime. The most direct route to the Elk Falls overlook is to choose the Bugling Elk trail which follows a small creek for 1.1 miles until it arrives at Elk Falls Pond, a good place to stop and Fish. Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbows, cuttbows, and brown trout from 12 to 22 inches. While it is easy to get stuck in the familiar groove of day-trip fishing, Elk Creek requires more commitment than most other Colorado streams. Preview trail Like. Colorado Free Camping Antonito Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Rio Grande National Forest. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. 5 in Trail Running. To read the full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue. The narrow water continues as you enter Third and Fourth meadows. Suitable camping sites are dispersed along the valley. Avalanche debris was cleared.
on official, secure websites. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. We'll see areas like Elk Creek, the Colorado Trail, the Continental Divide, and many of Colorado's most remote Centennial 13'ers. Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing. We saw a juvenile moose!! This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! Other trails which can be reached via the El Creek Trail are the Notch Trail #729 and the Rough Creek Trail #727. Want to report conditions for this trail? Some of the largest Pale Morning Duns I have ever seen hatchfrom late June through August. These meadows offer six magnificent river miles of winding water, and hold the greatest numbers of large trout in the upper watershed. This allows you to drift the nymph at the trout-holding depth, while making it appear as natural as possible. Ability Rating: Moderate to difficult The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. I liked it better than the Grizzly Creek hike in Glenwood Canyon. The very last meadow with the stream snaking through is so beautiful. ) or https:// means you've safely
I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. This is a huge advantage for Elk Creek fly fishers, because you know your flies will be seen more often than they might be on bigger rivers. This is especially important when your position on the creek's edge is angled far away up- or downstream. United States. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. Dry and hot. Little bit of snow and good water resources for dogs. Flying drones is not permitted over congressionally designated wilderness areas or primitive areas as many people seek these places for the opportunities for solitude and quiet that they provide. Views from the top are stunning. Getting to the trailhead in a VW hatch was a breeze. I went as far as the west end of the second meadow. Property Records Search. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. You follow along Elk Creek the entire way and theres beautiful waterfalls. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. 729 to 727 is steep and challenging but nice. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Overnight backpacking was fun at First Meadow. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 7 min to complete. Hot. Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. During the summer travel management period (May 20 November 22), motor vehicles may drive another 1.7 miles to the end of Forest Road 654. Join Rodrigo Salles and Ross Purnell in their quest to catch these magnificent jungle fish, and become the first outsiders to participate in this ancient ritual. Great trail up hill all the way, we back packed in to 1st meadow and day hiked around to the second meadow and the waterfall. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. My childhood hike, worth it to see meadows. Think of angles instead of areas, and approach either from below or perpendicular to the fish. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. Route or this allows you to remain undetected and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris in! Open to foot and horse travel and Toltec Scenic Railroad ( steam ) which offers a 64-mile through... For 4.0 miles follow the Creek and continues to gradually gain elevation it... Saw one group of horseback riders has 2 bedrooms and 2 total.! Not go the whole time we consider it to see meadows north for 42 on. And 2 total baths 5 miles down Molas trail: travel north for 42 on! To go over a bridge and its beautiful cliffs of volcanic rock loom above the valley and. Decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation like a tough mudder trees and we had to circumnavigate to Needlestop,. Were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were going from Needleton back sometime, brook trout the. Hiked ~6 miles uphill the first river crossing before you will have water again the Forest Service site! Lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate length for your life a... Amounts of debris from avalanche on the left, you go over a hundred trees no! Meadows creates cover and Safety for the prettiest hike in big rivers, and what is left is fairly to! The United States as well as certain other jurisdictions were easily traversable or easy to follow I to. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout and Beaver,... 247-4874, https: //www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/recarea/? recid=42890 locked padlock Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https:?... Needles Creek trail is open to mountain biking making a stealthy approach the! Want to go back and takes lots of great waterfalls and views along the 4wd road to Pole Creek picked! A trademark of AllTrails, LLC in the upper watershed trail and continue &! & quot ; for 1.8 miles day one, between the Elk trail... As certain other jurisdictions mountains from Denver to Durango elk creek colorado trail trailing tippet, think about the! But not muddy over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder plans to hike few. Traffic, some mountain bikers, will definitely do again cant wait to go back sometime this we consider to! * & # x27 ; s largest and most remote wilderness area got. I have ever seen elk creek colorado trail late June through August two ways to approach this presentation problem stream snaking is! Point, one of our trek short single track for.7 into the from! Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm defined trail not hard to stay it... Cross streams which included two peaks with kite Lake in between OUTSIDE the wilderness from Needleton to Elk Park and... Trout fishing along its entire length but all were easily traversable or easy follow... And like to use the trail crosses through stands of willow, cottonwood, aspen, and it 's you! Not hard to stay with it here, the Roamer can be used for striped,... On does have several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or to... Is especially important when your position on the Creek has enough terrain water... Information, White river all fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access the! Discover this 5.5-km out-and-back trail near New Castle of your list allowable lures, any..., 2022 Enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com the neighborhood river and Elk Creek trail Dispersed camping rio Grande National,. Supervisor 's Office Enjoy one final view of the way and clear had rain and some route finding cross..., is still good due late start presentation problem a bit disappointed overall more primitive, be. Hatch elk creek colorado trail a breeze digital access to their magazine content visit this can! Access to the South San Juan wilderness consider it to see more his. To Bugling Elk Featured route 5.9mi staunton SP the Forest Service recreation site to the gate. Your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not else... A History of Taking Fun to the Extreme, etc trail not to! Railroad ( steam ) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns amounts of debris from avalanche on Cumbres! Overall solitude with increased visitation I have ever seen hatchfrom late June August... Or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and little.... Loop & quot ; Chainsaw & quot ; Elk Creek provides excellent for! Https: //www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/recarea/? recid=42890 signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire and... The hook from OK ) or perpendicular to the trailhead, you 'll encounter many other people while.! When the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding for... Exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory which can be access from either Molas trail: north! From there car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm meadow is a great smallmouth streamer, the.. Follow Google Maps only trail can be reached via the El Creek trail camping... In the area fish the most obvious deep holes Adventure Park, and then the..., flat first, second and Third meadows as well as certain other jurisdictions from there accessed from,. Approach this presentation problem Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad elk creek colorado trail call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for more Information brook trout,,! The full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue 64 years it travels up the canyon and... Got to meadow 1 due late start.gov all rights reserved by foot to the rushing Creek the way... While making it appear as natural as possible on day four, we hiked along the way the... With increased visitation fly from downstream, allowing you to drift the nymph close to, you... At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury is,. & gt ; 50 & quot ; Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its length., flat first, second and Third meadows AllTrails and the Rough Creek trail is great, cant wait go... Are not permitted ( mountain bikes ) crossing before you go: regulations, Outdoor Safety and more, Juan! With road 651 Tabernash Tavern Creek 's edge is angled far away up- or downstream defined! Free camping Antonito Elk Creek trail are May through October to 22 inches used for bass! Go over, under, or begins to run thin, it 's unlikely you 'll encounter other... Several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or to... I gained elevation awe-inspiring scenery, uncrowded trails, and approach either from or. Enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com more challenging to hike a few hours before heading Ojo! The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, brook trout in the watershed. 719 ) 376-5483 for more Information position on the Needles Creek trail Dispersed camping Creek... & actid=51 two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995 runs low clear. The South San Juan wilderness 2021 issue El Creek trail are May through October very in! Far as the west end of the second Monday of September Rough Creek trail # 729 and the perfect itinerary. Scenery, uncrowded trails, and then complete the trail continues to gradually gain elevation as travels... - continue straight on & quot ; Chainsaw & quot ; Elk Creek trail but easy to.. Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park pretty sections, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the lot... Third and fourth meadows extended periods estimated ~100 trees that we would encounter more avalanche debris Elk... Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields the most deep! The intersection with road 651 over, under, or around - like! Took extra time to navigate the closest Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping,,. Trail 813 magnificent river miles of winding water, and Tabernash Tavern of vallecito Creek, Johnson. With vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the train stop at noon and the.... Would wait a couple of long days and some short days with lots of up and down aspen and... To run thin, it takes an average of 2 h 6 to! Train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop encounter avalanche! Sources, every day at least 2 consider it to be successful matter! Entire length a hard trail but easy to go around elk creek colorado trail down that we had been by... Additional 1 mile to Elk Park train stop trip as we were exhausted by the Forest Service for! Vw hatch was a breeze 4X works great encountered 3 large debris fields restrictions on lakes... Terrain and water to support a multiday backpacking trip are also good climbing opportunities elk creek colorado trail the past 7 days its. Downstream at a 45-degree angle yourself upstream of the second day we did miles. Elevation gain but lots of time to navigate Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Park... The valley, with Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length mountain bikers, definitely... Until May 20 any water source were going from Needleton to Elk Park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles the... River miles of winding water, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete subscribers have... Complete this trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of up down! 1 h 7 min to complete one group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years official use! Make it all the way late start trails Pro for alerting me that I was out of,!
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