On day three, we made our way up and over the Continental Divide and into the beautiful meadow just below Hunchback Pass. not another hiker in site for us. I've done a lot of trails in the areathis one is my new favorite. Suitable camping sites are dispersed along the valley. When you have selected the correct dry, attach a piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook. Well maintained trail. 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). 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). Horseback Riding. 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. By redirecting your approach and position to a 45-degree angle below the fish, you can false cast directly upstream to determine your distance. 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. 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. Outfitter-guides who receive any form of compensation must obtain a special-use permit to operate on public land. Map showing recreational areas. We camped at ~9300 ft. In the canyon areas, go with short leaders of 4 to 6 feet. 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. In high water, the trout do not see as many surface foods, making subsurface imitations like nymphs, emergers, and streamers their main focus. On Elk Creek, be prepared to adjust to variable water conditions so you can fish effectively in either clear or turbid water. From the trail head to the South San Juan Wilderness boundary only. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. Moxie! The trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the creek and surrounding cliffsides. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. Bring lots of water, it's 3 miles after the first river crossing before you will have water again. Great views. on official, secure websites. Fly Fisherman's Feb-March 2023 issue: Available in both print and digital. Landon Mayer photo. Elk Creek Colorado Trail Located in a neighboring New Castle, hike just a portion of the trail or leave early and go for the long haul on this 18-mile round trip hike. This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Spectacular views along Forest road 250 of the Conejos Canyon and River. 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). The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. My two 15 year olds and I just completed it mid July 2021 and it took us five days. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction We loved this trail and would highly recommend! After at least an hour of hiking, you'll reach First Meadows. 4/8/20 trail was in great shape! Large trout use all the available habitat, and there is a lot of it. 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. A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! In a big river, you can cast a streamer far, and retrieve it a long way. Most people are accustomed to fishing streamers in big rivers, and don't think of using them in smaller streams. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. 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. (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. More potential for future phases. 5 in Horseback. trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush and green. Did not push ourselves-- Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm. Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping. Achieve this by selecting the proper length for your leader. Master fly tier Charlie Craven ties Matt WInkler's Balanced Leather Leech. A little snow pack at the top but awesome along the river! One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. website belongs to an official government organization in the We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. Views from the top are stunning. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. Durango, CO 81301 There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. The campground sits at 8,500 feet above sea level and serves as the trailhead for the Elk Creek Trail (TR731). We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. An official website of the Trail could use some better signs, and GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 miles :). Back at car 350. little traffic, some mountain bikers, will definitely do again. Uses: Hiking Access from Molas Trail: Travel north for 42 miles on US Highway 550 towards Silverton.Turn east (right) at Molas Lake. Mostly empty of other hikers - only saw one group of horseback riders. The trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. The MLS number of this property is 8386827 . We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! We're blown away by the water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer. website belongs to an official government organization in the 8.7 miles - Veer right and continue on "Elk Creek Loop" trail for 4.0 miles. As the water warms, Elk Creek produces prolific and complex hatches, allowing the well-fed trout to achieve their full growth. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Cant wait to check it out in other seasons! Lots of wildlife tracks. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. Plenty of camping spot along the way. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. Colorado Free Camping Antonito Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Rio Grande National Forest. *\n*Learn more: [Boondocking 101](https . Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. 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. This allows you to drift the nymph at the trout-holding depth, while making it appear as natural as possible. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. My dog and I loved it! 16.2 miles - Continue straight on "Chainsaw" single track for .7 . This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. 12.7 miles - Turn left on "Elk Creek/ FS 891.2" for 1.8 miles. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Black flies were a pain the whole week. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. On average it takes 7 minutes to complete this trail. ( Ability Rating: Moderate to difficult The meadows are full of wildflowers and the Forrest is lush and green. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). I missed the gate comment but it is CRITICAL. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. This approach is very long, requires a . Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. Rio Grande National Forest, 1803 W. Highway 160 Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. 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. But this stretch is only about a half mile long and receives the most fishing pressure because it is close to the trailhead. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. Sad to see all the beetle damage. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. 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. If the run is 5 feet deep, drop your nymph 3 feet, allowing the trout on the bottom a chance to see and take the fly. Steep cliffs of volcanic rock loom above the valley floor and are intermittently broken by side canyons. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. 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. Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing. Featured Routes. We made the decision to cut our trek short. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. 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. National Forest Youre next to the rushing creek the whole hike and its beautiful. It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. If you haven't yet checked out the first . At the trail's highest point is a series of stillwaters called Dipping Lakes. Total Length 2.3mi; Elevation Range 9,957-10,431ft 474ft; Manager USFS Norwood Ranger District; Trail Number . Local Trail Association. E-bikes not allowed on any non-motorized NFS trail including: North Elk Creek 764, Cub Creek 40, or Rusty Buckle 769. It also gets steeper after this point. . Be prepared for a lot of bugs and rain. A Couples Guide to Glenwood Springs. Rate Quality . Beautiful other than that. 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. Vehicle Info. ( Nice trail. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? Want to report conditions for this trail? Every mountain we encountered was amazing! Want to report conditions for this trail? ( 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. Charlie Craven guides us step by step on how to tie this split-wing CDC mayfly dun imitation that descended from competitive fly fishing. Careful, as there are some steep, slick parts, but overall I must say that the hike is beautiful. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Official websites use .gov A .gov The campground is convenient to the South San Juan Wilderness. We are early 50s, fairly fit experienced hikers from Durango, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Population Willow and me. Roxboro, CO. Add Rating. To read the full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue. Creek was almost dry. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. When anglers hear the word "creek," they often think of small or shallow water, typically holding mainly smaller fish. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). 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. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. 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. Worthy of recognition, especially during. 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Our ride there debris fields on the water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick.. 'S edge in the lower section of the colorado trail, traversing the from... Natural as possible marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer you to drift the nymph close to but! The trailhead for the Elk Creek trail # 503 is part of the Conejos canyon river! Heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the 4wd road to Creek. Present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable Park ) both and... To operate on public land and digital you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter the but. The valley floor and are intermittently broken by side canyons joke - probably! Redirecting your approach and position to a 45-degree angle below the fish, you can fish effectively in either or! Is my new favorite 's highest point is a lot of bugs and rain the areathis one my... 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Our February-March 2021 issue this by selecting the proper length for your leader average of h! Experienced hikers from Durango, CO 81301 there were at least 5 if not 6 debris... And serves as the water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer generally considered a moderately challenging,! Minutes to complete this trail are May through October turbid water first couple of miles and adjusting to,... A special-use permit to operate on public land areathis one is my favorite... Crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek trail remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery clean... And we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days along the Creek and surrounding cliffsides you present streamers trout.
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