6-day Trek
Click Here for Recommended Campsites, Mileage and Elevation Changes
  10-day Trek

USGS Quads in order of passage. 6-day 1. Snowdon Peak  ,2. Storm King Peak, 3. Columbine Pass, 4. Mountain View Crest, 5. Snowdon Peak
10-day trek 1. Snowdon Peak  , 2. Storm King Peak, 3. Rio Grande Pyramid, 4. Storm King Peak, 5. Columbine Pass, 6. Mountain View Crest, 7. Snowdon Peak

For the experience of a life time take the Durango - Silverton narrow gauge railroad and get off at either Needleton or Elk Park to hike these loops.  If you do not care to see the view from the highline on the canyon wall then you can save money by booking your ticket out of Silverton for the short nine mile ride to Elk Park.

We like to start at Elk Park because the Chicago Basin is usually full of 14K freaks.  We once counted 35 campsites that we could see as we hiked down from Columbine Pass to the railroad and this was early in July.  As you come down from Columbine Pass there are ample campsites and few campers as you get to the tree line.  The Chicago Basin is so over camped that no fires are allowed.

About 3 miles in from Elk Park are beaver ponds with nice campsites.  Beyond about 1/4 mile is a creek with other campsites if you find the beaver ponds crowded.  There are some steep climbs along Elk Creek but the trail is very good because no horses are allowed in this area of the Weminuche.   We are concerned because we did not see the beavers on our last visit in 1995.

There are several really nice water falls between the beaver ponds and the top of the Elk Creek Trail and the scenery is out of this world - especially at the top.  Campsites are rare that will handle more than 3 tents.  There is a miners cabin on the left at about 11,000 feet.   The mine is across the trail on the right as you head up.  There used to be a huge pot bellied stove in the miners shack but we found that vandals had destroyed it on our last visit.  Pieces can be found on the mountainside.   We cannot comprehend this type of activity - what pleasure is derived from destruction?

The view of the lakes as you reach the continental divide is marvelous.  The peak elevation here is 12,800 feet. Elk Creek water shed from 12,800' elevation looking down on miners cabin area above.
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Kite Lake is shaped like a kite with the creek its tail - thence the name.  There is a mine shack and there are mine tailing at the head of the lake with mine car rails coming out of the ground.   Some tailings on top mark what may have been an air shaft. 

The second time we hiked the trail between Kite Lake and Hunchback pass the entire mountain was covered with snow.  We had a great time making our own trail but it is an exhausting way to travel.   Hunchback pass is another good reason for starting at Elk Park for this loop.  The west side has a good trail but the east side is loose shale and the switch backs are gone.  We have hiked it both directions so believe it.

As you come down from the Hunchback you can continue on down to Johnson Creek for the hike up to Columbine pass or go north to Nebo Pass and extend the trek as shown in the second figure at the top of the page.  Just below the trail to Nebo Pass is an excellent campsite where Nebo Creek joins Vallecito Creek.  Several waterfalls near this point on both creeks.

West Ute Lake has an outfitters camp so there is little firewood within 100 yards and trees are felled to supply the dudes for the next season.   Otherwise we have not found any other abuses.  West Ute Lake and some of the nearby lakes are good fishing lakes.  The lakes in the wilderness areas are not stocked to our knowledge so be conservative.

As we hiked down to Rock Creek from the twin lakes area we found our first renegade outfitters camp back in 1990.  Steel rods for tent stakes had been left in the ground.  Ropes were hanging from trees.   A make shift privy about 3-feet deep was open with toilet seat hanging from a tripod over it.  Equipment was stored over the winter covered by tarps.  We have not been able to get the Forest Service to do anything about it.   We have written the highest authorities in Washington  DC to no avail.

We day hiked from our camp on Rock Creek to Moon lake and fished for a few hours.   This trail is described on the Emerald Lake page.

Rock Creek flows into Vallecito Creek a few miles down stream.   There is a spot 20 or 30 yards up stream from the trial where you can jump across Rock Creek instead of taking your boots off.  Don't fall in as there would be little forgiveness in this rock crevasse.
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A bridge crosses Vallecito Creek just upstream from Johnson Creek.   This is a good area to cool your feet but a poor camping spot because it is so public.  About a mile up Johnson Creek you can find some virgin areas to camp.   Please destroy your fire rings and leave it as you find it.

The hike up to Columbine Pass is pretty rugged but an excellent trail. The view is always worth the climb in the Weminuche.  In fact the climb is worth the climb.

After you pass into the Chicago Basin you can day hike three 14K peaks including Windom which is the highest in the Weminuche.  The Needleton railroad station is an easy 7 or 8 mile walk downhill.  You pass an abandoned mine right on the trail and it is an interesting walk to the back.  The ice at the entrance is the only hazard. There are no campfires allowed in the Chicago Basin as it is really over crowded.

The land along the railroad is private so do not plan to camp there.  Time your walk so you have plenty of time to catch the last train.  We have not found this to be a problem going to Durango.  However, if you are going to Silverton the last train will be before noon. 

We did come across one disgusting thing in the Chicago Basin. A champion 10K runner from Phoenix was doing oxygen deprivation running and  passed us going down.  He had his running togs on and nothing else but a canteen.  Claimed he had run up all three 14K peaks that day.