Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. 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. On the Elk Creek Trail, which is part of the Colorado Trail stretching from Denver to Durango, four debris piles took out the path, leaving mounds of dead trees, dirt, ice and snow.. There are two ways to approach this presentation problem. United States government. trail isn't well maintained: overgrown, some sketchy reinforced passes across steep points and a fallen tree blocking the trail about half away up. Cub Creek Trail starts from Beaver Brook road in the back of Evergreen. Did not push ourselves-- Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm. 102 Elk Creek . An official website of the . Firewood is not provided. Well marked trail that loops back the way you came!! Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. Good fishing. A tributary of the Conejos River, with fishing conditions ranging from pocketwater below foaming cascades, to vast, seemingly endless meadow stretches, Elk Creek offers diverse water types in a pristine setting. Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. connected to the .gov website. 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 had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. We have had a lot of rain the last few days so the trail was a bit damp but not muddy. View . Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. The weather plays a big role in water conditions. Don't be like me and follow Google Maps only. 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. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. This was my first hike of more than five miles. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. 16.2 miles - Continue straight on "Chainsaw" single track for .7 . Lots of flowers, waterfalls, and views. Erosion taking over on a couple sketchy drops. The current listing price for this horse property is $699,900 and has been listed by RE/MAX PEAK TO PEAK. 900 Grand Ave. Completed this loop early July 2021. Spectacular views along Forest road 250 of the Conejos Canyon and River. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. However I'm looking forward to making another trip here soon. By redirecting your approach and position to a 45-degree angle below the fish, you can false cast directly upstream to determine your distance. 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. Access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: Visitors may utilize. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. Highly recommend! Next up are caddis, which flutter over the creek's surface in astonishing numbers beginning in late May through July. Elk Creek Trail is a 15 mile black diamond singletrack trail located near Pagosa Springs Colorado. There was a new amazing view after every turn. 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. At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. Write a Review. on official, secure websites. 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. By tying the connecting knot at the bend of the hook and not the hook eye, you will help prevent tangles while false casting. 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. Even crossed paths with three different types of baby snakes! Tons of butterflies, flowers, and lizards. It can be a reset button for your life. 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. If you are backpacking for the day and want a fish fry, these nonnative trout offer excellent eating. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. From the trail head to the South San Juan Wilderness boundary only. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. We turned around because of the snakes. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. Great backpacking experience!! Then, when you are ready to deliver the fly, "fire it in there" as John Barr would say, above the trout. Got there too late in afternoon to make it all the way to the end though. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. 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. Official websites use .gov A .gov 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. The very last meadow with the stream snaking through is so beautiful. 5 in Horseback. ( Durango, CO 81301 Monte Vista, CO 81144 At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. The trail was pretty empty. It is easier for the fish to detect the leader or line from above, which could spook it. Have to beat the storms up here! The more exposed areas will heat up quickly. Share sensitive information only At a higher level of commitment, the creek has enough terrain and water to support a multiday backpacking trip. 1 July. Share sensitive information only Hiking River Wildlife Description No conditions reported in the past 7 days *In the spring of 2019, four massive avalanches barreled across the Elk Creek Trail covering the trail with debris in four separates areas. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. 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 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. 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). Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 7 min to complete. The understory is grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek. Submit one here . 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. Bring an extra blood bag as you'll need to counter what's sucked out of you by the mosquitoes. beautiful views the entire way. | Plenty water sources, every day at least 2. In early summer, water levels drop gradually, and runoff subsides. Colorado Trail (CT) 487.2 mi 784.1 km 83,541' Up 25463.2 m Up 82,229' Down 25063.5 m Down. ATV Riding. My childhood hike, worth it to see meadows. The trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the creek and surrounding cliffsides. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). 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. Dogs permitted, with leash, Catch up with all things Glenwood Springs, Guts. 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. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. An official website of the 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. 15 Burnett Court Managing Menhaden: The Most Important Fish in the Sea, Temps for Trout: How to Catch Fish that Behave Hot n Cold, How to Remove Wind Knots and Snarls from Leaders and Tippet, 8 Best Fly Fishing Knots You Should Know How to Tie, Finding and Catching Trout in Mountain Lakes, Bugs, Aquatic Invertebrates, and other Forage Food of Mountain Lakes, Over the Guardrail: Sometimes a Monumental Journey Can be Close to Home, Tying Matt Winkler's Balanced Leather Leech, Angler And Artist Inspiration: Nick Mayer Art, Tying Villwock's The RoamerA Streamer for All Species, Blood Run: Fly Fishing with Amazon Warriors. On Elk Creek, be prepared to adjust to variable water conditions so you can fish effectively in either clear or turbid water. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. Gorgeous! Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. (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. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Cant wait to check it out in other seasons! Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Just about a mile in. Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. Durango, CO 81301 12.7 miles - Turn left on "Elk Creek/ FS 891.2" for 1.8 miles. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). North Elk Creek Trail . 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. 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. Molas Lake to Animas River via Molas Trail, Vestal Basin via Colorado and Elk Creek Trail, Stony Pass, ATV Trail 821, and Cinnamon Pass OHV Route. Like. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Explore this 13.4-km out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. The Forest Service will start a large-scale trail-clearing . The walk down a single lane unused road along the creek to the trail is a nice walk in itself. There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. You then pass over the continental divide twice and the train picks you back up. I highly recommend it. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. This is a huge advantage for Elk Creek fly fishers, because you know your flies will be seen more often than they might be on bigger rivers. 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. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. Want to report conditions for this trail? A lot of UP. 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. Traffic thins out toward the end. The campground is composed of three loops, including overflow camping. The drive to reach this trailhead is long and somewhat rough (moderate to rough in difficulty) requiring over 25 miles on 4x4 roads. Flat. 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