A stunning day hike on the first few miles of the trail, or a wonderful four-to-five day backpack trip. Many had recommended the very LAST section of the 500 mile Colorado Trail – the San Juan’s – as the best part. Silverton Colorado Official Website. Vallecito Lake, CO, is located in Southwest Colorado just 18 miles from Durango, providing a perfect base for enjoying the Four Corners area and its many wonders. Due to a mudslide, part of the tracks between Dogwood(I think that's right) and Durango are unusable, so the railroad's operations are limited. With 79 sites, this is one of the largest campgrounds in San Juan National Forest. A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. A short drive from the historic mining town of Silverton, the Ice Lakes Trail is a classic … At around 3 miles in, you can make your way to the river and if you’re brave enough, take a dip to cool off. One way to explore the San Juan National Forest is via its trails. There are two main access points for the wilderness: Elk Park and Needleton. Williams Creek campground is a very popular destination for its quiet and peaceful atmosphere, not fishing, during the summer months. Vallecito Creek Trail (#529) – approximately 8.5 miles to Johnson Creek, 2000 ft ascent. It is located near Vallecito Creek … They're sending passengers to Dogwood by bus, train goes from there. Most hikers who take the Durango and Silverton train get off at Needleton, where it’s a 6-mile hike into Chicago Basin. Vallecito Lake is located just outside of Durango, Colorado. The trail travels around the campground and starts again. Weather. Resident Karla Erickson wondered about the cost of ATVs on the beauty of Vallecito, fearing the community may end up like Silverton. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/elk-park-to-needleton Lake Vallecito produced one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States, the Colorado River Valley. About Vallecito Lake. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Jan 24, 2015 - Trailhead is in the parking lot just outside the campgrounds. It’s a long hike but you can always go just as far as you’d like and then turn back. Vallecito Creek Trail – Easy/Moderate. Durango – Silverton – Molas Pass – Lime Creek. The trail is easy to follow but quite steep, ascending 3,000 feet before reaching the basin. Vallecito Creek Trail: Access from the east. The out-and-back hike follows a 5-mile segment of the trail, traversing pretty meadows with panoramic views high above the Lime Creek Drainage. The Elk Park stop gives you access to the Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Vallecito Creek Trail. Our favorite was the Vallecito Creek Trail. 18,000) by Roadrunner, the only long distance bus in and out of town. Hike back. Beautiful creek side property available from April-November. Exploring Colorado: Garden of … Vallecito Campground is another place you can park your RV rental. This relatively easy walk gives day hikers a scenic taste of the Colorado Trail, an epic 471-mile route stretching between Denver and Durango. Download this free map of Vallecito Lake including business locations, cabins, and lodges. The range lies entirely within the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado, and access to it will include unmarked social trails. - $209 avg/night - Bayfield - Amenities include: Internet, Pets Welcome, TV, Satellite or cable, Washer & Dryer, Children Welcome, Parking, No Smoking, Heater Bedrooms: 3 Sleeps: 9 Pet friendly Minimum stay from 2 night(s) Bookable directly online - Book vacation rental 910259 with Vrbo. After .6 miles you enter the Weminuche wilderness. Continental Divide Trail Silverton, CO 81433. You may also want to check out: Exploring Colorado: Hooray for Ouray. San Juan National Forest: Vallecito Creek Trail - See 565 traveler reviews, 190 candid photos, and great deals for Durango, CO, at Tripadvisor. Chicago Basin Trail Loop: There’s a certain thrill about getting dropped off by a steam train in the wilderness. You can board the train for wilderness access in Durango or Silverton. = The 2,720-acre lake was created in 1941 when a dam dammed the water of Pine River Creek in Vallecito. ... 2018 near Silverton, CO. 0 Comments Post Comment. 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. __________ As always, please do your best to learn about and practice leave no trace ethi… From either vantage point, a commanding panorama of the Needle Creek drainage is possible. Now on the east side of the creek, the trail pulls higher again. The purpose of this page is to share knowledge on the Grenadier Range. Dropping down next to the creek, the trail comes to the first bridge and the canyon narrows. Durango train to Silverton or the Scenic Highway Drive When it comes to backcountry wilderness access, there’s nothing like the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Just a heads up. I have made five extensive backpacking trips to this area so far, the last two being complete lengthwise traverses between Vallecito Creek and the Animas River. From CR 501 continue to North end of the Lake and bear left (North) for 2.8 miles on CR 500 to reach Vallecito Campground and trailhead parking. 5. Why Hike Colorado Trail: Little Molas Lake to Lime Creek. Vallecito Lake Colorado Official Website | Vallecito Creek Trail – Alltrails. Johnson Creek Trail Beyond the basin, the main trail climbs another 1,400 feet over two miles to Columbine Pass where it meets up with the Johnson Creek Trail, which drops into the Vallecito Creek drainage. In 2014, the town of Silverton … From there, you’ll have a choice of where you’d like to go. Highlights: Jarosa Mesa, Colorado Trail Friends Yurt, meeting other hikers, Lake San Cristobal, CT high point, Cataract Ridge and Lakes, Cuba Gulch, ~1000 sheep, Stony Pass, easy walking up on the divide, Arrow and Vestal Peaks, looking down into Elk Creek, Eldorado Lake, leaving on the CT and staying on the divide, Vallecito Lake and creek, the Guardian, moose, Weminuche high route, … A secondary route climbs steeply to Twin Lakes. San Juan National Forest: Vallecito Creek Trail - See 566 traveler reviews, 195 candid photos, and great deals for Durango, CO, at Tripadvisor. Our in/out points were part of what is informally referred to as the Eld Park Loop. Johnson Creek Trail: Beyond the basin, the main trail climbs another 1,400 feet over two miles to Columbine Pass where it meets up with the Johnson Creek Trail, which drops into the Vallecito Creek drainage. Note: On the Vallecito Trail, the third bridge (counting from the South) across Vallecito Creek is out due to an avalanche in the winter of 2004-2005. The avalanche debris was cleared from the trail in fall 2007. The hike begins 2 miles past the West Fork Campground just west of Wolf Creek Pass. The Vallecito Creek Trail begins in the Vallecito campground. Thrifty spenders can access the Chicago Basin via the Vallecito Reservoir and the Vallecito Creek Trail, which are highly recommended in their own right. The plan was to hike up the Vallecito Creek Trail and into the Weminuche Wilderness. My plan was to take the train to Silverton. Arrived Durango, Colorado (pop. MLS #773447 - Grimes Creek neighborhood, 18 W Vallecito Creek located in Vallecito Lake/Bayfield CO 81122, with a list price of 675000, with 9 bedrooms. Ice Lakes. Virtual Tour of Vallecito Trail #529. The hike begins in a steep canyon with ponderosa pine forest, aspen and conifers. 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