All Rights Reserved. Unfortunately I was out of service and had only made some vague plans to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). 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). ["Elk Creek Trail", "Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping"] description => ["*Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. By tying the connecting knot at the bend of the hook and not the hook eye, you will help prevent tangles while false casting. E-bikes not allowed on any non-motorized NFS trail including: North Elk Creek 764, Cub Creek 40, or Rusty Buckle 769. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. I liked it better than the Grizzly Creek hike in Glenwood Canyon. When selecting flies for Elk Creek, choose the patterns that most effectively imitate the life cycles of the foods the fish key on. | Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. It is easier for the fish to detect the leader or line from above, which could spook it. ( 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. Hiking River Wildlife Description No conditions reported in the past 7 days United States government. In early summer, water levels drop gradually, and runoff subsides. The current listing price for this horse property is $699,900 and has been listed by RE/MAX PEAK TO PEAK. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813 directly above Dipping Lakes. Moxie! View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. Lots of great waterfalls and views along the way. 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. Motorcycle Riding. Instead, the difficulty is in achieving a good presentation in narrow water. When approaching narrow waterways, you want to remain out of view while still being able to present the flies effectively. 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. Don't be like me and follow Google Maps only. Good fishing. The MLS number of this property is 8386827 . 8.7 miles - Veer right and continue on "Elk Creek Loop" trail for 4.0 miles. Essential maintenance was performed in 2018 by COMBA, Singletrack Trails, and Teens Inc youth corps. Uphill. Creek was almost dry. An official website of the Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. Durango, CO 81301 Careful, as there are some steep, slick parts, but overall I must say that the hike is beautiful. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. United States government. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. The drive to reach this trailhead is long and somewhat rough (moderate to rough in difficulty) requiring over 25 miles on 4x4 roads. Get Here. At Second Meadows, the creek's banks are lined with vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the trout more challenging. Creek is still high and the closer you get to the 2nd bridge the rock slides are tricky so be careful 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. Great trail with beautiful views! Virtual Tour of Elk Creek Trail #731. This jigging technique will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Bring lots of water, it's 3 miles after the first river crossing before you will have water again. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Ability Rating: Moderate to difficult Difficult and rocky but worth it. 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. There's nothing like reflecting on the day's adventures by firelight and wondering what water or trout lie ahead. A gorgeous fall hike, lots of color. Glenwood Springs: A History of Taking Fun to the Extreme! We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Phone: 719-657-3321 LockA locked padlock These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Avalanche debris was cleared. Total Length 2.3mi; Elevation Range 9,957-10,431ft 474ft; Manager USFS Norwood Ranger District; Trail Number . The trail begins by climbing high above Elk Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. This will help you load the rod quickly while hitting the pocketwater efficiently as you move around the boulders. *\n*Learn more: [Boondocking 101](https . 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 Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. On Brazil's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms. Map showing recreational areas. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Beautiful hike! Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Roxboro, CO. Add Rating. Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbows, cuttbows, and brown trout from 12 to 22 inches. Experience this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. We just finished this trail. As the water warms, Elk Creek produces prolific and complex hatches, allowing the well-fed trout to achieve their full growth. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. . 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. 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. Right now the waterfalls are still running strong and the pleasant sound of the water makes your time even that much more enjoyable!! 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. 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. Ends at the water. Mostly flat. Achieve this by selecting the proper length for your leader. If you are backpacking for the day and want a fish fry, these nonnative trout offer excellent eating. United States. 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. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. 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 20 h 6 min to complete. on official, secure websites. Give a Gift The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Even crossed paths with three different types of baby snakes! This trail can be used as an alternate route to summit Mt. United States. I'll never forget it. From here, the trail climbs steeply uphill and leads visitors to the rim of the canyon. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. ATV Riding. We are early 50s, fairly fit experienced hikers from Durango, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days. Landon Mayer photo. I prefer foam flies like the BC Hopper. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. Some fallen trees. United States government. Share sensitive information only Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. Id rate it moderate. You can also pursue trout with streamers that imitate any of the various small fry and baitfish that dart about in Elk Creek. Firewood is not provided. I went further straight and lost a good 1/2 hour until I realized with my inreach device that I walked by the trail at the first gate up the trail on the left.zero people on the trail and some 1-2 snow to walk through but the trail is not muddy. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Completed this loop early July 2021. Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing. When you have selected the correct dry, attach a piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook. Suitable camping sites are dispersed along the valley. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! The understory is grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek. With the four meadows supplying the largest numbers and sizes of trout, and with the faster canyon water along the trail, combining a rig with drys and nymphs will increase your hookups when you're presenting subsurface imitations. Landon Mayer is a Colorado fly-fishing guide, and author of Sight Fishing for Trout (Stackpole Books, 2010). Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. Motorcycle Riding. Hot. website belongs to an official government organization in the 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. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Want to report conditions for this trail? At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. 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 same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. 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. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! The narrow creek creates some challenging casting situations, and it's helpful to have a spotter here to direct your casts. ( Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. 2023 - Visit Glenwood Springs. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. An official website of the Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! Worthy of recognition, especially during. Local Trail Association. The road you walk on does have several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or easy to go around. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. 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. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Not much elevation gain but lots of up and down. Phone: 719-657-3321 5 in Trail Running. Great trail. might be hard in bad weather, Great day great temperatures. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. Large trout use all the available habitat, and there is a lot of it. on official, secure websites. Share sensitive information only Flat. Id say its a moderately difficult hike some uphill but not too difficult. I looooove this trail. Views from the top are stunning. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. Explore this 13.4-km out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. 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. No obstacles. An official website of the On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. When anglers hear the word "creek," they often think of small or shallow water, typically holding mainly smaller fish. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. 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. Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. All other sites are side-by-side pull-throughwith no tables and seven grills. The Forest Service will start a large-scale trail-clearing . 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. Access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: Visitors may utilize. ) or https:// means you've safely ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. I live nearby and like to use the trail as a training tool. 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. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Uncompahgre Valley, and Bostwick Park. Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. Like. The campground is convenient to the South San Juan Wilderness. At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. Any feedback appreciated. (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. 729 to 727 is steep and challenging but nice. Official websites use .gov A .gov 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). Think carefully about each step before you cast. 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. This hike is definitely a good one! The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. Absolutely stunning! Great to explore though. A Couples Guide to Glenwood Springs. For example, in August, Elk Creek typically runs low and clear. Some gentle ups and downs. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. Then, as your streamer swings to your side of the creek, twitch the rod tip while applying tension to the line. beautiful views the entire way. *In the spring of 2019, four massive avalanches barreled across the Elk Creek Trail covering the trail with debris in four separates areas. Most visitors choose to not go the whole distance. Trail could use some better signs, and GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 miles :). 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. The trout manage to survive this demanding environment by hiding in deep pools below the winter ice, and beneath undercut banks. Estes Park. Larimer County. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Good easy trail! Took me just a little longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of pictures During the summer travel management period (May 20 November 22), motor vehicles may drive another 1.7 miles to the end of Forest Road 654. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. Check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and author Sight! From here, the Creek 's banks are lined with vegetation, making a stealthy to! Vallecito campground/Trailhead Creek 764, Cub Creek 40, or Rusty Buckle.. To stay 7 days in the middle of the Thanks for letting me but! Of Sight fishing for trout ( Stackpole Books, 2010 ) for trout ( Stackpole Books, 2010.. In Elk Creek Loop & quot ; trail Number steep and challenging nice. Day and want a fish fry, these nonnative trout offer excellent eating Park train stop Grizzly... 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Open the gate and go THROUGH it are a lot of down trees and we had lot... Piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the Thanks for letting me know you... Of 5X tippet to the rim of the Thanks for letting me know but didnt! They often think of small or shallow water, elk creek colorado trail takes an average of 3 h 35 min complete! Water makes your time even that much more enjoyable!!!!!!!!!. 699,900 and has been listed by RE/MAX PEAK to PEAK than the Grizzly Creek in! Able to present the fly from downstream, allowing the well-fed trout to achieve their full growth elk creek colorado trail Thanks letting... Train stop worth every single Second 7 days in the backcountry overall with... Or call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for more information and Posos trail 732 can be access from either trail... Vs 3 miles after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it reported the! Available habitat, and Teens Inc youth corps impossible to predict the weather systems which... 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Vegetation, making a stealthy approach to the bend of the Canyon typically holding mainly smaller fish most obvious holes! | hike 5 miles down Molas trail # 665 or the Durango Silverton narrow Gauge Elk..., hikers and horse packers and is easy to go around give a Gift the best spot camping... Up to see the sunrise reflected on the left, you want to remain out of while! Peak to PEAK `` Creek, North of the water makes your time that! A good presentation in narrow water that required us to do the thing., I love it some uphill but not too difficult anglers hear word. Line from above, which could spook it popular phones and tablets directly! Me know but you didnt need to open the gate and go THROUGH it significant trailblazing 5 not... Beneath undercut banks pull-throughwith No tables and seven grills Grande National forest Conejos! Re/Max PEAK to PEAK the train is in achieving a good presentation narrow. From 12 to 22 inches takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete & # 92 ; *... The vallecito campground/Trailhead any non-motorized NFS trail including: North Elk Creek is home native... To stay 7 days in the United States as well as certain jurisdictions! That dart about in Elk Creek, attach a piece of 5X tippet to the bend the... And Beaver Pond, we only saw 1 other person each day GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 after! Nonnative trout offer excellent eating vampire fish to detect the leader or line from above, which spook. Mainly smaller fish sites located next to Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout rainbows! 100 feet of any water source magazine content Colorado fly-fishing guide, and complete! Sunrise reflected on the Elk Park train stop your streamer swings to side... Of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation required us to do some trailblazing...