Our hike had been relatively uneventful, with little elevation gained along the Vallecito Creek. Lots of switchbacks and uphill the entire time. 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. From CR 501 continue to North end of the Lake and bear left (North) for 2.8 miles on CR 500 to reach Vallecito Campground and trailhead parking. Comments have to be approved before showing up. A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. We continued on. At Chico Basin, they call it Twin Mills road. There are a number of stream-side sites along the first 4 miles of the trail. The Emerald Lake area and Vallicento Creek Trail seemed to be popular as well. The only difficult creek crossing was of Rock Creek, which I think was the most difficult of all of them that we encountered. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. eNZees Foot Soother is a registered trademark. Vallecito Creek Trail; Lake Eileen Trail; The Lake Trails; North Canyon, East Creek & Graham Creek Trails; Pine River Trail; Cave Basin Trail; Tuckerville Trails; Located 18 miles from Durango, the community of Vallecito is nestled in a beautiful mountain valley 8,000 feet above sea level. Elevation gain again played an important part of the day. Dec 14, 2014 - Search over 100,000 trails with trail info, maps, detailed reviews, and photos curated by millions of hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. After 9 miles, we would turn off onto the less-frequented Johnson Creek Trail and climb over Columbine Pass at 12,680 ft. We would then descend into the fabled Chicago Basin and take the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad back to Durango from the Needleton Flagstop along the Animas River. I sat in my tent, curled up in my sleeping bag, knocking the slush off my fly. Purgatory Trail (#511) – approximately 4 miles, 1500 ft descent; Animas River Trail (#675) – approximately 5.5 miles; Needle Creek Trail (#504) – approximately 5-6 miles to Chicago Basin, 3000 ft ascent; Vallecito Creek Trail: Access from the east. 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. Columbine Pass ascends the eastern reach of the canyon to Columbine Lake. Dear valued customer. 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. 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. The section you mentioned was a fairly straightforward off-trail bushwhack. 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. For most, it takes four to five hours to reach the basin, putting you there around supper time. 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. The goal of this post is to offer information about another, less-known route of entry to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head. There are a number of stream-side sites along the first 4 miles of the trail. View 30 photos for 294 W Vallecito Creek Rd, Bayfield, CO 81122 a 4 bed, 3 bath, 2,160 Sq. The trail continues on the east side of the creek to the Johnson Creek trail. A heavy cloud sat comfortably between the distant 14,000 ft. peaks, obscuring the tremendous view. There is a slide debris pile near Rock Creek … SJMA has a participating agreement with the San Juan National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office to develop educational programs, publications and volunteer projects, as well as provide interpretive services. On the way we passed an old mine. Sign up for our eNews updates and be the first to know... SJMA was created in 1988 to assist the San Juan National Forest in providing education and interpretation of public lands in Southwest Colorado. Consult guidebooks and maps and carefully plan your route before you arrive. I hiked to the Chicago Basin in September 2018 via the Purgatory Creek Trail. My mule was named Goldie and he was a very sturdy beast. Weminuche Wilderness. The plan was to follow the Vallecito creek trail down 9 miles to the Johnson creek trail junction. I hiked from Vallecito Lake up V. Creek and Johnson Creek into Chicago Basin in 2003? I only did it for about 30 minutes, so it is not as impressive as it could be; however, we needed to get some rest for the big day ahead of us. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. Up Elk Creek on the CT to the CDT and a night at Eldorado Lake. Dropping down next to the creek, the trail comes to the first bridge and the canyon narrows. I expected the roll of thunder at any moment. Take the Vallecito Creek Pack Trail north for 8 miles until you reach the Johnson Creek split in the trail. 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. 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. The ones on the creek side are not legal camps because they are not 100 feet from water. The Animas River trail here was long, flat and well groomed. More information Elk Creek to Chicago Basin via Colorado Trail, to Continental Divide Trail, to Vallecito Trail, Johnson Creek Trail, finally Needle Creek Trail Er führt entlang eines Flusses, durch schönen Wald und es gibt einen Wasserfall. It can be done in three nights, but what’s the rush? Elle on Her Sure-Footed Mule. The weather was not looking ideal for a three-day backpacking trip through the San Juan Mountain high country. Dear valued customer. Logjam on Johnson Creek. It's hard to imagine the work that went into getting ore out of these mountains! © 2018 - All Rights Reserved - San Juan Mountains Association | Web Design by Sweet P Web Development. Tagged: I said Hi, wondering if the guys was Ok and he simply said Hi, so we continued on without another word. And this was while traveling from 11,000 to 14,000 feet. Vallecito Creek Trail – Easy/Moderate. Also note that there are no toilet facilities at Needleton. 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. Following the cascading whitewater of Needle Creek, the trail leads hikers deeper and deeper into the Weminuche. 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. Beyond Johnson Creek, the views open up. 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. The avalanche also took out a bridge, so you have to ford the creek. At just over 11 … 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. 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. Columbine Pass ascends the eastern reach of the canyon to Columbine Lake. Wilderness rangers frequently patrol the trail, and will ask you to move if they find you camping in an illegal site. 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 goal of this post is to offer information about another, less-known route of entry to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head. End of Camping Area in the Chicago Basin. Many years ago mining was common throughout these lands. Ponderosa, aspen and oak cover these lower altitudes. It appeared at THAT time we may have been the first party to hike out that way in quite some time. The journey begins!! Route – Vallecito Creek Bridge to Chicago Basin. Up Johnston Creek and over Columbine Pass. My trip coincided with archery and muzzle loader season for elk. 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. The trail starts out busy, especially within the first few miles. Johnson Creek, approaching Columbine Pass. The state’s most remote point suffers from the same problem: A four-wheel-drive road that leads to an old townsite called Beartown, only 6 miles up Vallecito Creek. Make a week out of it. Down to the beginning of Vallecito Creek. From the lake the hike is easy to moderate terrain to … The trail continues on the east side of the creek to the Johnson Creek trail. Chicago Basin can be reached by trails from several directions. This was a bad trip to forget to pack a book! In the morning, snow covered the mountaintops and high ridges around us. Vallecito Creek Trail ist ein 12.7 Meilen langer, stark besuchter Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Bayfield, Colorado. The Weminuche is massive. 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. I had organized this trip through the Durango Hiking & Backpacking Group on Facebook. I saw a few hunters and horse outfitters, particularly in the Pine River Trail corridor. The skies were fairly clear when I woke up at 5:30 this morning, but I’ve grown weary of the weather in the Weminuche Wilderness at this point. 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. 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. We stopped to forage huckleberries, salmonberries, and even a few wild strawberries. Vallecito Creek Trail – Easy/Moderate. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. Following the cascading whitewater of Needle Creek, the trail leads hikers deeper and deeper into the Weminuche. The plan was to hike up the Vallecito Creek Trail and into the Weminuche Wilderness. Some may decide to exit the basin via the Vallecito Trail, which travels southeast to the Vallecito Reservoir. by Margaret Hedderman | When you get to the trailhead, be sure to sign the register and read the information posted. 8/13/19 Johnson Creek Trail: Navigable via foot; Vallecito Creek Trail between Johnson and Hunchback: is all navigable by food but NOT STOCK. In the first 2 miles you will rise more than 500 ft. above the creek with fantastic views, then the trail drops down right beside the creek. There are switchbacks for the next 2 miles and an ascent of 1,500 feet. My first long trip with no supplies for 2 weeks. The Vallecito Creek Trail soon starts switch-backing up steeply as our sure-footed beasts negotiated the rock ledges. For most, it takes four to five hours to reach the basin, putting you there around supper time. Dec 14, 2014 - Search over 100,000 trails with trail info, maps, detailed reviews, and photos curated by millions of hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. End of Camping Area in the Chicago Basin. We rely on your community trail reports to keep our trail conditions up to date. But the sun was out and it was a beautiful hike through Chicago Basin and down to Needleton. Columbine Pass Weminuche, Chicago Basin hiking, Chicago Basin From there a few more miles on the CDT. At 6.5 miles you begin the steep climb to Columbine Pass. Colorado Hiking, It started raining, again, around 7:30 on our first night. At least we can enjoy a few hours of sunshine before the weather turns. Of course, our itinerary was just too good to miss on account of a little rain. When at last we broke above treeline, I saw a wild skyline of cold, jagged peaks. There is a slide debris pile near Rock Creek … “What’s a road?” Fair question. The trail to Twin Lakes in the Chicago Basin, Windom Peak behind right . The well-maintained Needle Creek Trail climbs steadily up Needle Creek to Chicago Basin. Whether we went up or down we were a long way from shelter. My trip coincided with archery and muzzle loader season for elk. The sun broke through briefly and we were barely able to dry our tents out before it let loose again. The goal of this post is to offer information about another, less-known route of entry to Chicago Basin from Lime Mesa Trail Head. Tristan and friends had hiked the Vallecito Creek drainage north from Vallecito Reservoir, and found it so lovely that he proposed to hike up Vallecito Creek to the intersection with Johnson Creek, camp overnight, and hike into Chicago Basin over Columbine Pass the following day. For directions to various trails and trailheads, view the Vallecito Lake Trails Map. The plan was to hike up the Vallecito Creek Trail and into the Weminuche Wilderness. 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. NOAA predicted rain on both Friday and Saturday with a substantial chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. The bear bag was hung and all our dinner mess cleaned up, so we ran into our tents for the night. This connecting trail exists because of a cooperative agreement with the landowners. A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. I saw a few hunters and horse outfitters, particularly in the Pine River Trail corridor. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke als moderat einzustufen. Vallecito Creek Trail - Easy to Moderate A stunning day hike, or a great four-to-five day backpack trip. Vallecito Creek to Johnston Creek (great campsite at the junction of the two creeks). 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). When you board the train, you need to drop off your backpack at the baggage car behind the engine, and then go to your assigned seat in a different car. Throughout the night I’d heard, or perhaps imagined I’d heard, footsteps and voices just on the other side of listening range. To our … Over Hunchback Pass. And this was while traveling from 11,000 to 14,000 feet. Temps 25 to 80’s, 75 to 80 miles total,pack weight 30lbs total! Over Hunchback Pass. Vallecito Creek Trail - Easy to Moderate A stunning day hike, or a great four-to-five day backpack trip. 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. The Needle Creek Trail junction is at just over 9.5 miles, with the Needlton Train station another mile or so to the north. Down to the beginning of Vallecito Creek. I don’t trust the skies and just assume it will rain later today. To continue on to Chicago Basin, take the trail to the right from the Needle Creek Junction. We are working to be sure all orders are filled as promptly as possible. Hiked out of C. Basin via Trimble Pass and came out through City Reservoir and west down the gulches along Lime Mesa Tl. A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. There are no plans at this time to replace the bridge, so it is necessary for hikers to ford the creek. 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. From there a few more miles on the CDT. Lots of switchbacks and uphill the entire time. The route: Purg Flats Trail to Animas River Trail to Needle Creek Trail ending at Chicago Basin. It can be done in three nights, but what’s the rush? I felt fortunate to have him. Columbine Pass: From Chicago Basin, the trail to the pass is clear, except for one small snowfield. 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. 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. When we were just a mile from Columbine Pass when a crack of thunder exploded across the basin. In the first 2 miles you will rise more than 500 ft. above the creek with fantastic views, then the trail drops down right beside the creek. Make a week out of it. The avalanche debris was cleared from the trail in fall 2007. The Weminuche is massive. Vallecito Lake is located 18 miles northeast of Durango. There was a crunchy frost upon the ground. Waterfalls poured from crevasses high on the distant ridges and dark clouds hung on the horizon. You follow rapidly flowing Vallecito creek tumbling down a narrow glacial valley; the creek is among the loveliest in the West. The Needleton train stop area and the first ½ mile of the trail going south to the Needle Creek Trailhead is on private lands. Chicago Basin is a high-use area, not just for it's dramatic beauty, but for its easy access to four mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet. Want to learn more about our current projects, ways to stay involved and news from the San Juan Mountains Association? 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. At the T-intersection, take a left on CR 501 which will bring you to the lake. 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. It appeared at THAT time we may have been the first party to hike out that way in quite some time. Chicago Basin can be accessed by riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and getting off at Needleton. 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. Columbine Pass: From Chicago Basin, the trail to the pass is clear, except for one small snowfield. Additional Trail Info. We packed up and trudged up to Trimble Pass. I hiked from Vallecito Lake up V. Creek and Johnson Creek into Chicago Basin in 2003? Ft. mfd/mobile home built in 1997 that sold on 08/15/2016. You will take the Johnson Creek trail to the west until you decide to camp... unless you decided to camp before this point. The Colorado Trail, Pine River Trail, CDT, and the trails leading to Chicago Basin were probably the busiest. 8/13/19 Johnson Creek Trail: Navigable via foot; Vallecito Creek Trail between Johnson and Hunchback: is all navigable by food but NOT STOCK. Hike approximately 5 miles to where the valley becomes more gentle and wider, and there are better campsites to be found on both sides of the trail. While yesterday we had gained 3,000' in about 6.5 to 7 miles, we were now going to gain that amount in 2.5 miles. From the beginning of the Johnson Creek turn-off to … The section you mentioned was a fairly straightforward off-trail bushwhack. 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. The route: Purg Flats Trail to Animas River Trail to Needle Creek Trail ending at Chicago Basin. Needle Creek is an east-side tributary of the Animas River.The basin is a popular destination in summer for climbers and backpackers. To our … Up Johnston Creek and over Columbine Pass. Up a few 14s. The Emerald Lake area and Vallicento Creek Trail seemed to be popular as well. A stunning day hike on the first few miles of the trail, or a wonderful four-to-five day backpack trip. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. The well-maintained Needle Creek Trail climbs steadily up Needle Creek to Chicago Basin. You follow rapidly flowing Vallecito creek tumbling down a narrow glacial valley; the creek is among the loveliest in the West. We generally cruised down the valley all day, taking in the view of the mountains up the drainages around us. Up a few 14s. Eolus, Windom Peak, and Sunlight Peak. Vallecito Trail, Sarah was especially excited to be on top of her fourth 13er, all with me. Here’s an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. Additional Trail Info. Beyond Johnson Creek, the views open up. 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. We hurried down to our camp at 11,600 ft. Leaving the trailhead and Vallacito Campground behind, steep switchbacks gain 415 feet towards rocky outcrops at 1.6 miles. This trail junction has some ok spots to set up camp. I actually had a mule! Elevation gain again played an important part of the day. 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. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/vallecito-creek-trail 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. Lastly, I wanted to get some fun star trails over Chicago Basin, and again this proved quite effective. The Needle Creek Trailhead is a ½ mile walk south from the train stop. The only difficult creek crossing was of Rock Creek, which I think was the most difficult of all of them that we encountered. From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. We reached the top of the pass and looked down into Chicago Basin. 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