Continental Divide Trail Snow Report. I started at Thirty Mile Campground and took the Weminuche Trail to the CDT and then came back by Squaw Creek Lake for a total of 25 miles. Weminuche Pass is on the Continental Divide. Spanning nearly 500,000 acres in southern Colorado, the Weminuche Wilderness is Colorado’s largest Wilderness Area. Learn more about the Colorado Trail A 7-day loop through the Weminuche Wilderness in the Juan Mountains of Colorado: Cunningham Gulch Trail - Continental Divide Trail (CTD) - Eldorado Lake - Kite Lake - Hunchback Pass - … Be sure to have a ride or shuttle car waiting at the other side. One of the things that makes this loop so special is that the trailheads can both be reached via the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad, a tourist train pulled by a steam locomotive that has been used in dozens of old west films (including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!). Nobody wants to be on a pass over 12,000 ft high with weather moving in. Full Details. The Weminuche Wilderness sits in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in the middle of the area surrounded by Pagosa Springs, Durango, Silverton, Creede, and South Fork, Colorado. But later in the afternoon we ran into some inclement weather. Day five, crossing the continental divide one last time. 1. Continental Divide Trail - Weminuche Pass to Hunchback Pass: Animas River Drainage. But the descent along Johnson Creek was picturesque and gradual. Finishing a trip like this is very bittersweet. This area is a popular basecamp for peak-baggers as there are a plethora of 14ers in the vicinity. It’s a fascinating high alpine pass, with a ghost town to explore on the Aspen side. Five- to 16-mile out-and-back The whiteout blizzard was so demoralizing, cold and difficult that many in the group decide to take the Weminuche Trail off the Continental Divide. See here for more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#Efforts_to_rename_placenames_and_terms_with_squaw_in_them. beautiful hike with lots of wildlife, including elk and moose. Elk Park to Needleton Loop Hike Map – Weminuche Wilderness Maps. With more than 492,000 acres, the Weminuche Wilderness is one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States. It closes before the winter. It’s heavily forested along the whole way with small glimpses of the creek below and seldom an open view. Be careful to pay attention to trail. Cottonwood Pass The east side of Continental Divide from Cottonwood Pass. The whiteout blizzard was so demoralizing, cold and difficult that many in the group decide to take the Weminuche Trail off the Continental Divide. Loop option with Continental Divide extension. Weminuche Wilderness Loop. In the morning fog and clouds scud through the valley and over the Rio Grande Pyramid. The Weminuche Wilderness sits in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in the middle of the area surrounded by Pagosa Springs, Durango, Silverton, Creede, and South Fork, Colorado. The Weminuche is a massive wilderness. This fun hike allows you walk the spine of the Rocky … The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking and backpacking. Nov 11, 2020: Gifts that Give Twice. Many of the trails through the area have been used since the early days. That night we crashed in an Air-bnb, did one last gear shake-down, and had a brew in downtown. This is serious backpacking, with … The section over the divide up high is gorgeous. It is shared by the San Juan National Forest on the west side of the continental divide, and the Rio Grande National Forest on the east side. From the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Rio Grande on the east side, to the craggy peaks known as the “American Alps” on the west side, to the dark, vast interior where you may go days without seeing another human, one could spend a lifetime exploring its … It's hard to imagine the work that went into getting ore out of these mountains! Johnson Creek drainage down to Vallecito. On July 26th we flew from LAX to Denver, rented a car-- an affectionately lime green Ford Fiesta-- and drove seven hours to Durango. Unfortunately not all of these folks are good stewards of the backcountry; they clearly do not practice Leave No Trace. … Day 1: We left from Thirty Mile Campground (where you can park your car) and hiked up the Weminuche Creek Trail to the North Fork Pine River Trail, and camped at the intersection of the CDT and North Fork Pine River Trail. Also, caught lots of nice rainbows on the drive out closer to South Fork. The Continental Divide Trail snow report is designed to aid hikers in determining the best time to head into the mountains based on snow conditions. In late July 2016, my wife and I did a 6 day, 50+ mile loop through the Weminuche Wilderness. Rio Grande Pyramid is one of the Colorado's centennial peaks. The hike up to Rock Lake was some of the most majestic backcountry I have experienced. However, we were getting a little worried about our pace, and the Middle Ute route was something like 9 miles further to get to the same place as the East Ute route. Rain was coming down and so was the sun. Size, however, is not what this range boasts the most. The Colorado Trail follows a section of the Continental Divide Trail before following Elk Creek to Molas Trails. Day 2: We hiked up the CDT, turned off at the Squaw Lake Trail - which we almost missed because the signage was hard to see - and then camped at Squaw Lake. CONTINUE READING Edge of the Weminuche: Whitehead Peak Loop. ... Lisa had a bit of trouble last year in the Maroon Bells when we hiked the Four Pass Loop, and I may have had a slight headache that first day as well. Joined Jun 16, 2012 Messages 1,485. The Continental Divide Trail runs 80 miles through the Weminuche, between Wolf Creek Pass and Stony Pass near Silverton. Along the Continental Divide: Stony Pass Peaks. The Continental Divide Trail runs 80 miles through the Weminuche, between Wolf Creek Pass and Stony Pass near Silverton. This loop typically begins at the Elk Park flag stop on the Silverton/Durango Narrow Gauge Train then makes a loop down Vallecito Creek to end at the Needleton stop. Its summit is not far from the Continental Divide Trail near Rincon La Vaca and Weminuche Pass. With West Trout Creek a half of a mile straight down and the cliff above practically hanging over you the experience is dizzying. At the pass, trail #564 (named the Skyline Trail on a Forest Service map and Opal Lake Trail on the Trails Illustrated map) comes down the Continental Divide from the west. Weminuche Pass is on the Continental Divide. But Chimi, Delightful and I want to give the pass one more shot. I've been eyeing the Weminuche Pass / Granite Lakes and Continental Divide Semi-Loop as detailed on this website. On the way we passed an old mine. Thread starter Aldaron; Start date Sep 18, 2012; Tags colorado Aldaron Member . We also diverted from the original route, taking low ground through Twin Lakes up to Middle Ute Lake. Ouray/Silverton, CO – While staying in Ouray, we hiked a section of the Colorado Trail/Continental Divide Trail (they overlap) from Stony Pass. Ultimately we decided to move onward! A 7-day loop through the Weminuche Wilderness in the Juan Mountains of Colorado: Cunningham Gulch Trail - Continental Divide Trail (CTD) - Eldorado Lake - Kite Lake - Hunchback Pass - … Already feeling the effects from the elevation, the going gets tough as the climb logs another 100 feet before leveling again amidst a number of small ponds. I have a few questions. Day 2 was 15 miles, but seemed easier. The Weminuche is located in the southwestern part of the state within the San Juan Mountains with the Continental Divide passing through the Wilderness. Even at 11,000 ft there were lush meadows with craggy peaks erupting in the distance. This last week I hiked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) through the South San Juan Wilderness with two of my friends. The trees were numerous and some were cloaked in moss. The nearest town is the town of Silverton, right off of Highway 550, also known as the Million Dollar Highway. Then it was a decent into the Elk Creek Drainage. Bayfield, CO. It’s a 60+ mile trek from Cumbres Pass near Chama, New Mexico to Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Es gibt verschiedene Aktivitätsmöglichkeiten. After tossing our backpacks in the cargo card we took our seats on the train. The flies were pretty bad at this lower elevation, as can be seen in this photo if you look closely. Clear trail. See the “West Side” map. I always prefer to be ascending in elevation, especially early in a trip. The Weminuche spans the Continental Divide, North America's geological backbone, with its headwaters diverted to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It is a loop I call The Double By-Pass. Gabs and I picked up A LOT of garbage in this area. 1. ... Continental Divide … The Continental Divide Trail runs 80 miles through the Weminuche, between Wolf Creek Pass and Stony Pass near Silverton. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke als schwierig einzustufen. Our route went in/out the opposite: our tickets dropped us off at Needleton stop, and then picked us up six days later at Elk Park flag stop. Arriving at Rock Lake felt like such an accomplishment. Never had alitude sickness. We had about six miles to Chicago Basin. Many years ago mining was common throughout these lands. I would recommend this trial late in the summer. Good fishing on Los Pinos River, Rincon La Vaca, and Squaw Creek. So coming from flat Texas, I've experienced the effects of alltitude when coming for skiing. The Highland Mary Lakes are rated fair for rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout, but keep in mind, like most subalpine … Never fails. Weminuche Wilderness. This added milage but apparently the trail that followed the ridge was so overgrown that navigation was very difficult. Day 1 ended at Chicago Basin after over 3,100 ft of elevation gain. Our first pass over the Continental Divide. Day four covers Squaw Pass to Weminuche Pass. A welcome cool-down after climbing the pass. The Needleton stop is nothing more than a small clearing next to the Animas River. Definitely download the map as there are no trail signs out there. They'll walk right up to you in hopes of getting some salty sweat from your clothing. Gabriela was feeling pretty rough from the cold rain, altitude and long day. The Window near Rio Grande Pyramid is a famous landmark mentioned often in diaries and reports of early travelers and explorers. Gabriela does some dance moves... with her backpack still on. Weminuche was first designated a wilderness area in 1975. By the time you get a hot shower and meal out on the town, your planning your next trip! I spent all weekend trying to get caught up...I'm almost there. The Ute Lakes area felt so different than any other part of this wilderness, rolling hills that dip into small lakes and pockets of meadows. Entering the high alpine tundra of Colorado’s largest wilderness usually involves an overnight backpacking trip, but Highland Mary Lakes is a spectacular exception that can be reached in just a short excursion through the high country's Continental Divide Trail and Cunningham Gulch Trail #502. Loop option with Continental Divide extension. This 100 mile section of the CDT trail begins at the Wolf Creek Pass trailhead east of Pagosa Springs on Hwy 160 and winds its way west following the spine of the Rockies to Stony Pass where 4WD road access is available to the town of Silverton. The Colorado Trail passes through the Weminuche from Stony Pass to Molas Pass as it links 486 miles of trails from Denver to Durango. Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) Contacts. This area covers a large portion of southern Colorado. This was the only "crowded" part of the trip. Both in Colorado. My buddy and I are planning on hiking in the Weminuche Wilderness early September. The Weminuche Wilderness sits in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in the middle of the area surrounded by Pagosa Springs, Durango, Silverton, Creede, and South Fork, Colorado. Along the Continental Divide: Stony Pass Peaks . This place is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The Day Hike. We arrived in plenty of time to setup the shelter to let it dry out while we waited for our train. ... Continental Divide Trail through the South San Juans. Note: The term squaw is considered universally offensive by Indigenous groups in America due to its use for hundreds of years in a derogatory context. The Wilderness contains about 500 miles of trails that pass endless alpine summits with numerous alpine lakes. This was day 2 of my loop. Never had alitude sickness. Squaw Creek, Continental Divide and Weminuche Trail Loop ist ein 46.8 Kilometer langer, wenig besuchter Rundweg in der Nähe von Creede, Colorado. This is video of the fourth of six days backpacking on the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado across the Weminuche Wilderness. Very sad. About to begin the ascent from Vallecito to Rock Lake. This 36.5-mile hike stays at or above timberline for most of its course around the Cimarron Creek headwaters in Weminuche's southeastern corner. Adding this summit to the trek would be easy to do requiring only an additional round trip distance of 2.7 miles and an ascent and descent of 1,968 feet. Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom peaks rise above 14,000 feet, while many others reach above 13,000 feet. Our most challenging day. Oct 9, 2020: What to Know When Hiking in Montana. Our group consisted of six people lead by Alicia Viskoe, a tall, quiet engineer who lives in Cody Wyoming. To the south is the Pinos Creek drainage and the official designation of the trail becomes the Pine River Trail, #523. 6) This route is a perfect 3 night backpacking trail (it’s easy to add additional mileage/days if you’re interested which we did). Our in/out points were part of what is informally referred to as the Eld Park Loop. The Continental Divide Trail runs 80 miles through the Weminuche, between Wolf Creek Pass and Stony Pass near Silverton. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. This is serious backpacking, with long days above timberline and strenuous climbing. The Continental DivideTrail (CD; which only dips below timberline 3 times) runs for 80 miles from Wolf Creek Pass to the Silverton area. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is an excellent way to experience the Weminuche Wilderness. Oct 23, 2020: When Two Trails Become One. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Day 1 was a tougher day and I camped at around mile 10 before crossing the ridges. Wolf Creek Pass. Weminuche was first designated a wilderness area in 1975. To the south is the Pinos Creek drainage and the official designation of the trail becomes the Pine River Trail, #523. Located in south-central Colorado, near Buena Vista, Cottonwood Pass reaches as high as 12,119, and at its saddle, it meets with Continental Divide. The Weminuche is a massive wilderness. Tristan proposed that we assemble the same group again, to do a semi-loop hike in the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado, starting near his home in Durango, and I immediately accepted. Here’s an overview map of the Weminuche Wilderness, which includes trailhead locations. Day 2 started with a phenomenal climb up Columbine Pass. But once we diverted east and started our climb along Rock Creek the real challenge began, and that was after six miles of hiking. When this happens to someone on the trail I've learned there is a simple remedy that always works: get the shelter pitched, put your partner in a sleeping bag, and feed them hot food and drink. The CT/CDT trails cross Stony Pass Road (CR 4) about 300 yards past the actual pass, there are trail signs. September was a great time to go because there were very few people, but be prepared as it got down in the 20s at night (mid 70s during the day). One look at the dramatic landscape (Weminuche is home to some popular 14ers) and we were sold. Beautiful hike. I say this because when you get into the mountians, it is mostly covered with snow and water, the trail is hard to find but other than that, this trail is absolutely beautiful and would recommend it. Trail Ratings 0.0 from 0 votes #27 in Weminuche Wilderness #40244 Overall. This area covers a large portion of southern Colorado. Not this time though! Squaw Creek, Continental Divide and Weminuche Trail Loop is a 29.1 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Creede, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The debate became one of safety: do we make camp near Nebo Creek or do we head for Hunchback Pass and hope the weather does not decline? We filtered water and then started our first day on the trail. The Highland Mary Lakes area has wide open feel with broad gradual grassy slopes surrounding three high altitude lakes. The first couple miles of the Weminuche Creek Trail are brutal, but after that its relatively flat easy trial. Size, however, is not what this range boasts the most. A 13-mile loop between the Weminuche and La Garita Wilderness, ... As the second-highest paved road crossing the Continental Divide, the pass reaches 12,095 feet. The Weminuche Wilderness houses a portion of the Continental Divide, which offers 360-degree views of the San Juan National Forest area. This is serious backpacking, with long days above timberline and strenuous climbing. At the pass, trail #564 (named the Skyline Trail on a Forest Service map and Opal Lake Trail on the Trails Illustrated map) comes down the Continental Divide from the west. Length … Or more specifically a two pass loop that encompasses going over to the Continental Divide and continuing on to the remote feeling Western side of the Indian Peaks. Williams Creek Trail to CDT/Squaw Pass to Cimarrona Trail, South Clear Creek Falls from Bristol Head Campground, Redcloud Peak via Sunshine Peak East Ridge, Beartown, West Ute, East Ute, Flint Creek, Rock Creek and CDT Loop, Squaw Creek, Continental Divide and Weminuche Trail Loop, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#Efforts_to_rename_placenames_and_terms_with_squaw_in_them, 2020 AllTrails, LLC Alle Rechte vorbehalten. The Knife Edge is a quarter-mile long shelf built into a shale rock cliff on the Continental Divide. 6) ... Local Club: Continental Divide Trail Coalition. BACKPACKING THE SQUAW CREEK, SQUAW PASS, AND CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL LOOP in the WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS Photos of my point-to-point backpack via Vallecito Creek Trail, Johnson Creek, Chicago Basin, Needle Creek Trail, Animas River, and out via Purgatory Trail are here It is shared by the San Juan National Forest on the west side of the continental divide, and the Rio Grande National Forest on the east side. No time to lose! Here is one from my trip to the Weminuche in Colorado: From 30 Aug … The Continental Divide Trail stretches 3,100 miles down the backbone of North America from Canada to Mexico, but you don’t have to do it all. I have a few questions. But Chimi, Delightful and I want to give the pass one more shot. Our last day on the trail was a leisurely decent to The Elk Park flag stop. In 2011, Tristan MacDonald organized and led a hike of his two grandchildren, Brittany and Zach Fraser, and me on a hike along the Continental Divide. Now newly paved all the way through, Cottonwood Pass is even more accessible to travelers. The trailhead includes a steep, rough 4-Wheel-Drive road up to Stony Pass. Ute Creek-CDT-Weminuche Loop. Day 3: We descended from Squaw Lake and hiked out on Squaw Creek Trail. We did the trail in reverse (Weminuche - CDT - Squaw Creek) and took a shortcut via the Squaw Lake Trail (3.6 miles), cutting out the upper 9 miles on the CDT, making this a 24 mile loop. Luckily Rock Creek offered non-stop jaw dropping vistas. Over the horizon loomed some daunting cloud formations. Weminuche Wilderness. We're planning on the Weminuche Pass Continental Divide Loop plus Granite Lake. Each hikers skill-set and comfort level with these conditions will differ. Long milage and a lot of elevation change: we crossed the continental divide three times that day. Final elevation was 11,199 ft. In late July 2016, my wife and I did a 6 day, 50+ mile loop through the Weminuche Wilderness. We arrived at the Needleton stop after a couple hours on the train. Eighty-five miles of the Continental Divide Trail travels through the Weminuche Wilderness. Alltitude. Weminuche Trail to Rincon La Vaca Loop is a 17.9 mile loop trail located near Lake City, Colorado that features a river. Meeting with the Continental Divide Trail just shy of two miles, the terrain pulls out of the rolling plateau toward a rocky stretch. After a gorgeous (and arduous) day of hiking we arrived at Bear Town trailhead. Hike one of these sections through Colorado—based on your vacation time and motivation. If you wish to do the loop hike, return to the overlook above Verde Lakes. Sep 18, 2012 #1 I've been too busy the past month or so running around the mountains to get my trip reports done. I understand why some locals are cynical about a train that burns coal and perpetually blasts a cacophonous whistle while rolling through town, but there's no contesting the value of this unique experience. It’s heavily forested along the whole way with small glimpses of the creek below and seldom an open view. The trail begins at a gradual steady climb away from Thirty Mile Campground and travels through mixed aspen and spruce tree stands above the Rio Grande Reservoir. Eighty-five miles of the Continental Divide Trail travels through the Weminuche Wilderness. This loop makes for a challenging two day backpack or a more leisurely three. That story is told here. Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by David Herrera. After making our way over Columbine Pass, we took a dip in the lake. At Mile 6-7 is the turn off to go up to squaw lake and it’s actually easy to accidentally get on that trail instead. This trip was actually a very special one: our honeymoon! We saw a giant bull moose and two deer on the way in. The mountain goats are tenacious. The trail is well defined and easy to follow. First we had to climb out from Bear Town and cross over the Continental Divide one last time. Distance from Trailhead: 7.7 miles (loop) Ending/Highest Elevation: 12,580-ft. Elevation Gain: 1,790-ft. As I hiked in the dark, I noticed that it was pretty cloudy. Shared By: Hiking Project Staff. The Highland Mary Lakes is a short backpacking loop hike located in the Weminuche Wilderness of southwest Colorado. Kite Lake and Bear Town or bust. The Continental Divide Trail runs 80 miles through the Weminuche, between Wolf Creek Pass and Stony Pass near Silverton. Spanning nearly 500,000 acres in southern Colorado, the Weminuche Wilderness is Colorado’s largest Wilderness Area. Er führt entlang eines Sees, entlang eines Flusses und es gibt schöne Wildblumen und oftmals Wildtiere zu sehen. I did this trail in late September. Rio Grande Pyramid is one of the Colorado's centennial peaks. I've been eyeing the Weminuche Pass / Granite Lakes and Continental Divide Semi-Loop as detailed on this website. Here’s my caltopo map of the Elk Park/Needleton hike: But you’d be hard-pressed to find better views for a long backpacking trip. Lobo to Fourmile Ridge Start high and stay high on this Continental Divide traverse. Continental Divide Trail The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is an excellent way to experience the Weminuche Wilderness. With an average elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level, the Weminuche is rugged country, but its ecosystems are fragile. From the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Rio Grande on the east side, to the craggy peaks known as the “American Alps” on the west side, to the dark, vast interior where you may go days without seeing another human, one could spend a lifetime exploring its secrets. 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