elk creek colorado trail
The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. 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 Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. 900 Grand Ave. All Rights Reserved. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Map Information, White River At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). 729 to 727 is steep and challenging but nice. Gorgeous views. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. Because theres no obvious turn around point, its important for hikers to remember that they must retrace the same distance already walked, so plan accordingly. On Brazil's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms. 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). Uses: Hiking This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. (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. When you see a closed green gate on the left, you need to open the gate and go THROUGH it! *In the spring of 2019, four massive avalanches barreled across the Elk Creek Trail covering the trail with debris in four separates areas. This approach is located at 11,700ft and provides access to the Vestal Group from the east via Upper Elk Creek & Vallecito Creek. 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. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Steep cliffs of volcanic rock loom above the valley floor and are intermittently broken by side canyons. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. 5 in Trail Running. We saw a juvenile moose!! Done over 5 nights and 6 days. Awe-inspiring scenery, uncrowded trails, and the perfect trip itinerary make this an unforgettable . Expect a steep rocky climb with some opportunities to rest and hyperventilate. pushed to 2nd meadow and 1/2 mile shy we turned around due to potential rain. Great trail with beautiful views! Erosion taking over on a couple sketchy drops. Cub Creek Trail starts from Beaver Brook road in the back of Evergreen. Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. Share sensitive information only Great hike! United States. Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. Biking. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Horseback Riding. 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. Please respect nearby private landowners when accessing this area. 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. 50 inches. 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. Parking is availabe at the Trailhead. I'm fortunate enough to enjoy this trail weekly. 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. It can also be a lead fly for a nymphing setup on rivers. Like. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. Many . Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. 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! Any feedback appreciated. Theparking lot is accessible year round. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. Fly Fisherman's Feb-March 2023 issue: Available in both print and digital. East Elk Creek Trail is open to foot and horse travel. Motorcycle Riding. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. 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. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. Our total distance was about 42 miles. Author and guide Blane Chocklett discusses and demonstrates the action on his articulated Game Changer Nymphs. Highly recommend. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. 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. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. 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. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. 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. Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! ["Elk Creek Trail", "Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping"] description => ["*Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. This horse property has 2 bedrooms and 2 total baths. ( Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. 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. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. OHV Riding (>50") Nordic Skiing. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. It is lightly wooded with spruce and some ponderosa pines. Next up are caddis, which flutter over the creek's surface in astonishing numbers beginning in late May through July. Gorgeous trail! Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. 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. This approach is very long, requires a . Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. 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. A Couples Guide to Glenwood Springs. Id rate it moderate. Other trails which can be reached via the El Creek Trail are the Notch Trail #729 and the Rough Creek Trail #727. OHV Riding (>50") Nordic Skiing. 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. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Achieve this by selecting the proper length for your leader. This creek has both a spectacular setting and an abundance of browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and cuttbows from 12 to 22 inches. Local Trail Association. But this stretch is only about a half mile long and receives the most fishing pressure because it is close to the trailhead. I would do it again. Unfortunately I was out of service and had only made some vague plans to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente. Debris form 2020 avalanches on the elk park section have been cleared but theres quite a bit of fallen trees blocking the needle creek trail out of the Chicago Basin. The more exposed areas will heat up quickly. 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. the only water access we made it to was at the bridge at the beginning of the trail head though, we only made it about 2.5 miles back the trail. Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Uncompahgre Valley, and Bostwick Park. By selecting these angles from below or above your target, you can present flies more precisely while keeping the trout in view, and still remain out of sight of the fish. Horseback Riding. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. Share sensitive information only Larimer County. 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. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. Think carefully about each step before you cast. on official, secure websites. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Use long fluorocarbon leaders to help prevent the trout from detecting any unnatural objects, such as your leader and tippet, and avoid the surface disturbance from a thick fly line landing on the water. 3 days, 2 nights. It took us 7 days to complete it. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Some uneven terrain. We camped at ~9300 ft. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. The trail was pretty empty. great except 4 rowdy dude ranch horse train. If you have the physical endurance an Elk Creek adventure demands, this phenomenal trout stream belongs at the top of your list. It also gets steeper after this point. 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. This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. Great trail. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. 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. An official website of the While the take of an aggressive trout in small pocketwater will put a smile on any fly fisher's face, the rewarding mystery of Elk Creek is that its trout are both plentiful and large. Really strenuous going up be we also went mid day when it was hot. E-bikes not allowed on any non-motorized NFS trail including: North Elk Creek 764, Cub Creek 40, or Rusty Buckle 769. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. Completed this loop early July 2021. Great area, went a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20. 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. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. As the water warms, Elk Creek produces prolific and complex hatches, allowing the well-fed trout to achieve their full growth. After at least an hour of hiking, you'll reach First Meadows. Snowshoeing. Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. Beautiful other than that. Continuing on the loop got snowy for us (may 7) right above rough creek where the trail goes across the bowl was too snowy. On average it takes 1 hour4 minutes to complete this trail. LockA locked padlock Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. 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. At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. 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. The trail is a significant distance from town. At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. No obstacles. From the trail head to the South San Juan Wilderness boundary only. This is a great area for leaf viewing during the fall. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Absolutely beautiful and I want to go back sometime. The varied terrain between the meadows creates cover and safety for the fish. Elk Creek Road . Colors changing . It has been our group's favorite for several years. This is the ultimate wilderness trekking trip in Colorado's largest and most remote wilderness area. Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. The Elk Creek trail is 15.0 miles long. Trail, USFS-Pike and San Isabel National Forest - Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. These and others within the wilderness area are fed by runoff from the high peaks, and provide great fishing for brook trout in clear, icy water. Official websites use .gov A .gov 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). Colorado Mountain . Roxboro, CO. Add Rating. Official websites use .gov A .gov Landon Mayer is a Colorado fly-fishing guide, and author of Sight Fishing for Trout (Stackpole Books, 2010). The creek's placid, fertile water here holds larger trout than the canyon, and the fishing is good. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. Great trail up hill all the way, we back packed in to 1st meadow and day hiked around to the second meadow and the waterfall. Get Here. '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. Firewood is not provided. Id say its a moderately difficult hike some uphill but not too difficult. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. Nice but thanks for the earlier tip that right about .7 mi you go to the left to go through the green gate. 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. Hot. website belongs to an official government organization in the On a small stream, twitching the fly to supply movement, while keeping the fly in the water longer, can be key to success. Great trail. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. The main parking area has room for about10 passenger vehicles, with ample room for horse trailer parking and turnaround. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. Explore this 13.4-km out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. There's nothing like reflecting on the day's adventures by firelight and wondering what water or trout lie ahead. on official, secure websites. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Virtual Tour of Elk Creek Trail #731. LockA locked padlock 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. 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. When selecting flies for Elk Creek, choose the patterns that most effectively imitate the life cycles of the foods the fish key on. Great to explore though. 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Few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente it was hot great opportunities to rest and hyperventilate foot... Rusty Buckle 769 from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms trees were elk creek colorado trail that we to! Fields in the back of Evergreen 35 min to complete this Trail are May through July selecting the length! And 2 total baths prolific and complex hatches, allowing the well-fed to!