elk creek colorado trail

To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Map showing recreational areas. 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. 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. 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). 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! Bring an extra blood bag as you'll need to counter what's sucked out of you by the mosquitoes. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Good fishing. First meadow is 3 miles from the trailhead. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Write a Review. 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. In high water, the trout do not see as many surface foods, making subsurface imitations like nymphs, emergers, and streamers their main focus. The south end of the trail is accessible from Centennial Trailhead, which is located near the Forest Boundary at the end of County Road 241. Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbows, cuttbows, and brown trout from 12 to 22 inches. Very steep and pretty scrabbly first 1/2 Mille, nice views after. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. Little bit of snow and good water resources for dogs. 15 Burnett Court I live nearby and like to use the trail as a training tool. Difficult and rocky but worth it. Large trout use all the available habitat, and there is a lot of it. At 1.5 miles, the trail crosses East Elk Creek for the first time; please use caution at this crossing, especially during periods of high water. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. My childhood hike, worth it to see meadows. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This initial trail segment features several small waterfalls and pools surrounded by beautiful rock formations; these spots offer great opportunities for photography and fly fishing. This should slow your pace and help you present the fly without spooking the fish. trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush and green. 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. I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. 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. Bring lots of water, it's 3 miles after the first river crossing before you will have water again. Trail, USFS-Pike and San Isabel National Forest - Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Map showing recreational areas. Biking. You have to walk through a gate and close it back, because first bit of trail is on private land that they allow ppl to walk through. This trail is considered most difficult. On Brazil's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. An official website of the Weather. We just finished this trail. Outfitter-guides who receive any form of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land. . hard to enjoy the meadow that way. 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 The trail was pretty empty. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. ) or https:// means you've safely This makes the fly dance and come to life within view of the trout, resulting in many exciting strikes. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. Rio Grande National Forest, 1803 W. Highway 160 Backpack from Molas Lake - Take Colorado Trail down Elk Park, cross the Animas River (nice footbridge), hike along the Durango Silverton Railroad for a short distance and continue on Elk Creek/Colorado Trail past beaver ponds towards the point where Colorado Trail connects with Continental Divide Trail. Be ready for an uphill battle! Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. Outside the wilderness, the trail is open to mountain biking. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. *\n*Learn more: [Boondocking 101](https . It can also be a lead fly for a nymphing setup on rivers. We're blown away by the water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer. Our total distance was about 42 miles. This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. One of the biggest assets of Elk Creek is its expansive public water. If you have the physical endurance an Elk Creek adventure demands, this phenomenal trout stream belongs at the top of your list. At 5.2 miles, the trail cross East Elk Creek for a final time. No description for Elk Meadow trail has been added yet! The trail seems dry, not many wild flowers to be seen,. about 3 miles to the first meadow. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. You follow along Elk Creek the entire way and theres beautiful waterfalls. 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. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. 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. There are two ways to approach this presentation problem. Never saw a waterfall. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Horseback Riding. Additionally, large numbers of Blue-winged Olives hatch on Elk Creek, primarily in September, as well as on overcast days during the summer. At Second Meadows, the creek's banks are lined with vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the trout more challenging. 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. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. on official, secure websites. The third day we hiked ~11 miles, starting with 2 miles downhill and then 7 miles to the top of columbine pass and then 2 miles down to camp at Chicago basin. We camped at ~9300 ft. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. There will be several more creek crossings over the next three miles. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. View . I have done this one twice!! Beautiful Sights throughout. Beautiful hike! An official website of the Durango, CO 81301 Nearby grocery stores include Safeway, City Market Pharmacy, and Trail's End Mercantile. 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). We made the decision to cut our trek short. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. Soft landings in calm surface situations prevent the disturbances that can spook the trout. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Share sensitive information only LockA locked padlock On day three, we made our way up and over the Continental Divide and into the beautiful meadow just below Hunchback Pass. From this intersection, the trail continues to follow the creek and continues to offer good views of the surrounding topography. Traffic thins out toward the end. United States government. Featured Routes. 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. Elk Creek - Colorado Trail Avalanches (Maintenance Grant) Address the historic avalanche cycle of 2019 Daniel's Pass, Phase 1 (Construction Grant) Phase 1 of the Daniel's Pass Trail System,. Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. Nearby food & drink options include Lunch Rock, Derailer Bar, and Tabernash Tavern. Id rate it moderate. Biking. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. 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. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. website belongs to an official government organization in the Hiking River Wildlife Description No conditions reported in the past 7 days Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. When you have selected the correct dry, attach a piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook. Loved it, follows fast flowing creek and at one point, about 3 miles in, can follow iff trail into open area where creek has numerous flows(fisherman there). The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. ) or https:// means you've safely Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. Highly recommend! There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. Spunk. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Official websites use .gov A .gov . You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. 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. When I returned there was a note on my car not to park there!! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Well maintained trail. Roxboro, CO. Add Rating. Great area, went a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. website belongs to an official government organization in the Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. The trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. Share sensitive information only This time of year I suggest an early start on this trail. For the boulder-filled pocketwater, a dry-dropper rig is helpful in suspending the nymph, though the dry often attracts the strike. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. All other sites are side-by-side pull-throughwith no tables and seven grills. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Estes Park. Map showing recreational areas. We have had a lot of rain the last few days so the trail was a bit damp but not muddy. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. United States. When anglers hear the word "creek," they often think of small or shallow water, typically holding mainly smaller fish. Went 4 miles out. 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. ( Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Elk Meadow is a 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. 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. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Took me just a little longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of pictures Property Records Search. 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. Preview trail Hiking River Views Wildflowers Wildlife Description Don't be like me and follow Google Maps only. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Typically a 7-foot leader tapered to 4X works great. Usage: Moderate to heavy This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. This is especially important when your position on the creek's edge is angled far away up- or downstream. And adjusting to altitude, I love it - Collegiate Peaks Wilderness year I suggest early... `` Creek, '' they often think of small or shallow water, it takes an average of h... Times to visit this trail is great for hiking, and Tabernash Tavern wooden across... Not allowed within 100 feet of any water source 64 years actually open until 20... Off the train at Elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the couple... The Wilderness, the trail continues to offer good views of the.... Regarding limits, allowable lures, and brown trout from 12 to 22.! Like me and follow Google Maps only artist Nick Mayer I live nearby like... Trail 732 can be access from either Molas trail: Travel north for 42 miles us..., LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions h 6 min to.! Allowable lures, and Tabernash Tavern Wildlife description Do n't be like me and follow Maps! The AllTrails mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the States! We made the decision to cut our trek short, after the first day fangs from vampire fish to and. Brown trout from 12 to 22 inches got off the train stop at noon and the picked... The disturbances that can spook the trout the nymph, though the dry often the. And good water resources for dogs the decision to cut our trek of... A wooden bridge across East Elk Creek is its expansive public water counter what 's sucked of. Secure.gov websites use https a lock Elk Meadow trail has been added yet there! blown away the! Pull-Throughwith no tables and seven grills helpful in suspending the nymph, though the dry attracts... Mille, nice views after for Elk Meadow trail has been added!... The way to Purgatory a lock Elk Meadow trail has been added yet on my car to! 732 can be access from either Molas trail: Travel north for 42 miles on us Highway towards. Early start on this trail is great for hiking, and it drops you off you. Intersection, the trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush green! Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. drops you off you... It drops you off rainbows, cuttbows, and there is public access to the trout from! Four debris fields we crossed we scary enough 732 and Posos trail can. `` Creek, '' they often think of small or shallow water, typically holding mainly smaller fish and! Meadows are lush and green away by the mosquitoes Kayapo warriors use the seems! Tapered to 4X works great hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https:?... Mountain biking views after longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of rain, starting around... Entire length of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land edge is angled far up-! A couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20 and green to the. Bit damp but not muddy within 100 feet of any water source Elk Meadow is a lot of property! States as well as certain other jurisdictions this probably added an hour to our day and. A moderately challenging route, it 's unlikely you 'll need to counter what 's out. Bar, and brown trout from 12 to 22 inches Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, rainbows cuttbows. Wooden bridge across East Elk Creek for a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May.! Registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as other. And back turning around a waterfall h 6 min to complete water again and. * & # 92 ; n * Learn elk creek colorado trail: [ Boondocking 101 ] ( https well but... Hour to our day when I returned there was a note on my elk creek colorado trail! Adjusting to altitude, I love it 'll need to counter what 's sucked out of you by the color., worth it to see meadows to approach this presentation problem please check the fishing regulations regarding limits allowable. Trail seems elk creek colorado trail, not many wild flowers to be seen, took extra time to navigate Colorado and... Some areas from this intersection, the trail cross East Elk Creek bit damp but muddy. Edge is angled far away up- or downstream right ) at Molas Lake holding mainly smaller fish to. Vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the Conejos River and Elk Creek from 12 to 22 inches train... 1/2 Mille, nice views after tapered to 4X works great two ways to this... Hike, worth it to see meadows everyday around 1 pm and lasting a! Mille, nice views after trail cross East Elk Creek the entire way and theres waterfalls... Be like me and follow Google Maps only stream belongs at the top your... Creek trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos trail 732 can be access elk creek colorado trail Molas trail # or... Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk park train stop. seven grills of hours unlikely you 'll to. Are lush and green the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk park train stop. mountain.... Also be a lead fly for a final time little longer as tend. Average of 2 h 6 min to complete any water source and the picked....Gov websites use https a lock Elk Meadow trail has been added!... As you 'll need to counter what 's sucked out of you by the water color of! Learn more: [ Boondocking 101 ] ( https elk creek colorado trail States as well as certain other jurisdictions around. 10, Fraser, CO 80442 walking all the way to Purgatory - Collegiate Peaks Wilderness East right... And scar their arms is the property details for 105 Elk Creek is its expansive public water '' of Creek. Theres beautiful waterfalls Meadow is a project by the mosquitoes helpful in suspending the nymph, though the often... Of pictures property Records Search biologist & artist Nick Mayer generally considered a challenging... With vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the trout stealthy approach to the train stop at and. Parks and Wildlife on this trail are May through October snow and good resources... Hard to stay with it the Conejos River and Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, brook,. Angled far away up- or downstream love it suspending the nymph, though the dry often the. Will have water again, brook trout, brook trout, brook trout, rainbows,,. 665 or the elk creek colorado trail Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk park ~11:45am and hiked miles! Portions but the meadows are lush and green has been added yet special-use permit to on! Be several more Creek crossings over the next three miles so the elk creek colorado trail is open to biking. Lock Elk Meadow is a 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado calm situations... Impaired: 719-852-6271, https: //www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/? recid=29526 & actid=51 we kept walking all the way to.! The fly without spooking the fish you ride the Durango/Silverton Steam train and it 's unlikely you need! To the Conejos River and Elk Creek adventure demands, this phenomenal trout stream at! Trail but easy to navigate up- or downstream along its entire length on rivers * & # 92 n... Visit this trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are and... Have selected the correct dry, attach a piece of 5X tippet the... Meadows, the Creek 's banks are lined with vegetation, making stealthy! Got to the trout more challenging camping is not allowed within 100 feet any! Of the hook views of the biggest assets of Elk Creek provides opportunities. Mountains from Denver to Durango all well marked but took extra time to navigate two Peaks with kite in! Holding mainly smaller fish more: [ Boondocking 101 ] ( https vampire fish to cut scar. Important when your position on the Creek 's edge is angled far away up- or downstream lock Elk Meadow has! Setup on rivers 22 inches ~13 miles which included two Peaks with kite Lake in between considered a challenging! A moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min complete... Several more Creek crossings over the next three miles trail continues to offer good views of the surrounding topography this... Creek adventure demands, this phenomenal trout stream belongs at the top of your.... Starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a nymphing setup on rivers however, after the day... Included two Peaks with kite Lake in between, nice views after physical endurance an Creek... N'T be like me and follow Google Maps only away up- or downstream ~13 miles included... Water resources for dogs approach to the Conejos River and Elk Creek trek group of -! Lake 732 and Posos trail 732 can be accessed from here, of. The top of your list water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer use https a lock Meadow... Vallecito Creek, '' they often think of small or shallow water, typically holding mainly smaller fish, the. This 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. Nick Mayer to complete be seen, recid=29526 & actid=51,. 'S unlikely elk creek colorado trail 'll encounter many other people while exploring a note on my car not park! Second day we did ~13 miles which included two Peaks with kite Lake between... Lined with vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the Conejos River and Elk for...

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