Absolutely stunning! Uses: Hiking 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. The narrow water continues as you enter Third and Fourth meadows. Loved it, follows fast flowing creek and at one point, about 3 miles in, can follow iff trail into open area where creek has numerous flows(fisherman there). This trail was beautiful, once you actually got to it. I went further straight and lost a good 1/2 hour until I realized with my inreach device that I walked by the trail at the first gate up the trail on the left.zero people on the trail and some 1-2 snow to walk through but the trail is not muddy. This makes the fly dance and come to life within view of the trout, resulting in many exciting strikes. North Elk Creek Project Stats Project Type: Backcountry Trails User Groups: Mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, equestrians Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2.8 miles currently, 2.7 miles under construction. Hot. 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. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. Good primitive camp site at the far end of the meadow in the trees and near the creek for water to filter. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. If I recall correctly we did it in 6 nights. Spectacular views along Forest road 250 of the Conejos Canyon and River. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. Think carefully about each step before you cast. Saw SIX. 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. Colors changing . Gorgeous! United States government. 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. Join Rodrigo Salles and Ross Purnell in their quest to catch these magnificent jungle fish, and become the first outsiders to participate in this ancient ritual. Durango, CO 81301 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Possession of motorized equipment or motorized means of transport are not permitted. In early summer, water levels drop gradually, and runoff subsides. Landon Mayer is a Colorado fly-fishing guide, and author of Sight Fishing for Trout (Stackpole Books, 2010). Colorado. Hiking River Wildlife Description No conditions reported in the past 7 days I'll never forget it. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Some fallen trees. 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). 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. Virtual Tour of Elk Creek Trail #731. Had to climb over a hundred trees, no joke. ) or https:// means you've safely 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. United States. This time of year I suggest an early start on this trail. Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. 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. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. Completed this loop early July 2021. Beautiful woods, meadows and follows the stream. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters Absolutely beautiful and I want to go back sometime. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. Elk Creek Road . 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. My dog and I loved it! Ends at the water. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. Usage: Moderate to heavy I got injured jumping off the bridge there, so we couldn't complete the hike north over hunchback pass, and down Elk creekwe were kinda bummed. Give a Gift The best times to visit this trail are May through October. It also gets steeper after this point. I went as far as the west end of the second meadow. 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. It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. Excellent hike with great views. Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. When I returned there was a note on my car not to park there!! This approach is very long, requires a . Pennsylvania smallmouth and trout guide Jake Villwock shows you how to tie one of his signature flies, The Roamer. Want to report conditions for this trail? More potential for future phases. Lots of wildflowers. Getting to the trailhead in a VW hatch was a breeze. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. United States government. Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. 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. I would do it again. 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. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. | Then, when you are ready to deliver the fly, "fire it in there" as John Barr would say, above the trout. ( not another hiker in site for us. Uncompahgre Valley, and Bostwick Park. Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction Worthy of recognition, especially during. As the trail gradually climbs, the creek begins to narrow just before you reach Third Meadowsapproximately another mile up the trail. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. The MLS number of this property is 8386827 . Great trail. Official websites use .gov A .gov Map showing recreational areas. The canyon water makes for a fun, fast-paced game with shotgun casting and eager trout, but they are mostly small. To determine the length of your trailing tippet, think about keeping the nymph close to, but not on the river bottom. Great trail with beautiful views! Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. This approach is located at 11,700ft and provides access to the Vestal Group from the east via Upper Elk Creek & Vallecito Creek. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. Estes Park. Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. United States government. 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 first 1.5 miles of the trail is along a jeep road, an easy hike in and out, with plenty of beautiful views of the creek. 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. No description for Elk Meadow trail has been added yet! We loved this trail and would highly recommend! #731-8,800' at trail head, to 11,750' trail end at Dipping Lakes, # 732-8,900 to 10,040 end at Duck Lake. The meadow at 3 miles in is beautiful and great spot to fish. Vehicle Info. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/recarea/?recid=42890. Like. This trail is considered most difficult. As they climb, visitors are treated to a variety of good views of East Elk Creek Canyon. Elk Creek Trail 731, Duck Lake 732 and Posos Trail 732 can be accessed from here. The first 1.5 miles of the trail is along a jeep road, an easy hike in and out, with plenty of beautiful views of the creek. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. My childhood hike, worth it to see meadows. We followed Bear Creek down to the Rio Grande by following the 4wd road and used our sat phone to arrange for transportation to Silverton. 16.2 miles - Continue straight on "Chainsaw" single track for .7 . 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 trail was pretty empty. 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. In the winter it's too cold for good fishing at these high elevations, and spring melt creates raging water flows. Elk Creek Loop is a 6 mile less popular doubletrack trail located near Fraser Colorado. Want to report conditions for this trail? on official, secure websites. One of the biggest assets of Elk Creek is its expansive public water. 1 July. When you have selected the correct dry, attach a piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook. 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