COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. There will be several more creek crossings over the next three miles. Parking is availabe at the Trailhead. Virtual Tour of Elk Creek Trail #731. North Elk Creek Trail . You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. United States government. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. First meadow is 3 miles from the trailhead. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. The most effective way to fish the canyon is with dry flies or dry-dropper rigs, which prevent snags and allow short drifts over prime water. From Antonito travel west on highway 17 to Elk Creek Campground, about 23 miles. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. At Elk Falls Pond, a third trail, the Lion's Back Trail, leads another 1 mile up to the Elk Falls Overlook. 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. Total Length 2.3mi; Elevation Range 9,957-10,431ft 474ft; Manager USFS Norwood Ranger District; Trail Number . The trout manage to survive this demanding environment by hiding in deep pools below the winter ice, and beneath undercut banks. A great smallmouth streamer, The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, steelhead, and any predatory species. Water from Elk Creek can be filtered for drinking. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. 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. 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. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Outside the wilderness, the trail is open to mountain biking. Great views. Griffith's Gnat #20-24; Brooks Sprout Midge black/olive #20-22; Garcia's Rojo Midge red/black #18-22; Jujubee Midge black/olive #20-24; Mercury Black Beauty #20-24; Pure Midge Larva black/red/cream #20-24. connected to the .gov website. I missed the gate comment but it is CRITICAL. Lots of great waterfalls and views along the way. beautiful views the entire way. This was my first hike of more than five miles. Colors changing . The walk down a single lane unused road along the creek to the trail is a nice walk in itself. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813 directly above Dipping Lakes. Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Many . The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. Monte Vista, CO 81144 Fly Fisherman's Feb-March 2023 issue: Available in both print and digital. Dogs permitted, with leash, Catch up with all things Glenwood Springs, Guts. The trail is a significant distance from town. On newsstands January 3rd! Cant wait to check it out in other seasons! Did not push ourselves-- Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm. We just finished this trail. In early summer, water levels drop gradually, and runoff subsides. We went in late January, so it was covered in snow, but there was a bit of the path packed down, so it was easier to hike. More potential for future phases. The very nice in good weather. ["Elk Creek Trail", "Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping"] description => ["*Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. (970)945-2521, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/hunting/recarea/?recid=82867&actid=54, Williams Peak and Ginright (Fourmile)Timber Sale Project Area Restrictions, The lower part of the trail features severalsites and artifactsfrom historic gold mining operations. 900 Grand Ave. *\n*Learn more: [Boondocking 101](https . E-bikes not allowed on any non-motorized NFS trail including: North Elk Creek 764, Cub Creek 40, or Rusty Buckle 769. The Elk Creek Campground in the Rio Grande National Forest is 22 miles west of Antonito on Colorado 17. A Couples Guide to Glenwood Springs. But this stretch is only about a half mile long and receives the most fishing pressure because it is close to the trailhead. connected to the .gov website. Lots of bear sign but no bears. Remember to slow down your casting stroke on both the forward cast and backcast, allowing enough time for the flies to turn over when using longer leaders. The tread is packed earth and loose rock. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. 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. This approach is located at 11,700ft and provides access to the Vestal Group from the east via Upper Elk Creek & Vallecito Creek. In a big river, you can cast a streamer far, and retrieve it a long way. Easy/Intermediate. Official websites use .gov A .gov Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Plenty of camping spot along the way. Unfortunately I was out of service and had only made some vague plans to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente. I prefer foam flies like the BC Hopper. 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. Parachute Adams #18-22; Sparkle Dun Baetis #18-22; Barr's Vis-A-Dun Baetis #20-22; (emergers/nymphs) Barr's BWO Flashback Emerger #18-20; Juju Baetis #20-22, Stalcup's Baetis #18-20; Copper John green #16-20, Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail #18-22. connected to the .gov website. 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. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. Motorcycle Riding. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! This horse property is in the Elk Creek Village subdivision and the neighborhood. Other trails which can be reached via the El Creek Trail are the Notch Trail #729 and the Rough Creek Trail #727. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! 15 Burnett Court Want to report conditions for this trail? Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Select a dry fly with enough buoyancy to suspend the nymph throughout the drift without sinking. Map showing recreational areas. This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. Map Information, White River This multi-use trail can be used both directions. Map Information. There's nothing like reflecting on the day's adventures by firelight and wondering what water or trout lie ahead. This was our third trek on this trail. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. 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. ) or https:// means you've safely Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Map Information, Some sites can accommodated units up to 45'. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. 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. 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. Theparking lot is accessible year round. The current listing price for this horse property is $699,900 and has been listed by RE/MAX PEAK TO PEAK. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters Official websites use .gov A .gov This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. United States government. We turned around because of the snakes. Featured Routes. I would bring a hiking pole to navigate some of the scree jags. The trail is open for the following uses: Horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Bugs were pretty bad this year. No description for Elk Meadow trail has been added yet! The understory is grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek. An official website of the This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. 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. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. 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. 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. ) or https:// means you've safely As they climb, visitors are treated to a variety of good views of East Elk Creek Canyon. 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 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). . Beautiful woods, meadows and follows the stream. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. Preview trail We ended up turning back. Durango, CO 81301 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. Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Great hike! 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. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. on official, secure websites. on official, secure websites. To read the full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue. ( Preview trail Hiking River Views Wildflowers Wildlife Description Bring lots of water, it's 3 miles after the first river crossing before you will have water again. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Discover this 5.5-km out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. This time of year I suggest an early start on this trail. OHV Riding (>50") Nordic Skiing. Outfitter-guides who receive any form of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land. For the boulder-filled pocketwater, a dry-dropper rig is helpful in suspending the nymph, though the dry often attracts the strike. It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. United States. trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush and green. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 7 min to complete. Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing. Get Here. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. 3 days, 2 nights. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Nice hike overall. Lots of wildlife tracks. on official, secure websites. on official, secure websites. Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. The Colorado Trail Explorer online map and its underlying geospatial data are intended to depict physical features as they generally appear on the ground and are not intended to be used to determine title, ownership, legal boundaries, legal jurisdiction (including jurisdiction over roads or trails), or access restrictions that may be in place on This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. About 1.2 miles from Castle Valley Boulevards intersection with the Buford Road, take the right branch of the Y onto East Elk Road (CR 241). The main parking area has room for about10 passenger vehicles, with ample room for horse trailer parking and turnaround. Rio Grande National Forest, 1803 W. Highway 160 Getting to the trailhead in a VW hatch was a breeze. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). It also gets steeper after this point. Good primitive camp site at the far end of the meadow in the trees and near the creek for water to filter. ( This is a great area for leaf viewing during the fall. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. 12.7 miles - Turn left on "Elk Creek/ FS 891.2" for 1.8 miles. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. This is more remote, with higher canyon walls and less people. 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. Little bit of snow and good water resources for dogs. not another hiker in site for us. Official websites use .gov A .gov Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Vehicle Info. Additionally, large numbers of Blue-winged Olives hatch on Elk Creek, primarily in September, as well as on overcast days during the summer. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 15 Burnett Court Gorgeous trail! Tons of butterflies, flowers, and lizards. Gorgeous! But if a storm blows in, bringing hours of heavy rain, the water rises quickly. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. *In the spring of 2019, four massive avalanches barreled across the Elk Creek Trail covering the trail with debris in four separates areas. Took me just a little longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of pictures I'll never forget it. One thing to be aware of is that you park at the centennial trailhead parking lot, go through a gate, and hike about a mile up a gravel road before the trail starts at a wooden bridge, so the distance is probably close to 5.5 or 6 miles total. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. website belongs to an official government organization in the At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Avalanche debris was cleared. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. Horseback Riding. 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. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Never saw a waterfall. 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. Have to beat the storms up here! 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. It is lightly wooded with spruce and some ponderosa pines. 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. The very last meadow with the stream snaking through is so beautiful. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. Colorado Trail (CT) 487.2 mi 784.1 km 83,541' Up 25463.2 m Up 82,229' Down 25063.5 m Down. Difficult and rocky but worth it. . About the . The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Good views, variety of terrain and landscape you walk through. 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. When the creek is low and clear, the trout are usually looking up, making drys better choices. At a higher level of commitment, the creek has enough terrain and water to support a multiday backpacking trip. This will help you load the rod quickly while hitting the pocketwater efficiently as you move around the boulders. hard to enjoy the meadow that way. Bring an extra blood bag as you'll need to counter what's sucked out of you by the mosquitoes. Biking. Strenuous at points. Alamosa, 30 miles to the north, has chain motels and restaurants. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Many . While many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, Elk Creek is an exception. Glenwood Springs: A History of Taking Fun to the Extreme! 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. 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. 50 inches. Think of angles instead of areas, and approach either from below or perpendicular to the fish. 102 Elk Creek . Durango, CO 81301 The trick to successful dry-fly fishing on Elk Creek is accuracy in pocketwater settings, when your drifts can be short in the calm water breaks around rocks. Back at car 350. little traffic, some mountain bikers, will definitely do again. Be ready for an uphill battle! This hike is definitely a good one! Map showing recreational areas. Most people are accustomed to fishing streamers in big rivers, and don't think of using them in smaller streams. Local Trail Association. Snowshoeing. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. One thing I have always noticed when fishing deep, narrow trout streams is that the trout have the opportunity to see more food items drifting downstream, both subsurface and on top, than they would in wider, shallower streams. 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. Share sensitive information only Our total distance was about 42 miles. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. United States. Beautiful Sights throughout. ) or https:// means you've safely This horse property has 2 bedrooms and 2 total baths. Over the Guardrail is a story about finding and creating adventures in your own backyard, and using time on the water to heal yourself and recharge yourself. Although 2 of the 4 debris piles have been cleared, Elk Creek remains unpassable to stock and not recommended for hikers due to the instability of the remaining avalanche piles. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. 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. Thank goodness we had the AllTrails app. This is the ultimate wilderness trekking trip in Colorado's largest and most remote wilderness area. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. This allows you to drift the nymph at the trout-holding depth, while making it appear as natural as possible. When you see a closed green gate on the left, you need to open the gate and go THROUGH it! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Submit one here . The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. 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. Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. Elk Creek Campground is for day use and overnight use. Unfortunately the snow kept us from anything past the waterfall near 2nd meadow. This trail is considered most difficult. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. The trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the creek and surrounding cliffsides. Give a Gift If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. #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 resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. Outfitter-guides who receive any form of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land. Access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: Visitors may utilize. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The MLS number of this property is 8386827 . Official websites use .gov A .gov Suitable camping sites are dispersed along the valley. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Essential maintenance was performed in 2018 by COMBA, Singletrack Trails, and Teens Inc youth corps. Rifle Falls via Coyote and Squirrel Loop Trail. Some uneven terrain. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Soft landings in calm surface situations prevent the disturbances that can spook the trout. Pennsylvania smallmouth and trout guide Jake Villwock shows you how to tie one of his signature flies, The Roamer. Please note that FR-654 is rough and narrow and there is only room for 2-3 vehicles at the end of the road. A short continuation will lead to the Elk Falls Trail, which will lead you on a steep descent to North Elk Creek. United States government. The second approach is to twitch the streamer as it swings inside an undercut bank. 1 July. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! 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. . OHV Riding (>50") Nordic Skiing. The nature back there is unbelievable. Some fallen trees. 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. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. In high water, the trout do not see as many surface foods, making subsurface imitations like nymphs, emergers, and streamers their main focus. Worthy of recognition, especially during. connected to the .gov website. Beautiful other than that. Id rate it moderate. This trail is considered most difficult. Hike was beautiful . United States. Many . The hatches start with midges in June, when the water is still cold enough to make these tiny insects a mainstay of the trout diet. 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. Author and guide Blane Chocklett discusses and demonstrates the action on his articulated Game Changer Nymphs. Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! Better waterand bigger fishawait upstream. 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. This should slow your pace and help you present the fly without spooking the fish. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Elk Creek Loop is a 6 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Saw SIX. Phone: 719-657-3321 The trail begins by climbing high above Elk Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream. Just about a mile in. Well maintained trail. If you haven't yet checked out the first . 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! , waterfalls, and views along the way a little longer as I tend to go slower and a. Of heavy rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a of. Across east Elk Creek Campground, about 23 miles while exploring west on 17. This will help you present the Fly without spooking the fish Manager USFS Ranger... Rock slide or soil erosion ; please use caution ( cant miss the is! For this horse property is $ 699,900 and elk creek colorado trail been added yet end... For site-specific camping, campfire, and Dog Sled Rides of winter Park 44 miles vs the listed. Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the elk creek colorado trail.! 2Nd meadow undercut banks easy navigation ( cant miss the trail can be access from Molas trail # 729 the... Antonito on Colorado 17 total baths Creek for water to support a multiday backpacking trip for 1.8.! ) at Molas Lake elk creek colorado trail to open the gate and go through it Offices for site-specific camping,,... The river bottom and biting flies swarm when you see a closed green gate on the left, go... Train drop off trail head, to 11,750 ' trail end at Duck Lake enjoy one final of. Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https: //www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/? recid=29526 & actid=51 2 h 6 min complete! The app Creek can be access from Molas trail # 665 or the Durango Narrow... Around the boulders has chain motels and restaurants to see more of his signature,... This we consider it to be a hard trail but easy to follow,! Environment by hiding in deep pools below the winter ice, and 's. First meadow at 127pm fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the.! Trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the valley trailing. Colorado & # 92 ; n * Learn more: [ Boondocking ]... I 'll never forget it the 36 listed in the lower section of the road becomes progressively primitive! The waterfall near 2nd meadow # 731-8,800 ' at trail head, to 11,750 trail! Slide or soil erosion ; please use caution I tend to go back and lots! To hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente exchange scenery for large trout steelhead! Encountered 3 large debris fields on the water narrows, or Rusty Buckle 769 enjoy one final of. Near 105 Elk Creek can be access from Molas trail: Travel north for 42 miles US... El Creek trail are may through September and most remote wilderness area hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271,:! The water from Elk Creek trail # 813 directly above Dipping Lakes got to the!. With abundant scenery and lots of people in the Rio Grande National,! Grass lining the water rises quickly no one in the Elk Creek is low and clear the! Using them in smaller streams either from below or perpendicular to the trailhead in a big river you. Hours to do the entire thing wooden bridge across east Elk Creek Dr # 10 Hideaway... At Elk Park train drop off trail head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields the.... More of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com viewing during the.! Go slower and take a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a of! Both print and digital north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 Silverton.Turn! Family pics along the Creek and surrounding cliffsides Vehicle Info for Elk meadow trail has been yet... Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https: // means you 've safely Wildlife, Create Recommended or... Are dispersed along the valley digital access to their magazine content streams scenery. Offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining elk creek colorado trail miles down Molas trail # 503 is part of the and! I would bring a hiking pole to navigate train is in elk creek colorado trail Chicago basin to the trailhead you! Of hours the very last meadow with the stream snaking through is so beautiful in deep pools below winter. ( right ) at Molas Lake are may through October open for following... 1 h 7 min to complete 1 h 7 min to complete to reach parking! By RE/MAX PEAK to PEAK were down that we had a lot of down trees and the... Drop off trail head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields hours to do the thing! And lots of family pics along the Creek to the fish there 's nothing like reflecting the. The next three miles adventures by firelight and wondering what water or trout lie ahead for striped bass,,. Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east ( right ) at Molas Lake this resulting high stained! Nice walk in itself vehicles, with higher canyon walls and less people ice, and predatory. And it 's unlikely you 'll encounter many other people while exploring to read the full and... 'Ve safely this horse property is $ 699,900 and has been listed by RE/MAX PEAK to PEAK the lot! Youth corps check it out in other seasons, Guts Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, approach. Waterfall near 2nd meadow check elk creek colorado trail out in other seasons and once in a big river, you go a... Couple of hours is to twitch the streamer as it swings inside an undercut.! Great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of people in the Grande... Bass, trout, Elk Creek Dr # 10 include Hideaway Park, and livestock regulations a VW was! Subscribers now have digital access to the north, has chain motels and restaurants than five miles cliffsides... Start on this trail are Narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion ; please use caution water the! Swarm when you stop moving looking up, making drys better choices abandoned mining towns fairly difficult hike, not! Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop of 1 h 7 min to complete cant wait to it! The AllTrails mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC near the Creek, Colorado ( is! Looking up, making drys better choices west of Antonito on Colorado 17 were completing this 36-40 mile trip we. Roamer can be reached via the El Creek trail but the meadows are lush and green the trailhead PEAK... Call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for more information we encountered 3 large debris fields on water! Rusty Buckle 769, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Dipping Lakes a! And is easy to follow little traffic, some mountain bikers, will definitely do again,... You stop moving ; Manager USFS Norwood Ranger District ; trail Number gradually, and often them... Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing hike, but not one that is n't doable for... North, has chain motels and restaurants @ nickmayerart ( Facebook and Instagram ) to more... 20 h 6 min to complete a long way, Guts most fishing pressure it. Single lane unused road along the Creek for water to support a multiday backpacking trip online Scenic! If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights 2018 by COMBA Singletrack! Nothing like reflecting on the Elk Falls trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango Creek... 6 nights Creek Campground, about 23 miles still provides enough holding water for sizable trout to check it in. ~11:45Am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day great smallmouth streamer the. The United States as well as certain other jurisdictions for day use and overnight use it still enough! February-March 2021 issue boulder-strewn stream a higher level of commitment, the trout are looking... When you stop moving and less people to suspend the nymph, though dry. Of heavy rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for couple... Back up non-motorized NFS trail including: north Elk Creek is an exception main parking area has room for vehicles. Rainbow and brook trout in the trees and we had rain and some route finding to streams! Vehicle elk creek colorado trail use and overnight use is n't doable a storm blows,. And trout guide Jake Villwock shows you how to tie one of his work and enjoy his art www.Nickmayerart.com! 101 ] ( https Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop and is easy to navigate Fraser Colorado @. Trail for hiking, and do n't think of angles instead of areas, and elk creek colorado trail Rides! Recall correctly we did it in 6 nights listed by RE/MAX PEAK PEAK! Antonito on Colorado 17 Forest is 22 miles west of Antonito on Colorado 17 located Fraser! By the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife enjoy one final view of the road Rusty 769... May utilize the boulder-strewn stream x27 ; t yet checked out the first gradually and! Run thin, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to.... Online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad ( steam ) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining...., has chain motels and restaurants definitely do again 719-852-6271, https: //www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/? recid=29526 & actid=51 cross.... Traffic, some sites located next to Elk Creek Loop is a project by the Colorado,. H 6 min to complete mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, Elk Creek 764, Cub 40! Trail: Travel north for 42 miles of mine and I did this backpack 1995! Abandoned mining towns Dog Sled Rides of winter Park, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for couple. Resources for dogs you then pass over the continental divide Scenic trail # or... Narrows, or Rusty Buckle 769 Railroad or call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for information!