Creek was almost dry. LockA locked padlock Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. Mostly flat. 8.7 miles - Veer right and continue on "Elk Creek Loop" trail for 4.0 miles. Flat. Very steep and pretty scrabbly first 1/2 Mille, nice views after. Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. Parking is availabe at the Trailhead. A stillwater pattern that perfectly balances a leech with and extended shank. We are early 50s, fairly fit experienced hikers from Durango, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. Share sensitive information only Durango, CO 81301 United States government. Designation of a road, trail, or area should not be interpreted as an invitation to all types of travel or as an implication that the road, trail, or area is passable, actively maintained, or safe for travel. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 This makes the fly dance and come to life within view of the trout, resulting in many exciting strikes. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. 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. The meadows are full of wildflowers and the Forrest is lush and green. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Like. At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. PS. Worthy of recognition, especially during. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Explore this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. 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. Dry and hot. It can also be a lead fly for a nymphing setup on rivers. Traffic thins out toward the end. This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. Thanks also to All Trails Pro for alerting me that i was off trail! 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). The trail seems dry, not many wild flowers to be seen,. The trail extends 18 miles to the Flattops. Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! I'm fortunate enough to enjoy this trail weekly. Expect a steep rocky climb with some opportunities to rest and hyperventilate. This is the ultimate wilderness trekking trip in Colorado's largest and most remote wilderness area. very nice in good weather. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. 1st meadow full of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves. By tying the connecting knot at the bend of the hook and not the hook eye, you will help prevent tangles while false casting. Colorado Free Camping Antonito Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Rio Grande National Forest. Lots of bear sign but no bears. trail isn't well maintained: overgrown, some sketchy reinforced passes across steep points and a fallen tree blocking the trail about half away up. East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. ( Instead, the difficulty is in achieving a good presentation in narrow water. We got off the train at elk park ~11:45am and hiked ~6 miles uphill the first day. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. 900 Grand Ave. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). As they climb, visitors are treated to a variety of good views of East Elk Creek Canyon. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. 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. This horse property is in the Elk Creek Village subdivision and the neighborhood. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. . Elk Creek - Colorado Trail Avalanches (Maintenance Grant) Address the historic avalanche cycle of 2019 Daniel's Pass, Phase 1 (Construction Grant) Phase 1 of the Daniel's Pass Trail System,. We made the decision to cut our trek short. Cub Creek Trail starts from Beaver Brook road in the back of Evergreen. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 10 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. Experience this 60.4-km point-to-point trail near Silverton, Colorado. One of the biggest assets of Elk Creek is its expansive public water. 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. This is more remote, with higher canyon walls and less people. Share sensitive information only Beautiful other than that. View . Gorgeous views. Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. The varied terrain between the meadows creates cover and safety for the fish. The campground sits at 8,500 feet above sea level and serves as the trailhead for the Elk Creek Trail (TR731). I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. This trail was beautiful, once you actually got to it. Nearby grocery stores include Safeway, City Market Pharmacy, and Trail's End Mercantile. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The short feature was filmed and produced by Fly Fisherman on the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, with Josh Burnham and Fly Fisherman editor/publisher Ross Purnell. Estes Park. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. Elk Creek Road . Share sensitive information only Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Good easy trail! The meadow at 3 miles in is beautiful and great spot to fish. Snowshoeing. Good primitive camp site at the far end of the meadow in the trees and near the creek for water to filter. 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. I just completed this route the July 11-15, 2022. Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. Great hike! The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. 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. Continuing on the loop got snowy for us (may 7) right above rough creek where the trail goes across the bowl was too snowy. Lovely hike that follows the river most of the way. Food and accommodations are limited in Antonito. Black flies were a pain the whole week. The tread is packed earth and loose rock. Great sounds! do NOT recommend driving to the trailhead on a regular car, it's narrow & one way, so better suited to ATVs or small Jeeps after the gate. Share sensitive information only I'm hoping that we weren't unncessarilly cautious and missed out. Highly recommend. Great trail. connected to the .gov website. Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. Well marked trail that loops back the way you came!! US Forest Service The walk down a single lane unused road along the creek to the trail is a nice walk in itself. Avalanche debris was cleared. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. Map showing recreational areas. on official, secure websites. "Moderate" seems an understatement. Because theres no obvious turn around point, its important for hikers to remember that they must retrace the same distance already walked, so plan accordingly. Just after entering Elk Creek CG cross the bridge and take the trail leading south along the bank of Elk Creek. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Colors are definitely changing and seemed to be more vibrant as I gained elevation. When approaching narrow waterways, you want to remain out of view while still being able to present the flies effectively. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto County Road 241 (East Elk Creek Road) and travel 4.3 miles north to the Centennial Trailhead parking lot. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. connected to the .gov website. United States government. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. Rifle Falls via Coyote and Squirrel Loop Trail. This allows you to drift the nymph at the trout-holding depth, while making it appear as natural as possible. The first big meadow was very pretty, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. Many . Other trails which can be reached via the El Creek Trail are the Notch Trail #729 and the Rough Creek Trail #727. Most visitors choose to not go the whole distance. The most direct route to the Elk Falls overlook is to choose the Bugling Elk trail which follows a small creek for 1.1 miles until it arrives at Elk Falls Pond, a good place to stop and Fish. 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. Colorado Mountain . Map Information. While many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, Elk Creek is an exception. Went 4 miles out. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. The trail is a significant distance from town. We ended up turning back. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Youre next to the rushing creek the whole hike and its beautiful. 1 July. The trick to successful dry-fly fishing on Elk Creek is accuracy in pocketwater settings, when your drifts can be short in the calm water breaks around rocks. Camping sites 29 through 42 are located in the overflow loop (no picnic tables or fireplaces). Definitely recommend to bring waterproofs shoes and pants to be comfortable. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. Any feedback appreciated. The more exposed areas will heat up quickly. A gorgeous fall hike, lots of color. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! We met others that were completing this 36-40 mile trip as we were walking into the wilderness from Needleton. Be ready for an uphill battle! Our total distance was about 42 miles. For example, in August, Elk Creek typically runs low and clear. Map showing recreational areas. Want to report conditions for this trail? on official, secure websites. I did get caught in a hail and thunderstorm on way back so weather is changeable, be prepared!! I liked it better than the Grizzly Creek hike in Glenwood Canyon. 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. The Elk Creek Campground in the Rio Grande National Forest is 22 miles west of Antonito on Colorado 17. This time wasn't as bad as 1993, where my ancient A-frame tent blew down, but I'd suggest doing it in August for longer days and less rain. 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. The trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the creek and surrounding cliffsides. Stop for a quick break, but plan to keep hiking, as the best fishing lies another three miles upstream in the vast stretches of the Second, Third, and Fourth meadows in the South San Juan Wilderness Area. great except 4 rowdy dude ranch horse train. We just finished this trail. 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. About 1.2 miles from Castle Valley Boulevards intersection with the Buford Road, take the right branch of the Y onto East Elk Road (CR 241). We'll see areas like Elk Creek, the Colorado Trail, the Continental Divide, and many of Colorado's most remote Centennial 13'ers. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 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. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Rate Quality . 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. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. Ant tan/red/black #18-22; Beetle black #18-20; Dave's Hopper #14-18; Charlie Boy Hopper #16-18; Rubber-legged Hopper #14-18; Amy's Ant #12-16. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. But if a storm blows in, bringing hours of heavy rain, the water rises quickly. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction 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. East Elk Creek Trail is open to foot and horse travel. This is the "fourth bridge" of vallecito creek, north of the vallecito campground/Trailhead. Great trail. The trout manage to survive this demanding environment by hiding in deep pools below the winter ice, and beneath undercut banks. Biking. The weather plays a big role in water conditions. Along this segment, the trail crosses through stands of willow, cottonwood, aspen, and eventually spruce and fir. 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. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. Coming down from hunchback pass we had to climb over or around several (and I mean several) trees that were across the path. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. This should slow your pace and help you present the fly without spooking the fish. This multi-use trail can be used both directions. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=42890&actid=51. The campground has 34 nonreservable sites available for $16 per night. Usage: Moderate to heavy This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. The trail is open for the following uses: Horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. An official website of the A really incredible trip with unbeatable views! 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. 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. Elk Creek Loop is a 6 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. There are a lot of trees down throughout the Johnson Creek and Needle Creek drainages - another hiker counted 155 trees across the trail on the way down from Chicago Basin to Needleton, but it looks like the FS is working their way up, clearing from the bottom up. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. Want to report conditions for this trail? It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. Alamosa, 30 miles to the north, has chain motels and restaurants. Many . Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. The understory is grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. If I were to do it again, I wouldve done a few more miles the first day - theres a nice campsite before the first peak. And susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion ; please use caution any water source within 100 feet of water! Appear as natural as possible website of the trail is great, cant wait to go back and lots. H 6 min to complete opportunities to rest and hyperventilate of Elk Creek are. Pools below the winter ice, and we gave ourselves 5 nights/6 days 8.7 -. 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