We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. hard to enjoy the meadow that way. Well be back with more snow has melted to do it all the way! One of the biggest drawing points of the Elk Creektrail is the unique opportunity to combine a Wilderness trip with a ride on a steam locomotive. The trail then follows the valley, with Elk Creek meandering slowly through the wide, flat First, Second and Third Meadows. 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. Phone: 719-657-3321 Saw SIX. This beautiful matted print of Julie Leidel's original Colorado artwork was created in partnership with The Colorado Trail Foundation. 3 days, 2 nights. Monte Vista, CO 81144 Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. In the winter it's too cold for good fishing at these high elevations, and spring melt creates raging water flows. No wildflowers yet, would wait a couple weeks and do this early June for the prettiest hike! I prefer foam flies like the BC Hopper. 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. Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping. Access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: Visitors may utilize. Most people are accustomed to fishing streamers in big rivers, and don't think of using them in smaller streams. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. ) or https:// means you've safely Gorgeous trail! Also visible is the famous Painted Wall, the tallest cliff in Colorado (2,250 ft.), as well as rock islands jutting up from the depths of the canyon. connected to the .gov website. Streamersfrequently overlooked for fishing such narrow waterwaysare especially effective in high or stained water during and after a heavy rain, when large trout attack baitfish patterns from many excellent holding lies. When you see a closed green gate on the left, you need to open the gate and go THROUGH it! Motorcycle Riding. great except 4 rowdy dude ranch horse train. The road you walk on does have several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or easy to go around. Ability Rating: Moderate to difficult Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. The drive to reach this trailhead is long and somewhat rough (moderate to rough in difficulty) requiring over 25 miles on 4x4 roads. Submit one here . Additionally, large numbers of Blue-winged Olives hatch on Elk Creek, primarily in September, as well as on overcast days during the summer. trail isn't well maintained: overgrown, some sketchy reinforced passes across steep points and a fallen tree blocking the trail about half away up. Glenwood Springs: A History of Taking Fun to the Extreme! This resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. Steep cliffs of volcanic rock loom above the valley floor and are intermittently broken by side canyons. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. First Meadow was perfect for camping but Second Meadow was very swampy so we had to camp along the trail. Weather. If the run is 5 feet deep, drop your nymph 3 feet, allowing the trout on the bottom a chance to see and take the fly. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. Firewood is not provided. 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. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. Phone: 719-657-3321 No conditions reported in the past 7 days. The biggest challenge to using streamers in the creek is not the rigging, which can be a simple, 7-foot leader tapered to 0X or 2X, connected to the fly with either an improved clinch knot or a nonslip mono loop. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. United States. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Estes Park. The best fishing is in the meadows along the trail, where the meandering creek averages 6 to 10 feet wide, with some pools as deep as 8 feet. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. The trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. Highly recommend! Official websites use .gov A .gov The best times to visit this trail are May through September. These and others within the wilderness area are fed by runoff from the high peaks, and provide great fishing for brook trout in clear, icy water. Share sensitive information only ( Great trail. Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Just after entering Elk Creek CG cross the bridge and take the trail leading south along the bank of Elk Creek. Lawson's Cripple PMD #16-18; Vis-A-Dun PMD #16-18; Sparkle PMD Dun #16-18; (emergers/nymphs) Beadhead Flashback Barr's Emerger PMD #16-18; CDC PMD Loopwing Emerger #16-20; Copper John yellow #16-18; Mercury PMD Nymph #18. From Antonito travel west on highway 17 to Elk Creek Campground, about 23 miles. Along this segment, the trail crosses through stands of willow, cottonwood, aspen, and eventually spruce and fir. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. My group did it in 5 days, but I would recommend giving yourself 6 or 7 so you aren't having to push yourself to get to the train on time. Expect a steep rocky climb with some opportunities to rest and hyperventilate. Could hear the creek which is nice, but you dont see it much. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Easy/Intermediate. View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. Elk Creek - Colorado Trail Avalanches $55,810 maintenance grant The Columbine Ranger District will use this grant to address the historic avalanche cycle of 2019, which left four large debris fields along the Elk Creek section of the Colorado Trail in the Weminuche Wilderness. Think carefully about each step before you cast. Better waterand bigger fishawait upstream. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. Beautiful Sights throughout. Official websites use .gov A .gov There are a lot of trees down throughout the Johnson Creek and Needle Creek drainages - another hiker counted 155 trees across the trail on the way down from Chicago Basin to Needleton, but it looks like the FS is working their way up, clearing from the bottom up. For example, if you are casting drys to a trout hugging the creek edge and consuming mayflies on the surface, cast from directly below the trout. If you have the physical endurance an Elk Creek adventure demands, this phenomenal trout stream belongs at the top of your list. His web site is landonmayer.com. Absolutely beautiful and I want to go back sometime. ["Elk Creek Trail", "Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping"] description => ["*Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Trail could use some better signs, and GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 miles :). Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Elk Creek Road . We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. We ended up turning back. Wide gravel road for awhile. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Colorado Mountain . Every mountain we encountered was amazing! When the creek is low and clear, the trout are usually looking up, making drys better choices. 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. Elk Creek Trail follows a steep and rocky incline paralleling Elk Creek from Elk Creek Campground (8, 500 feet above sea level) to the Fourth Meadows, in the San Juan Mountains. Featured Routes. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. Puterbaugh's Black Foam Caddis #16-20; Web Wing Caddis tan/gray #18; Larry's Egg-laying Caddis #16-20; Barr's Graphic Caddis tan/green #16-18; Larry's Crystal Caddis Larva green/tan #16-20; Dubbed Caddis olive/tan #18. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. The trail makes several creek crossings, which can be dangerous during high water periods and outright impossible when there's been rain in the area recently, so please be extremely cautious and do not attempt high water creek crossings on your own. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 A gorgeous fall hike, lots of color. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Nice trail. Summer and fall are the two main fishing seasons, allowing four months during which to plan your journey: June, July, August, and even September (weather permitting, with cooler weather). Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! This creek has both a spectacular setting and an abundance of browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and cuttbows from 12 to 22 inches. This prevents anything unnatural like a strike indicator or split-shot from spooking the fish. This multi-use trail can be used both directions. An official website of the 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. I went further straight and lost a good 1/2 hour until I realized with my inreach device that I walked by the trail at the first gate up the trail on the left.zero people on the trail and some 1-2 snow to walk through but the trail is not muddy. Worthy of recognition, especially during. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. We made it to Chicago Basin and I made it to the "saddle" of Sunlight peak before talking myself out of going up the rest of the way (regretting it to this day). There was a new amazing view after every turn. Elk Creek Colorado Trail Located in a neighboring New Castle, hike just a portion of the trail or leave early and go for the long haul on this 18-mile round trip hike. No description for Elk Creek Trail trail has been added yet! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Balneology: The Art and Science of Hot Springs for Health. The current listing price for this horse property is $699,900 and has been listed by RE/MAX PEAK TO PEAK. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. Views from the top are stunning. . By tying the connecting knot at the bend of the hook and not the hook eye, you will help prevent tangles while false casting. 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. Local Trail Association. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. This was my first hike of more than five miles. Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. on official, secure websites. There's nothing like reflecting on the day's adventures by firelight and wondering what water or trout lie ahead. United States. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. #731-8,800' at trail head, to 11,750' trail end at Dipping Lakes, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Duck Lake. This jigging technique will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. The campground is composed of three loops, including overflow camping. PS. Explore this 13.4-km out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. Took me just a little longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of pictures We are early 50s, fairly fit experienced hikers from Durango, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. Trail, USFS-Pike and San Isabel National Forest - Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. ( It is lightly wooded with spruce and some ponderosa pines. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. website belongs to an official government organization in the Population Willow and me. United States. At Second Meadows, the creek's banks are lined with vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the trout more challenging. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Want to report conditions for this trail? Any feedback appreciated. At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. Beautiful woods, meadows and follows the stream. Master fly tier Charlie Craven ties Matt WInkler's Balanced Leather Leech. Hiking River Wildlife Description No conditions reported in the past 7 days Great area, went a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20. Gorgeous! However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. . Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). Subscriber Services. All other sites are side-by-side pull-throughwith no tables and seven grills. We turned around because of the snakes. Landon Mayer photo. Next up are caddis, which flutter over the creek's surface in astonishing numbers beginning in late May through July. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. National Forest Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. The narrow creek creates some challenging casting situations, and it's helpful to have a spotter here to direct your casts. The trail is a significant distance from town. I'm fortunate enough to enjoy this trail weekly. Snowshoeing. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Alamosa, 30 miles to the north, has chain motels and restaurants. United States government. For example, in August, Elk Creek typically runs low and clear. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Like. While many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, Elk Creek is an exception. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. Most visitors choose to not go the whole distance. I plan to come back and try for Dipping Lakes, 13 miles from the trail head. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Think of angles instead of areas, and approach either from below or perpendicular to the fish. 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. Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbows, cuttbows, and brown trout from 12 to 22 inches. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. United States government. Give a Gift But any days in the woods are better than most days doing anything else. LockA locked padlock Lots of wildflowers. Outfitter-guides who receive any form of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land. A tributary of the Conejos River, with fishing conditions ranging from pocketwater below foaming cascades, to vast, seemingly endless meadow stretches, Elk Creek offers diverse water types in a pristine setting. 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. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. about 3 miles to the first meadow. very nice in good weather. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. Absolutely stunning! 2023 - Visit Glenwood Springs. This approach is located at 11,700ft and provides access to the Vestal Group from the east via Upper Elk Creek & Vallecito Creek. 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. 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. On Brazil's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Vehicle Info. I would do it again. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. The trail was pretty empty. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. Mostly empty of other hikers - only saw one group of horseback riders. 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. This was a great trail & relatively flat, but we got off trail accidentally and went down a steep hill which we then had to climb back up to get back on track. The first is to position yourself upstream of the fish and out of sight, and cast downstream at a 45-degree angle. Strenuous at points. LockA locked padlock Great to explore though. Large trout use all the available habitat, and there is a lot of it. This route will continue more of the same from the Marmot Passage Trail, but you'll be getting ever closer to your goal, the scenic Elk Falls! Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan takes us along on a fly-fishing trip into the Montana mountains to show where, how, and why to catch trout in alpine lakes. 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. East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. 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! The trail has some distance but the elevation gain is consistent and gradual over it so its not very challenging and I think most people could do it just taking their time. Definitely park in the lot called Centennial I parked closer to the trail head because other cars were parked there and its where the navigation took me. Get Here. Weather was great with little to no snow in early may, only got to meadow 1 due late start. Cant wait to check it out in other seasons! Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters East Elk CreekTrail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. 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. With beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature Campground is composed three. 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