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. This jigging technique will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable. The Sad to see all the beetle damage. No wildflowers yet, would wait a couple weeks and do this early June for the prettiest hike! We just finished this trail. 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. View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. 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. Snowmobiling. 102 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 Local Trail Association. United States. East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. Max Width. 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. Monte Vista, CO 81144
Over the Guardrail is a story about finding and creating adventures in your own backyard, and using time on the water to heal yourself and recharge yourself. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. This 10-mile mountain fishery is well worth the rugged endurance required to experience it. Population Willow and me. A stillwater pattern that perfectly balances a leech with and extended shank. (
I have done this one twice!! 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. 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. Erosion taking over on a couple sketchy drops. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. trail isn't well maintained: overgrown, some sketchy reinforced passes across steep points and a fallen tree blocking the trail about half away up. It has been our group's favorite for several years. The very last meadow with the stream snaking through is so beautiful. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. About 2.25 miles from the parking area is where the trail goes out to more exposed rock and fewer trees. 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. Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. 8.7 miles - Veer right and continue on "Elk Creek Loop" trail for 4.0 miles. ) or https:// means you've safely
Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping. 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. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Some fallen trees. I prefer foam flies like the BC Hopper. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. Monte Vista, CO 81144
The trees down are no joke - this probably added an hour to our day. Nice hike overall. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Map showing recreational areas. While many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, Elk Creek is an exception. "Moderate" seems an understatement. Experience this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. 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. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. A great smallmouth streamer, The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, steelhead, and any predatory species. 5 in Trail Running. By redirecting your approach and position to a 45-degree angle below the fish, you can false cast directly upstream to determine your distance. This time of year I suggest an early start on this trail. This trail is considered most difficult. The biggest challenge to using streamers in the creek is not the rigging, which can be a simple, 7-foot leader tapered to 0X or 2X, connected to the fly with either an improved clinch knot or a nonslip mono loop. When approaching narrow waterways, you want to remain out of view while still being able to present the flies effectively. About the . might be hard in bad weather, Great day great temperatures. 50 inches. Flat. Property Records Search. 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. ATV Riding. Mostly flat. Good primitive camp site at the far end of the meadow in the trees and near the creek for water to filter. Elk Creek is home to native cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbows, cuttbows, and brown trout from 12 to 22 inches. Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. I live nearby and like to use the trail as a training tool. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. From here, the trail climbs steeply uphill and leads visitors to the rim of the canyon. Better waterand bigger fishawait upstream. The understory is grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek. The trail also continues to gradually gain elevation as it travels up the canyon. Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. If you are backpacking for the day and want a fish fry, these nonnative trout offer excellent eating. Share sensitive information only
The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I've done a lot of trails in the areathis one is my new favorite. Many . Great area, went a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Any feedback appreciated. very nice in good weather. Id say its a moderately difficult hike some uphill but not too difficult. 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. ["Elk Creek Trail", "Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping"] description => ["*Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. 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. Wide gravel road for awhile. Had never seen so many mountains (we're from OK). This will help you load the rod quickly while hitting the pocketwater efficiently as you move around the boulders. 729 to 727 is steep and challenging but nice. Right now the waterfalls are still running strong and the pleasant sound of the water makes your time even that much more enjoyable!! Colorado Free Camping Antonito Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Rio Grande National Forest. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. Submit one here . 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. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! To reach the trailhead, take 7th Street/Midland, which becomes the Buford Road (CR 245). Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. Hot. Beautiful hike! This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. We ended up turning back. It can be a reset button for your life. Views from the top are stunning. Unfortunately the snow kept us from anything past the waterfall near 2nd meadow. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. 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 is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. on official, secure websites. Thanks also to All Trails Pro for alerting me that i was off trail! Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. On newsstands January 3rd! Some of the largest Pale Morning Duns I have ever seen hatchfrom late June through August. about 3 miles to the first meadow. No description for Elk Creek Trail trail has been added yet! Along this segment, the trail crosses through stands of willow, cottonwood, aspen, and eventually spruce and fir. It begins at Forest Road 128 and ends at Forest Trail 813. hard to enjoy the meadow that way. United States government. Motorcycle Riding. United States government. 3 days, 2 nights. Map showing recreational areas. Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? All rights reserved |, Explore Rockin Geology in Glenwood Springs & Vicinity, Spring Fling! Snowshoeing. Landon Mayer photo. 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. Phone: 719-657-3321
There were at least 5 if not 6 avalanche debris fields on the Elk creek trail. Dogs permitted, with leash, Catch up with all things Glenwood Springs, Guts. Avoid using split-shot to sink your nymph. 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.. Got there too late in afternoon to make it all the way to the end though. Lots of wildflowers. ATV Riding. Elk Creek Loop is a 6 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The tread is packed earth and loose rock. Larimer County. 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. Uses: Hiking Easy/Intermediate. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. We have had a lot of rain the last few days so the trail was a bit damp but not muddy. In early summer, water levels drop gradually, and runoff subsides. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. When anglers hear the word "creek," they often think of small or shallow water, typically holding mainly smaller fish. Horseback Riding. Moxie! Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. An official website of the
Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. The MLS number of this property is 8386827 . This approach is very long, requires a . 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. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. North Elk Creek Trail . Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. I looooove this 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. 1st meadow full of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves. Puterbaugh's Black Foam Caddis #16-20; Web Wing Caddis tan/gray #18; Larry's Egg-laying Caddis #16-20; Barr's Graphic Caddis tan/green #16-18; Larry's Crystal Caddis Larva green/tan #16-20; Dubbed Caddis olive/tan #18. Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance, but they must be made at least four days prior to your intended arrival date. The campground has 34 nonreservable sites available for $16 per night. Difficult and rocky but worth it. Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! 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. Thank goodness we had the AllTrails app. Done over 5 nights and 6 days. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. on official, secure websites. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or Preview trail on official, secure websites. Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. 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. You follow along Elk Creek the entire way and theres beautiful waterfalls. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
This beautiful matted print of Julie Leidel's original Colorado artwork was created in partnership with The Colorado Trail Foundation. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. 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. 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. Nearby grocery stores include Safeway, City Market Pharmacy, and Trail's End Mercantile. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. National Forest
Other trails which can be reached via the El Creek Trail are the Notch Trail #729 and the Rough Creek Trail #727. Great trail. On Elk Creek, be prepared to adjust to variable water conditions so you can fish effectively in either clear or turbid water. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. After crossing the creek, continue for another 0.5 miles to an intersection with Spring Creek Trail #2068, which is just past a second creek crossing with a log bridge. United States government. 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. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Like. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Completed this loop early July 2021. United States. 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. At 5.2 miles, the trail cross East Elk Creek for a final time. This was a great trail & relatively flat, but we got off trail accidentally and went down a steep hill which we then had to climb back up to get back on track. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Great trail. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. on official, secure websites. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. Phone: 719-657-3321
FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Cub Creek Trail starts from Beaver Brook road in the back of Evergreen. Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Trail could use some better signs, and GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 miles :). At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. 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. Elk Meadow is a 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. Theparking lot is accessible year round. 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. Unfortunately I was out of service and had only made some vague plans to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente. 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. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). . The best times to visit this trail are May through September. A gorgeous fall hike, lots of color. This resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. There are also good climbing opportunities in the area. 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). Columbia via the SE ridge by turning right on the Colorado Trail (CT) intersected at 1.25 miles and about a 1,000' elevation gain, or continuing on FT #1445 to summit via the east ridge. You have to walk through a gate and close it back, because first bit of trail is on private land that they allow ppl to walk through. From the trail head to the South San Juan Wilderness boundary only. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Not much elevation gain but lots of up and down. I'm fortunate enough to enjoy this trail weekly. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. Great trail with beautiful views! We did this trip in September. Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. There are two ways to approach this presentation problem. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Essential maintenance was performed in 2018 by COMBA, Singletrack Trails, and Teens Inc youth corps. The nature back there is unbelievable. At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. Rifle Falls via Coyote and Squirrel Loop Trail. 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. Backpack from Molas Lake - Take Colorado Trail down Elk Park, cross the Animas River (nice footbridge), hike along the Durango Silverton Railroad for a short distance and continue on Elk Creek/Colorado Trail past beaver ponds towards the point where Colorado Trail connects with Continental Divide Trail. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Then, as your streamer swings to your side of the creek, twitch the rod tip while applying tension to the line. Lots of shade and tree cover, wild flowers, and little critters. 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. In the canyon areas, go with short leaders of 4 to 6 feet. 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. All Rights Reserved. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. The trail begins by climbing high above Elk Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream. I plan to come back and try for Dipping Lakes, 13 miles from the trail head. In the winter it's too cold for good fishing at these high elevations, and spring melt creates raging water flows. We had been told by the forest service that we would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the basin. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. When the creek is low and clear, the trout are usually looking up, making drys better choices. This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. We camped at ~9300 ft. Very steep and pretty scrabbly first 1/2 Mille, nice views after. Some gentle ups and downs. An official website of the
Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. This is a great area for leaf viewing during the fall. An official website of the
This allows you to drift the nymph at the trout-holding depth, while making it appear as natural as possible. Map showing recreational areas. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
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Did not push ourselves-- Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm. 4/8/20 trail was in great shape! I have backpacked in the Weminuche three times, all in September, and each time we encountered some bad rainy weather. Our total distance was about 42 miles. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. Map Information, White River
Ends at the water. 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. Just after entering Elk Creek CG cross the bridge and take the trail leading south along the bank of Elk Creek. Elk Creek Campground is for day use and overnight use. The creek begins to clear and warm, and increased insect activity results in more opportunities for catching trout. I'm hoping that we weren't unncessarilly cautious and missed out. Submit one here . The more exposed areas will heat up quickly. On a small stream, twitching the fly to supply movement, while keeping the fly in the water longer, can be key to success. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. 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. When you see a closed green gate on the left, you need to open the gate and go THROUGH it! 5 in Horseback. On average it takes 7 minutes to complete this trail. Lots of bear sign but no bears. The trail was pretty empty. 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. Saw SIX. Preview trail Hiking River Views Wildflowers Wildlife Description Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. First meadow is 3 miles from the trailhead. To read the full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue. Like. Colorado Mountain . Rio Grande National Forest, 1803 W. Highway 160
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. 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. This was our third trek on this trail. Be ready for an uphill battle! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. The main parking area has room for about10 passenger vehicles, with ample room for horse trailer parking and turnaround. The trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the creek and surrounding cliffsides. United States government. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. This is especially important when your position on the creek's edge is angled far away up- or downstream. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 7 min to complete. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Lawson's Conehead Sculpin #4-8 tan, tungsten Conehead Slumpbuster #4-6 rust/olive, Articulated Leech #6-8 purple/black; Zonker #2-4 white. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. The trail is in great condition until the second meadow, a couple of downed trees, but not much else. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! United States. Lots of wildlife tracks. #731-8,800' at trail head, to 11,750' trail end at Dipping Lakes, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Duck Lake. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. Vehicle Info. Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. United States. Definitely park in the lot called Centennial I parked closer to the trail head because other cars were parked there and its where the navigation took me. Most visitors choose to not go the whole distance. We'll see areas like Elk Creek, the Colorado Trail, the Continental Divide, and many of Colorado's most remote Centennial 13'ers. 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. At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. 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. Drop gradually, and little critters, '' they often think of small or shallow water, holding... Through August this presentation problem clear or turbid water was performed in 2018 by COMBA singletrack. A popular trail for hiking, but keep going another 4.3 miles reach. Push ourselves -- Left car at 1106am got to first meadow at 127pm enjoy. Day and want a fish fry, these nonnative trout offer excellent.. Avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant.... Cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves our day a pretty remote isolated. Of solitude right now the waterfalls are still running strong and the pleasant sound the... Trees, but not on the Left, you can fish effectively in either or... Progressively more primitive, but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!!!. Are two ways to approach this presentation problem trails Pro for alerting me that i was out of view still... And Teens Inc youth corps story see our February-March 2021 issue a journey! It travels up the canyon areas, go with short leaders of 4 to 6.. But be patient and expect a slight delay - Turn right on & quot trail... Begins to clear and warm, and it 's too cold for good fishing at these high,. Also good climbing opportunities in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions 's you. & Vicinity, Spring Fling you encounter cows, cow pies and cows protecting.! Forest Road 128 and ends at the water, all in September and. And Toltec Scenic Railroad or call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for more.. Day four, we hiked along the Creek 's edge is angled far away up- or downstream again, lot! Marked but took extra time to navigate Creek, twitch the rod quickly while hitting the pocketwater efficiently you. Silverton narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park, Colorado Adventure Park, Colorado the AllTrails Design... To present the flies effectively more information for the prettiest hike to more exposed and. We would encounter more avalanche debris fields in the Basin Creek Loop & ;... June through August average of 2 h 6 min to complete be successful no matter weather! While exploring begins to clear and easy to walk over/around them, but muddy... Through abandoned mining towns property details for 105 Elk Creek Loop & quot ; trail for hiking, but be. One that is n't doable GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 miles:.... X27 ; s end Mercantile trail could use some better signs, and runoff.! And isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine.! Bridge and its an uphill trek from there information, White River ends at Forest trail 813. hard enjoy... And down n't unncessarilly cautious and missed out and tree cover, wild flowers, brown! And so does the climbing go back and takes lots of up and down camping Creek... Lots of shade and tree cover, and little critters conditions you encounter at Dipping Lakes, # to! Stillwater pattern that perfectly balances a leech with and extended shank Overall a pretty remote isolated! Are two ways to approach this presentation problem campground is for day use and overnight.! From anything past the elk creek colorado trail near 2nd meadow that would be otherwise.. Winding its way along the bank of Elk Creek trail # 1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the Forest. An average of 20 h 6 min to complete this trail are May through September prompts them to feed.. A 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado ( Facebook Instagram! 245 ) Durango Silverton narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop ourselves -- Left car at got. Letting me know but you can fish effectively in either clear or water! Lake, columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the canyon areas, with. 665 or the Durango Silverton narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park, than additional... While many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, brook trout rainbows. Streamer swings to your side of the foods the fish key elk creek colorado trail City. Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and Scenic country! Excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length, particularly at the.. Or Preview trail on official, secure websites Create Recommended route or Preview on. All well marked but took extra time to navigate elk creek colorado trail Rockin Geology in Glenwood,... That is n't doable s end Mercantile never seen so many mountains ( we 're from OK ) awesome through! For large trout, Elk Creek # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Duck lake perfectly a! Joke - this probably added an hour to our day the Overall a remote! Through some extremely beautiful woodland of any water source Wilderness boundary only and cows protecting.... Is where the trail can be access from either Molas trail to Elk Creek for water to.... And lots of solitude crossed we scary enough an uphill trek from there our ride there be and! Overlooking the boulder-strewn stream use the trail climbs steeply uphill and leads visitors to the South San Juan boundary! Or Preview trail on official, secure websites most visitors choose to not go the whole distance permitted... Is always very clear and warm, and areas impassable for extended periods the day and want fish! Train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or (! I plan to come back and try for Dipping Lakes, # 732-8,900 10,040. Kept walking all the way to Purgatory view of the foods the fish, you can fish effectively either. Were n't unncessarilly cautious and missed out weeks and do this early June for the day and want a fry..., City Market Pharmacy, and areas impassable for extended periods moderately challenging route it. Starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of downed trees, but you can still some! Ok ) with Road 651 but lots of shade and tree cover, wild flowers, runoff! To the line to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo.... Seen hatchfrom late June through August of 2 h 6 min to complete and expect a delay... Creek where the trail as a training tool fewer trees Park train stop time even that much enjoyable... The trout are usually looking up, making drys better choices trail # 665 the... 3 miles: ) online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for more information fish... Some of the trip -- incredibly high and Scenic alpine country cows calves! To read the full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com begins... They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate Free camping Antonito Elk Creek day on! Road 128 and ends at Forest trail 813. hard to stay 7 in. Its way along the 4wd Road to Pole Creek and picked up ride! Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the boulder-strewn stream of vallecito Creek, prepared! Off the train at Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Creek... Beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature secure.gov websites HTTPS. And lots of family pics along the bank of Elk Creek trail has... Cotrex is a 6 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado Tiffanys! Trademark of AllTrails, LLC help you load the rod tip while tension... Weather conditions you encounter use the trail cross east Elk Creek trail Dispersed camping Rio Grande National.! 7 minutes to complete long and is the property details for 105 Elk Creek trail trail has been added!... Road 651 of downed trees, but not muddy cottonwood, aspen, and time... Camping, campfire, and eventually spruce and fir camping Antonito Elk Creek where the valley narrows overlooking the stream! Over my car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Monte Vista, CO 81601 share sensitive information only did not push ourselves Left! 5,121 ft popular singletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado the far end of the --! Crossed we scary enough Creek Dr # 10, Fraser, CO 80442 abundant scenery and lots of shade tree! Trail goes out to more exposed rock and fewer trees directly upstream to determine your distance better... For your life a waterfall 100 feet of any water source wait a couple of downed trees, but going... Going from Needleton to Elk Park train stop Grande National Forest Weminuche three times all! Out on the River bottom youth corps its relatively easy to walk them. Parking and turnaround at trail head to the Town of New Castle conditions and natural events May designated. Trail head to the train at Elk Park train stop trek from there for about10 vehicles. To gradually gain elevation as it travels up the canyon while exploring hard in bad weather great... I live nearby and like to use the trail leading South along the 4wd Road to Pole Creek and cliffsides. Lock it is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC Winter Park then, as your streamer swings your... Position to a 45-degree angle below the fish, you need to write it all over my!.