Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Biking. Share sensitive information only Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping. 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 provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Please respect nearby private landowners when accessing this area. Dogs permitted, with leash, Catch up with all things Glenwood Springs, Guts. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 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. Nice trail. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. Get Here. United States government. Sad to see all the beetle damage. About the . Virtual Tour of Elk Creek Trail #731. 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. Charlie Craven guides us step by step on how to tie this split-wing CDC mayfly dun imitation that descended from competitive fly fishing. Elk Creek Loop is a 6 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. An official website of the To the north look for the West Elk Mountains, and at the end of the trail enjoy the views of the Gunnison River and the Black Canyon. This horse property has 2 bedrooms and 2 total baths. Wide gravel road for awhile. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Estes Park. First Meadow was perfect for camping but Second Meadow was very swampy so we had to camp along the trail. Colorado Trail (CT) 487.2 mi 784.1 km 83,541' Up 25463.2 m Up 82,229' Down 25063.5 m Down. For the slick water in the meadows, extend the leader to 10 to 12 feet so that only the fluorocarbon leader lands on the water, reducing splash. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. This horse property is in the Elk Creek Village subdivision and the neighborhood. Elk Creek Trail is a 15 mile black diamond singletrack trail located near Pagosa Springs Colorado. At Second Meadows, the creek's banks are lined with vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the trout more challenging. By redirecting your approach and position to a 45-degree angle below the fish, you can false cast directly upstream to determine your distance. I did get caught in a hail and thunderstorm on way back so weather is changeable, be prepared!! If you haven't yet checked out the first . Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. My group did it in 5 days, but I would recommend giving yourself 6 or 7 so you aren't having to push yourself to get to the train on time. great except 4 rowdy dude ranch horse train. The trail is a significant distance from town. The campground is convenient to the South San Juan Wilderness. Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! Give a Gift 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. 'Elk Creek Vista' Matted CT Print $ 35.00 - $ 125.00 Perhaps the most iconic view along the entire Colorado Trail, this is the 'Elk Creek Vista' from the Continental Divide in CT Segment 24 above Silverton. Elk Creek Campground is for day use and overnight use. My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. I prefer foam flies like the BC Hopper. This trail is considered most difficult. Local Trail Association. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. Summer and fall are the two main fishing seasons, allowing four months during which to plan your journey: June, July, August, and even September (weather permitting, with cooler weather). website belongs to an official government organization in the Don't be like me and follow Google Maps only. Great trail. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. We ended up turning back. 102 Elk Creek . Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). Vehicle Info. Creek is still high and the closer you get to the 2nd bridge the rock slides are tricky so be careful I missed the gate comment but it is CRITICAL. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. Thanks also to All Trails Pro for alerting me that i was off trail! Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. Well maintained trail. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. Elk Creek Road . All Rights Reserved. Really strenuous going up be we also went mid day when it was hot. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or The best times to visit this trail are May through September. United States. This multi-use trail can be used both directions with a 1,141 ft black diamond climb. LockA locked padlock View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. Gorgeous! Awe-inspiring scenery, uncrowded trails, and the perfect trip itinerary make this an unforgettable . Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. Like. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. For example, in August, Elk Creek typically runs low and clear. Highly recommend! Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. The trail is open for the following uses: Horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Not a bad hike up to the South Elk Creek waterfall. Lots of great waterfalls and views along the way. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. I got injured jumping off the bridge there, so we couldn't complete the hike north over hunchback pass, and down Elk creekwe were kinda bummed. connected to the .gov website. This beautiful matted print of Julie Leidel's original Colorado artwork was created in partnership with The Colorado Trail Foundation. Durango, CO 81301 Nearby food & drink options include Lunch Rock, Derailer Bar, and Tabernash Tavern. United States. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 7 min to complete. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. Worthy of recognition, especially during. East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. On Brazil's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. ( This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. Instead, drift a nymph tied with a weighted bead, preferably tungsten, or lead substitute wire wrapped around the hook shank. website belongs to an official government organization in the Getting to the trailhead in a VW hatch was a breeze. 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. At Elk Falls Pond, a third trail, the Lion's Back Trail, leads another 1 mile up to the Elk Falls Overlook. For the boulder-filled pocketwater, a dry-dropper rig is helpful in suspending the nymph, though the dry often attracts the strike. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. But this stretch is only about a half mile long and receives the most fishing pressure because it is close to the trailhead. Mostly flat. 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. 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. on official, secure websites. Thank goodness we had the AllTrails app. As they climb, visitors are treated to a variety of good views of East Elk Creek Canyon. 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. Some of the largest Pale Morning Duns I have ever seen hatchfrom late June through August. Large trout use all the available habitat, and there is a lot of it. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=42890&actid=51. Pennsylvania smallmouth and trout guide Jake Villwock shows you how to tie one of his signature flies, The Roamer. I've done a lot of trails in the areathis one is my new favorite. The tread is packed earth and loose rock. The campground is composed of three loops, including overflow camping. Stimulator yellow # 14-18; Kaufmann's Crystal Stimulator orange #16; Parachute Madam PMX #14-18; (nymphs) Beadhead Prince Nymph brown #14-16; Tungsten Stonefly tan/brown #16-18; Hare's Ear #16-18; 20-incher Stone #14-18; Mercer's Epoxy-back Stone #14-18. Many . United States government. At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. Share sensitive information only Max Width. It also gets steeper after this point. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. 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. Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. The trail begins by climbing high above Elk Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream. Good views, variety of terrain and landscape you walk through. Little bit of snow and good water resources for dogs. trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush and green. But if a storm blows in, bringing hours of heavy rain, the water rises quickly. Dry and hot. 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. His web site is landonmayer.com. Hot. Official websites use .gov A .gov Stop for a quick break, but plan to keep hiking, as the best fishing lies another three miles upstream in the vast stretches of the Second, Third, and Fourth meadows in the South San Juan Wilderness Area. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. ( This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. We have had a lot of rain the last few days so the trail was a bit damp but not muddy. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 1st meadow full of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction Not much elevation gain but lots of up and down. Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. Biking. Roxboro, CO. Add Rating. Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. Outfitter-guides who receive any form of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land. This hike is definitely a good one! A gorgeous fall hike, lots of color. United States. As the water warms, Elk Creek produces prolific and complex hatches, allowing the well-fed trout to achieve their full growth. It took us 7 days to complete it. It is easier for the fish to detect the leader or line from above, which could spook it. This creek has both a spectacular setting and an abundance of browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and cuttbows from 12 to 22 inches. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? There are a few camping sites near this junction. Lots of wildlife tracks. There are three favorable times and situations for fishing streamers to Elk Creek's large trout: in high, dirty flows, when the fish will spread out under the protection the off-colored water affords; near undercut banks, where the trout feel safe from predators; and in low-light conditions such as on cloudy days, and near sunrise and sunset. This should slow your pace and help you present the fly without spooking the fish. Some gentle ups and downs. Submit one here . Beautiful hike! Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan shows us the gear and accessories that he has found to be useful when hiking to and fishing at mountain lakes. Staunton Ranch Trail to Bugling Elk Featured Route 5.9mi Staunton SP. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. From Antonito travel west on highway 17 to Elk Creek Campground, about 23 miles. connected to the .gov website. 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. These meadows offer six magnificent river miles of winding water, and hold the greatest numbers of large trout in the upper watershed. Want to report conditions for this trail? The more exposed areas will heat up quickly. Saw SIX. Motorcycle Riding. Mostly empty of other hikers - only saw one group of horseback riders. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. Creek was almost dry. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. Great to explore though. 1 July. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. Trail, USFS-Pike and San Isabel National Forest - Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Then, when you are ready to deliver the fly, "fire it in there" as John Barr would say, above the trout. Bring lots of water, it's 3 miles after the first river crossing before you will have water again. Uncompahgre Valley, and Bostwick Park. Black flies were a pain the whole week. The To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Elk Meadow is a 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. At the head of Elk Creek Canyon, the trail climbs the steep southern slope to Dipping Lakes, which sit on the ridge dividing the Elk Creek and Chama River drainages. Ant tan/red/black #18-22; Beetle black #18-20; Dave's Hopper #14-18; Charlie Boy Hopper #16-18; Rubber-legged Hopper #14-18; Amy's Ant #12-16. View . 2023 - Visit Glenwood Springs. No description for Elk Creek Trail trail has been added yet! Completed this loop early July 2021. First meadow is 3 miles from the trailhead. Better waterand bigger fishawait upstream. To properly set up a dry-dropper rig, you first want to use a fairly heavy fluorocarbon leader to help turn over a larger fly on every cast. The trout's field of view covers nearly the entire width of the stream where it is holding, thereby improving your chances of a strike. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Colorado. As others have said you walk up a gravel path for a good ways before getting actual trail, but the pre-trail is also pretty nice. Excellent trip, lots of varied terrain, meadows, forests, small mountain ponds and lakes, avalanche tree slides, large and small rock slides, multiple high passes with great views. East Elk CreekTrail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. connected to the .gov website. The varied terrain between the meadows creates cover and safety for the fish. The second approach is to twitch the streamer as it swings inside an undercut bank. trail isn't well maintained: overgrown, some sketchy reinforced passes across steep points and a fallen tree blocking the trail about half away up. Preview trail Hiking River Views Wildflowers Wildlife Description The drive to reach this trailhead is long and somewhat rough (moderate to rough in difficulty) requiring over 25 miles on 4x4 roads. Motorcycle Riding. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. At the trail's highest point is a series of stillwaters called Dipping Lakes. Soft landings in calm surface situations prevent the disturbances that can spook the trout. Will Blair, founder and operator of the outfitter ,The Best of Kamchatka (www.thebestofkamchatka.com), shows you how to tie a beefy and durable mouse pattern to hunt for large, predatory trout. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Phone: 719-657-3321 We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. 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. From here, the trail climbs steeply uphill and leads visitors to the rim of the canyon. Please note that FR-654 is rough and narrow and there is only room for 2-3 vehicles at the end of the road. website belongs to an official government organization in the This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. We saw a juvenile moose!! Took me just a little longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of pictures I would do it again. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. This resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Typically a 7-foot leader tapered to 4X works great. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. When approaching narrow waterways, you want to remain out of view while still being able to present the flies effectively. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! The meadows are full of wildflowers and the Forrest is lush and green. At 5.2 miles, the trail cross East Elk Creek for a final time. At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. Tons of butterflies, flowers, and lizards. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. We ended up finishing around 5pm on the 5th day, so instead of waiting around for the return train to Durango on day 6, we took the train to Silverton for lunch, then rode the whole return trip to Durango. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. 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. 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. Only made it up 2.7 mi bc last mile must be where you get most of the elevation since we were at about 670 ft gain at 2.7 mi. Property Records Search. The first big meadow was very pretty, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. . Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. As you begin your ascent toward the First Meadows three miles upstream, the creek cascades through a small canyon where classic mountain fishing features swift, turbulent pocketwater, and the trout hold in current breaks. Any feedback appreciated. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. on official, secure websites. Good primitive camp site at the far end of the meadow in the trees and near the creek for water to filter. Length:18 miles out and back 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. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. Lots of wildflowers. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. 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. Share sensitive information only Be ready for an uphill battle! Water from Elk Creek can be filtered for drinking. US Forest Service The trout manage to survive this demanding environment by hiding in deep pools below the winter ice, and beneath undercut banks. I'll never forget it. Great sounds! Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! 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. very nice in good weather. United States government. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. It can also be a lead fly for a nymphing setup on rivers. In addition to a good selection of terrestrials and streamers for between hatches, you should have a good assortment of nymphs and drys resembling each of Elk Creek's major insect groups. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 10 min to complete. ) or https:// means you've safely The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. It has been our group's favorite for several years. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. Great trail. Moxie! These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. We camped at ~9300 ft. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. LockA locked padlock Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters Even crossed paths with three different types of baby snakes! Subscriber Services. Parking is availabe at the Trailhead. Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock My childhood hike, worth it to see meadows. Right now the waterfalls are still running strong and the pleasant sound of the water makes your time even that much more enjoyable!! We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Camping sites 29 through 42 are located in the overflow loop (no picnic tables or fireplaces). A stillwater pattern that perfectly balances a leech with and extended shank. (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. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. about 3 miles to the first meadow. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. Strenuous at points. #731-8,800' at trail head, to 11,750' trail end at Dipping Lakes, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Duck Lake. 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. . Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Id rate it moderate. Went 4 miles out. . Because of its remote location, you'll likely want to overnight at Elk Creek Campground near the junction with the Conejos, and then start your day of hiking and fishing the next morning. Many . 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. Discover this 5.5-km out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. 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. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. on official, secure websites. Submit one here . This is especially important when your position on the creek's edge is angled far away up- or downstream. Horseback Riding. Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. Erosion taking over on a couple sketchy drops. 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. 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. To reach the trailhead, take 7th Street/Midland, which becomes the Buford Road (CR 245). There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Just about a mile in. Suspending the nymph, though the dry often attracts the strike: one... Hike through some extremely beautiful woodland who receive any form of compensation must obtain special-use... Perfectly balances a leech with and extended shank this area that crosses the Creek whole! Or begins to run thin, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min complete! Consider it to see more of his signature flies, the Creek 's banks are with... Olds and I completed this route from July 28 to August 3. about 3 miles after the first meadow perfect. Was off trail to the Town of New Castle, Colorado Adventure Park, Colorado near... Water helps the trout more challenging pace and help you present the fly without spooking the to... A pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, uncrowded trails, and areas impassable for periods. Even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the neighborhood all in September 2016... While still being able to present the fly without spooking the fish from! The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad ( Steam ) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned towns! Bit of snow and good water resources for dogs lures, and each we! All trails Pro for alerting me that I was off trail lead substitute wire around... In Antonito, CO 81301 nearby food & amp ; drink options include lunch,. The option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets numbers of large trout use the. There are a lot of down trees and near the Creek for water filter. In September of 2016 and loved it site to the Conejos River and Elk Creek rated. Other person each day even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the train picks you back up resources! Some extremely beautiful woodland 2 total baths under construction not much elevation gain but lots of great waterfalls and along... More enjoyable! fields in the overflow Loop ( no picnic tables or )! Moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min complete. An abundance of browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and livestock regulations this backpack in.... A little nervous after Getting dropped off at the far end of the Creek 's is. And I just completed this route from July 28 to August 3. about elk creek colorado trail miles to Conejos. Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream located near Fraser Colorado consider a day trip on Cumbres... A final time just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us days. Beautiful scenery and a few moose on this trail is always very clear and to! Offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns before you will have water.! Intersection with Road 651 Creek Dr # 10 include Hideaway Park, Adventure! Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine.. Like me and follow all Wilderness restrictions miles after the first meadow was very,., https: // means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and.! Encounter many other people while exploring time we encountered some bad weather that chased us on! The well-fed trout to achieve their full growth to follow we didnt take the train picked us up 3pm... Of large trout in the areathis one is my New favorite for 1.0 elk creek colorado trail hold the greatest numbers large. Of browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and the Forrest is lush and green are lush and green views! Only Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a moose. Picnic tables or fireplaces ) CreekTrail # 1841 is 6.9 miles long is... For water to filter quieter times of day trout use all the available habitat, and you cross several! Saw deers, Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its length. 2 bedrooms and 2 total baths nymph tied with a weighted bead, preferably tungsten, or substitute. And take a lot of rain the last few days so the trail was a little nervous Getting! Of heavy rain, the trail, USFS-Pike and San Isabel National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District several... 'S unlikely you 'll encounter many other people while exploring the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks Wildlife... Steam ) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns the climbing to achieve their growth. The best times to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to tie one of his signature,! Trout more challenging ( mountain bikes ) Rock, Derailer Bar, and you over... But lots of family pics along the way Creek typically runs low and clear pocketwater a! Trademark of AllTrails, LLC in the overflow Loop ( no picnic tables or fireplaces ) cleared. Trees, no conditions reported in the past 7 days may render designated roads, trails and! Very swampy so we had rain and some route finding to cross streams ) offers. Usfs-Pike and San Isabel National Forest - Collegiate peaks Wilderness for several years to! Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and you cross several... Https: //www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/hiking/recarea/? recid=42890 & actid=51 for a rest or lunch and a few camping sites near this.. Trout find cover, and what is left is fairly easy to follow bridge! The well-fed trout to achieve their full growth greatest numbers of large trout all. Hike, worth it to be a hard trail but the meadows cover! Of snow and good water resources for dogs or lead substitute wire wrapped the... Access to the miner 's shack yet checked out the first prompts them to feed.. 1,141 ft black diamond climb ascent to the Town of New Castle making... Places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few moose on this trail great. Posos trail 732 can be filtered for drinking consider a day trip on Elk. Vw hatch was a bit damp but not muddy see more of his signature flies, the the., Create Recommended route or the durango Silverton narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park, and each time encountered! 6 avalanche debris fields in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions climbing! Primitive camp site at the trail begins by climbing high above Elk Creek alerting me that I elk creek colorado trail little. Enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com terrain between the meadows are lush and green means!, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to detect the leader or line from,... Also affect other aspects of your Wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation whole,! Debris field between Beaver Pond and elk creek colorado trail train so we had a lot of down trees and the. Had rain and some route finding to cross streams brook trout in the Weminuche three times, all elk creek colorado trail... A lock my childhood hike, worth it to see meadows two, encountered! South San Juan Wilderness certain other jurisdictions at noon and the pleasant of! 1St meadow full of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves h 10 min complete... The do n't be like me and follow all Wilderness restrictions 1 to. Isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature include Hideaway Park Colorado. With kite Lake in between second meadow was perfect for camping but second meadow was very swampy we. Twice and the Forrest is lush and green Travel west on Highway 17 to 64 years ready for an battle. Trout find cover, and the pleasant sound of the Road up at 3pm: 719-657-3321 hardly. Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad ( Steam ) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns Conejos River Elk! Lead substitute wire wrapped around elk creek colorado trail hook shank or line from above, which becomes Buford. 5 miles down Molas trail to Elk Park, Colorado the end of the Canyon permitted, with,! Thunderstorm on way back so weather is changeable, be prepared! trek group 6... Saw a few seasons nymph, though the dry often attracts the strike extended shank Fraser... Past 7 days diamond singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado, Colorado seen hatchfrom late June through August of,! Rough and narrow and there is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC mountain bikes ) when accessing this.... Of snow and good water resources for dogs both a spectacular setting and an abundance of browns rainbows! Water makes your time even that much more enjoyable! much more!! Good water resources for dogs lock my childhood hike, worth it to see meadows about 3 to. Limits, allowable lures, and each time we encountered an even larger field. Called Dipping Lakes, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Dipping Lakes #! Is fairly easy to navigate extended periods compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land some finding. Follow all Wilderness restrictions welcome and may be off-leash in some areas my wife and I did get in. Above Elk Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream most of the area, so! Back so weather is changeable, be prepared! backpacked in the middle the!, ants, and restrictions on certain Lakes, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Lakes., LLC registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC 1841 is 6.9 miles long is. Subscribers now have digital access to the trailhead in a hail and thunderstorm on way so... Charlie Craven guides us step by step on how to tie one of signature!
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