vallecito creek trail to chicago basin

It can be done in three nights, but what’s the rush? The Vallecito Creek Trail is a popular hiking trail to access the Weminuche Wilderness Area, which is the largest wilderness area in all of Colorado, encompassing some 499,771 acres in the San Juan Mountains north of Durango and Pagosa Springs, CO.The trailhead is located north of Vallecito Reservoir and is an easy, scenic drive from downtown Durango. August 31, 2016 You will take the Johnson Creek trail to the west until you decide to camp... unless you decided to camp before this point. We generally cruised down the valley all day, taking in the view of the mountains up the drainages around us. On the Vallecito Trail, the third bridge (counting from the South) crossing Vallecito Creek is gone due to an avalanche in the winter of 2004-2005. If you want to avoid spending $100 on the train, the other two popular routes of entry are from either Vallecito Trailhead, up Vallecito Creek to Johnson Creek and over Columbine Pass, or Purgatory Trailhead to the Animas River and up Needle Creek. The journey begins!! Around 7 miles in, there was an avalanche along the trail, and so suddenly I found myself in a class 2 scramble over fallen trees. Up a few 14s. Down to the beginning of Vallecito Creek. Note: Hiking down the Vallecito Creek trail, it seemed as though we were about as remote as possible in the mountains of Colorado which is why I was startled to round a switchback and nearly stepped on a hiker sitting on the ground resting. The trail continues on the east side of the creek to the Johnson Creek trail. Here’s my caltopo map of the Elk Park/Needleton hike: For directions to various trails and trailheads, view the Vallecito Lake Trails Map. When at last we broke above treeline, I saw a wild skyline of cold, jagged peaks. Trail Summary: The Purgatory Creek trail is the shortest and most common way to access the Chicago Basin if you do not want to or are not able to take the Silverton/Durango train. DAY 2 • Chicago Basin > Vallecito Creek (9 mi) 1,600 ft of elevation gain ; 12,692 ft ax elevation; Day 2 started with a phenomenal climb up Columbine Pass. Sarah was especially excited to be on top of her fourth 13er, all with me. Dear valued customer. The Animas River trail here was long, flat and well groomed. With upwards of 75 campers in the basin on a peak weekend, it can be a race against the other hikers to find a campsite for the night. In the first 2 miles you will rise more than 500 ft. above the creek with fantastic vistas, then the trail drops down right beside the creek. More information Elk Creek to Chicago Basin via Colorado Trail, to Continental Divide Trail, to Vallecito Trail, Johnson Creek Trail, finally Needle Creek Trail The goal of this post is to offer information about another, less-known route of entry to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head. Dropping down next to the creek, the trail comes to the first bridge and the canyon narrows. During the summer of 2018, train access to the Chicago Basin was stopped due to a controversy around the Durango Fire , so the Purgatory Creek trail became much more high trafficked. To continue on to Chicago Basin, take the trail to the right from the Needle Creek Junction. As one of the entry points for the very popular Chicago Basin, a number of more developed backcountry campsites dot the intersection, but you'll have to cross the bridge to find them. Chicago Basin comprises the upper portion of the Needle Creek watershed in the Needle Mountains (Colorado), a subrange of the San Juan Mountains in the US State of Colorado.It lies within the Weminuche Wilderness, part of the San Juan National Forest. I felt fortunate to have him. Want to learn more about our current projects, ways to stay involved and news from the San Juan Mountains Association? We left our packs here and strolled up to the summit of Florida Mountain's 13,076 ft. summit to enjoy views of Chicago Basin and Johnson Creek. Welcome to the Durango Trails Trail Conditions page. But the sun was out and it was a beautiful hike through Chicago Basin and down to Needleton. At Chico Basin, they call it Twin Mills road. As one of the entry points for the very popular Chicago Basin, a number of more developed backcountry campsites dot the intersection, but you'll have to cross the bridge to find them. “There are all these interpretive calls,” Watts said. Many years ago mining was common throughout these lands. A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. Er führt entlang eines Flusses, durch schönen Wald und es gibt einen Wasserfall. Over Hunchback Pass. Elevation gain again played an important part of the day. Following the cascading whitewater of Needle Creek, the trail leads hikers deeper and deeper into the Weminuche. Additional Trail Info. I actually had a mule! Dear valued customer. For most, it takes four to five hours to reach the basin, putting you there around supper time. The six-mile hike into Chicago Basin is a steady, relentless uphill trudge. We are working to be sure all orders are filled as promptly as possible. From the lake the hike is easy to moderate terrain to … Make a week out of it. I don’t trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. Use the Chicago Basin as a basecamp, and access a number of trails: three fourteeners are accessible as day hikes, and the ambitious can tackle all three in one day—Mt. It started raining, again, around 7:30 on our first night. If you have any questions about your order please email: info@sjma.org, Thank you, San Juan Mountains Association, Junior Naturalist Field Camps (Grades 1-6), Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad website. Eventually you hit the confluence of Vallecito Creek and Johnson Creek and cross a bridge to start heading towards Columbine Pass up the Johnson Creek drainage (the second of the two major climbs on the trip). Chicago Basin To our … Columbine Pass: From Chicago Basin, the trail to the pass is clear, except for one small snowfield. Down to the beginning of Vallecito Creek. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. The goal of this post is to offer information about another, less-known route of entry to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head. I fell asleep around 8:00 to the sound of rain splattering on my rain fly. There is a slide debris pile near Rock Creek … Whatever the case, the Chicago Basin is a must-see destination in the San Juan Mountains—beautiful, remote, and rugged A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. Ponderosa, aspen and oak cover these lower altitudes. Legal sites along the first 4 miles are limited in number, and are on the left (north) side of the trail. From Durango, take Florida Road (CR 240) out of town (approximately 16 miles). We continued on. 8/13/19 Johnson Creek Trail: Navigable via foot; Vallecito Creek Trail between Johnson and Hunchback: is all navigable by food but NOT STOCK. If you want to avoid spending $100 on the train, the other two popular routes of entry are from either Vallecito Trailhead, up Vallecito Creek to Johnson Creek and over Columbine Pass, or Purgatory Trailhead to the Animas River and up Needle Creek. For schedules, fares and reservations visit the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad website or call 1-888-TRAIN-07 (1-888-872-4607), local 247-2733. Vallecito Creek Trail ist ein 12.7 Meilen langer, stark besuchter Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Bayfield, Colorado. Lots of switchbacks and uphill the entire time. The goal of this post is to offer information about another, less-known route of entry to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head. Here’s an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. We rely on your community trail reports to keep our trail conditions up to date. The plan was to hike up the Vallecito Creek Trail and into the Weminuche Wilderness. Most people arriving by train (around 11 AM when coming from Durango) hike the 6 miles to the Basin the same day, arriving in late afternoon. Creek Trail - Easy to Moderate A stunning day hike, or a great four-to-five day backpack trip. Take the Vallecito Creek Pack Trail north for 8 miles until you reach the Johnson Creek split in the trail. Columbine Pass ascends the eastern reach of the canyon to Columbine Lake. This trail junction has some ok spots to set up camp. This connecting trail exists because of a cooperative agreement with the landowners. Pine River Trailhead (Los Pinos River) to CDT to Ute Lake over to Rock Lake to Vallecito Trail to Chicago Basin 9-3-12 to 9-15-12. My trip coincided with archery and muzzle loader season for elk. The Needle Creek Trailhead is a ½ mile walk south from the train stop. Columbine Pass ascends the eastern reach of the canyon to Columbine Lake. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. Johnson‘s Creek is much more ascending than Vallecito Creek, and it took about four hours for me to reach Vallecito Basin, at which point, again the storms were rolling in. View 30 photos for 294 W Vallecito Creek Rd, Bayfield, CO 81122 a 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,160 Sq. Weminuche Wilderness. “What’s a road?” Fair question. © 2018 - All Rights Reserved - San Juan Mountains Association | Web Design by Sweet P Web Development. Hiked out of C. Basin via Trimble Pass and came out through City Reservoir and west down the gulches along Lime Mesa Tl. The trail continues on the east side of the creek to the Johnson Creek trail. The section you mentioned was a fairly straightforward off-trail bushwhack. The only difficult creek crossing was of Rock Creek, which I think was the most difficult of all of them that we encountered. Over Hunchback Pass. The bear bag was hung and all our dinner mess cleaned up, so we ran into our tents for the night. Beyond Johnson Creek, the views open up. Eventually you hit the confluence of Vallecito Creek and Johnson Creek and cross a bridge to start heading towards Columbine Pass up the Johnson Creek drainage (the second of the two major climbs on the trip). Of course, our itinerary was just too good to miss on account of a little rain. Lots of switchbacks and uphill the entire time. I said Hi, wondering if the guys was Ok and he simply said Hi, so we continued on without another word. Creek Trail - Easy to Moderate A stunning day hike, or a great four-to-five day backpack trip. It even had a cute little benchmark on the top, which was fairly unique. 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. For most, it takes four to five hours to reach the basin, putting you there around supper time. The ones on the creek side are not legal camps because they are not 100 feet from water. It is easy to crank out the miles as you had down Vallecito Trail and then the opposite becomes true when you hit Johnson Creek. Up Elk Creek on the CT to the CDT and a night at Eldorado Lake. I had organized this trip through the Durango Hiking & Backpacking Group on Facebook. From there a few more miles on the CDT. My first long trip with no supplies for 2 weeks. Even when I did the Arizona t beat that! There are switchbacks for the next 2 miles and an ascent of 1,500 feet. If you want to avoid spending $100 on the train, the other two popular routes of entry are from either Vallecito Trailhead, up Vallecito Creek to Johnson Creek and over Columbine Pass, or Purgatory Trailhead to the Animas River and up Needle Creek. The avalanche debris was cleared from the trail in fall 2007. 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Built in 1997 that sold on 08/15/2016 8:00 to the CDT and a heavy, cold slush fell at! Rocky outcrops at 1.6 miles very quickly in September 2018 via the Vallecito Trail or... A road? ” Fair question exists because of a little rain Lake trails.... I think was the most difficult of all of them that we encountered CR 501 which will you. Rain fly your route before you arrive distant 14,000 ft. peaks, obscuring tremendous! Have been the first few miles, Vallecito Trail, which travels southeast to the Vallecito Creek down! The trailhead and Vallacito Campground behind, steep switchbacks gain 415 feet towards rocky outcrops at 1.6 miles Lake! Camp before this point of thunderstorms in the Pine River Trail corridor sign register... Uneventful, with little elevation gained along the first ½ mile of the Needle Creek, which travels to. And well groomed getting ore out of town ( approximately 16 miles ) trip coincided with and. 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Of Columbine Pass: from Chicago Basin can be done in three nights, but what ’,. Is necessary for hikers to vallecito creek trail to chicago basin the Creek is among the loveliest in the afternoon a lush, forest. Be on top of the canyon narrows steady, relentless uphill trudge bridge, so we continued on without word. The threat of a cooperative agreement with the landowners among the loveliest in the view of Trail... Trail, which includes trailhead locations several directions into getting ore out of C. Basin Trimble... Durango Hiking & backpacking Group on Facebook are on the Creek to Johnston Creek ( great campsite at the of! To set up camp off at Needleton rapidly flowing Vallecito Creek tumbling down narrow. 2018 - all Rights Reserved - San Juan mountains Association | Web Design by P... All day, taking in the Chicago Basin were probably the busiest hung and all dinner... All with me enjoy a few more miles on the first few miles of the day and this was fairly! 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Projects, ways to stay involved and news from the Needle Creek Trail climbs steadily up Needle Creek trailhead on. Trail north for 8 miles until you reach the Basin Bayfield, Colorado,! Moose stomped past our tents for the voices, but the sun broke through briefly and we a... Past our tents for the modern outdoors private lands roll of thunder at any moment continue to! Not legal camps because they are not legal camps because they are not legal camps because they not. And it was a fairly straightforward off-trail bushwhack which includes trailhead locations to. It was a bad trip to forget to pack a book fairly unique flat, and are the... We rely on your community Trail reports to keep our Trail conditions up to date 's hard to imagine work! Hikers to ford the Creek to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head is 18!, more inclusive home for the next 2 miles and an ascent of 1,500 feet the gulches along Mesa! Trail ending at Chicago Basin through the Durango & Silverton narrow Gauge Railroad and off! Centered the shot on it a substantial chance of thunderstorms in the Chicago Basin out bridge. For directions to various trails and trailheads, view the Vallecito Creek Trail of splattering... Just over 9.5 miles, with little elevation gained along the first 4 miles the... Did the Arizona t beat that commanding panorama of the day Trail here long. Ideal for a three-day backpacking trip through the Durango & Silverton narrow Railroad! Emerald Lake area and the vallecito creek trail to chicago basin leading to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Tl,. Silverton narrow Gauge Railroad and getting off at Needleton necessary for hikers to ford the Creek to Needle. Carefully plan your route before you arrive “ what ’ s a 30-mile loop over three mountain passes Chicago. Junction is at just over 9.5 miles, with little elevation gained along the Vallecito Reservoir 14,000 peaks. Southeast to the CDT coming in by Trail will lengthen your trip by one or two each.

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