Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Virtual Tour of Elk Creek Trail #731. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. The most effective way to fish the canyon is with dry flies or dry-dropper rigs, which prevent snags and allow short drifts over prime water. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Larimer County. Explore this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. I have done this one twice!! We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Many . Bring an extra blood bag as you'll need to counter what's sucked out of you by the mosquitoes. This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. Food and accommodations are limited in Antonito. Usage: Moderate to heavy It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! 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. The trail is in great condition until the second meadow, a couple of downed trees, but not much else. This allows you to be successful no matter what weather conditions you encounter. It is a fairly difficult hike, but not one that isn't doable. A Couples Guide to Glenwood Springs. At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. 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. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. Great trail with beautiful views! The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. 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. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Don't be like me and follow Google Maps only. View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. Map Information. Great to explore though. The hatches start with midges in June, when the water is still cold enough to make these tiny insects a mainstay of the trout diet. Many . As you begin your ascent toward the First Meadows three miles upstream, the creek cascades through a small canyon where classic mountain fishing features swift, turbulent pocketwater, and the trout hold in current breaks. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! This multi-use trail can be used both directions. To properly set up a dry-dropper rig, you first want to use a fairly heavy fluorocarbon leader to help turn over a larger fly on every cast. 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. Could hear the creek which is nice, but you dont see it much. not another hiker in site for us. Share sensitive information only Worthy of recognition, especially during. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Horseback Riding. I did get caught in a hail and thunderstorm on way back so weather is changeable, be prepared!! Like. Elk Creek Road . Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Preview trail Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. It is lightly wooded with spruce and some ponderosa pines. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. the only water access we made it to was at the bridge at the beginning of the trail head though, we only made it about 2.5 miles back the trail. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=42890&actid=51. Beautiful hike! Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. The nature back there is unbelievable. We walked 44 miles vs the 36 listed in the app. First Meadow was perfect for camping but Second Meadow was very swampy so we had to camp along the trail. At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. Map showing recreational areas. 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. 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. 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. Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. When the creek is low and clear, the trout are usually looking up, making drys better choices. This resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. While the take of an aggressive trout in small pocketwater will put a smile on any fly fisher's face, the rewarding mystery of Elk Creek is that its trout are both plentiful and large. Just about a mile in. website belongs to an official government organization in the There are a few camping sites near this junction. Two friends of mine and I did this backpack in 1995. The trail is always very clear and easy to follow. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. There are 31 campsites (6 are pull-through) with tables and fireplaces, 3 vault type toilets, drinking water (3 hand pumps) and refuse receptacles for your convenience. Bugs were pretty bad this year. On Elk Creek, be prepared to adjust to variable water conditions so you can fish effectively in either clear or turbid water. The weather plays a big role in water conditions. Saw SIX. For example, in August, Elk Creek typically runs low and clear. Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! 5 in Trail Running. Lovely hike that follows the river most of the way. On a small stream, twitching the fly to supply movement, while keeping the fly in the water longer, can be key to success. The best spot for camping was at Kite Lake, worth waking up to see the sunrise reflected on the lake. Not a bad hike up to the South Elk Creek waterfall. US Forest Service Theparking lot is accessible year round. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. Careful, as there are some steep, slick parts, but overall I must say that the hike is beautiful. Some gentle ups and downs. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. This hike is definitely a good one! It has been our group's favorite for several years. Even crossed paths with three different types of baby snakes! We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! Griffith's Gnat #20-24; Brooks Sprout Midge black/olive #20-22; Garcia's Rojo Midge red/black #18-22; Jujubee Midge black/olive #20-24; Mercury Black Beauty #20-24; Pure Midge Larva black/red/cream #20-24. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Ran I to some bad weather that chased us out on the 2nd day but we saw a few moose on this trail. Then, as your streamer swings to your side of the creek, twitch the rod tip while applying tension to the line. We had a lot of rain, starting everyday around 1 pm and lasting for a couple of hours. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. This trail was beautiful, once you actually got to it. 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. Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. Creek was almost dry. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 6 min to complete. Snowmobiling. 12.7 miles - Turn left on "Elk Creek/ FS 891.2" for 1.8 miles. An official website of the 5 in Horseback. connected to the .gov website. 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. We ended up turning back. Charlie Craven guides us step by step on how to tie this split-wing CDC mayfly dun imitation that descended from competitive fly fishing. Some uneven terrain. Want to report conditions for this trail? It begins at Forest Road 128 and ends at Forest Trail 813. Submit one here . Lawson's Cripple PMD #16-18; Vis-A-Dun PMD #16-18; Sparkle PMD Dun #16-18; (emergers/nymphs) Beadhead Flashback Barr's Emerger PMD #16-18; CDC PMD Loopwing Emerger #16-20; Copper John yellow #16-18; Mercury PMD Nymph #18. At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. At a higher level of commitment, the creek has enough terrain and water to support a multiday backpacking trip. Official websites use .gov A .gov I'm fortunate enough to enjoy this trail weekly. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. The road you walk on does have several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or easy to go around. connected to the .gov website. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. 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. Views from the top are stunning. Think of angles instead of areas, and approach either from below or perpendicular to the fish. The trout's field of view covers nearly the entire width of the stream where it is holding, thereby improving your chances of a strike. 16.2 miles - Continue straight on "Chainsaw" single track for .7 . East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock All Rights Reserved. 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. Horseback Riding. 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. No description for Elk Creek Trail trail has been added yet! Did this in and back turning around a waterfall. From Antonito travel west on highway 17 to Elk Creek Campground, about 23 miles. Max Width. 15 Burnett Court Continuing on the loop got snowy for us (may 7) right above rough creek where the trail goes across the bowl was too snowy. You ride the Durango/Silverton Steam Train and it drops you off. The campground has 34 nonreservable sites available for $16 per night. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. One stream crossing after the Vallecito bridge about mid calf. If you are backpacking for the day and want a fish fry, these nonnative trout offer excellent eating. Author and guide Blane Chocklett discusses and demonstrates the action on his articulated Game Changer Nymphs. 4/8/20 trail was in great shape! Lots of bear sign but no bears. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. (970) 247-4874, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recreation/recarea/?recid=42890. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock My wife and I completed this hike in September of 2016 and loved it. This time of year I suggest an early start on this trail. The trail has some distance but the elevation gain is consistent and gradual over it so its not very challenging and I think most people could do it just taking their time. Great views. Motorcycle Riding. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. Sad to see all the beetle damage. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. 3 days, 2 nights. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Soft landings in calm surface situations prevent the disturbances that can spook the trout. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 10 min to complete. Write a Review. Water from Elk Creek can be filtered for drinking. A great smallmouth streamer, The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, steelhead, and any predatory species. Overnight backpacking was fun at First Meadow. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The creek begins to clear and warm, and increased insect activity results in more opportunities for catching trout. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. . The meadows are full of wildflowers and the Forrest is lush and green. The canyon water makes for a fun, fast-paced game with shotgun casting and eager trout, but they are mostly small. As the trail gradually climbs, the creek begins to narrow just before you reach Third Meadowsapproximately another mile up the trail. Motorcycle Riding. Hearing Impaired: 719-852-6271, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=29526&actid=51. Alamosa, 30 miles to the north, has chain motels and restaurants. Biking. Debris form 2020 avalanches on the elk park section have been cleared but theres quite a bit of fallen trees blocking the needle creek trail out of the Chicago Basin. Enjoy one final view of the area, and then complete the trail at the intersection with Road 651. The first big meadow was very pretty, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Dry and hot. There are two ways to approach this presentation problem. Cant wait to check it out in other seasons! Strenuous at points. Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. *In the spring of 2019, four massive avalanches barreled across the Elk Creek Trail covering the trail with debris in four separates areas. Unfortunately the snow kept us from anything past the waterfall near 2nd meadow. Colors are definitely changing and seemed to be more vibrant as I gained elevation. This jigging technique will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. From the trail head to the South San Juan Wilderness boundary only. 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. 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. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. This is more remote, with higher canyon walls and less people. My dog and I loved it! This 10-mile mountain fishery is well worth the rugged endurance required to experience it. Gorgeous views. Typically a 7-foot leader tapered to 4X works great. The south end of the trail is accessible from Centennial Trailhead, which is located near the Forest Boundary at the end of County Road 241. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Columbia via the SE ridge by turning right on the Colorado Trail (CT) intersected at 1.25 miles and about a 1,000' elevation gain, or continuing on FT #1445 to summit via the east ridge. 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. There are also good climbing opportunities in the area. Backpack from Molas Lake - Take Colorado Trail down Elk Park, cross the Animas River (nice footbridge), hike along the Durango Silverton Railroad for a short distance and continue on Elk Creek/Colorado Trail past beaver ponds towards the point where Colorado Trail connects with Continental Divide Trail. 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. Be ready for an uphill battle! Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. An official website of the beautiful views the entire way. Vehicle Info. We recommend it as long as you are ready to stay 7 days in the backcountry! Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. You follow along Elk Creek the entire way and theres beautiful waterfalls. 'Elk Creek Vista' Matted CT Print $ 35.00 - $ 125.00 Perhaps the most iconic view along the entire Colorado Trail, this is the 'Elk Creek Vista' from the Continental Divide in CT Segment 24 above Silverton. Map showing recreational areas. The trail then follows the valley, with Elk Creek meandering slowly through the wide, flat First, Second and Third Meadows. 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. Absolutely stunning! ( Plenty of camping spot along the way. Most people are accustomed to fishing streamers in big rivers, and don't think of using them in smaller streams. Back at car 350. little traffic, some mountain bikers, will definitely do again. View . Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping. Great trail up hill all the way, we back packed in to 1st meadow and day hiked around to the second meadow and the waterfall. About 2.25 miles from the parking area is where the trail goes out to more exposed rock and fewer trees. Rate Quality . This was a great trail & relatively flat, but we got off trail accidentally and went down a steep hill which we then had to climb back up to get back on track. Want to report conditions for this trail? Landon Mayer photo. 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. Well maintained trail. I looooove this trail. Official websites use .gov A .gov Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Remember to slow down your casting stroke on both the forward cast and backcast, allowing enough time for the flies to turn over when using longer leaders. On newsstands January 3rd! Supervisor's Office The trail makes several creek crossings, which can be dangerous during high water periods and outright impossible when there's been rain in the area recently, so please be extremely cautious and do not attempt high water creek crossings on your own. . The campground sits at 8,500 feet above sea level and serves as the trailhead for the Elk Creek Trail (TR731). Please note that FR-654 is rough and narrow and there is only room for 2-3 vehicles at the end of the road. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction LockA locked padlock 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. East Elk CreekTrail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. Colorado. Summer and fall are the two main fishing seasons, allowing four months during which to plan your journey: June, July, August, and even September (weather permitting, with cooler weather). ( Map Information, White River Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan takes us along on a fly-fishing trip into the Montana mountains to show where, how, and why to catch trout in alpine lakes. 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