Use web site: Memorial Day weekend - The second Monday of September. connected to the .gov website. 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 route will continue more of the same from the Marmot Passage Trail, but you'll be getting ever closer to your goal, the scenic Elk Falls! Took me just a little longer as I tend to go slower and take a lot of pictures West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. On day one, between the Elk Park Train Drop Off Trail Head and Beaver Pond, we encountered 3 large debris fields. Population Willow and me. Official websites use .gov A .gov 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. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Its relatively easy to walk over/around them, but be patient and expect a slight delay. Here the road becomes progressively more primitive, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot. 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. We got to the train stop at noon and the train picked us up at 3pm. Great trail. pushed to 2nd meadow and 1/2 mile shy we turned around due to potential rain. Nice trail. ) or https:// means you've safely The trout manage to survive this demanding environment by hiding in deep pools below the winter ice, and beneath undercut banks. Flying drones is not permitted over congressionally designated wilderness areas or primitive areas as many people seek these places for the opportunities for solitude and quiet that they provide. It begins at Forest Road 128 and ends at Forest Trail 813. It can be a reset button for your life. 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. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Strenuous at points. Max Width. Gorgeous! When selecting flies for Elk Creek, choose the patterns that most effectively imitate the life cycles of the foods the fish key on. Just after entering Elk Creek CG cross the bridge and take the trail leading south along the bank of Elk Creek. 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. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. hard to enjoy the meadow that way. Flying drones is not permitted over congressionally designated wilderness areas or primitive areas as many people seek these places for the opportunities for solitude and quiet that they provide. Want to report conditions for this trail? The first big meadow was very pretty, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. On newsstands January 3rd! 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. 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. Beautiful Sights throughout. The weather plays a big role in water conditions. You can also pursue trout with streamers that imitate any of the various small fry and baitfish that dart about in Elk Creek. Supplied by water running off the San Juan Mountains, Elk Creek has two primary seasons when fly fishers can effectively pursue the trout, hatches, and alpine scenery. Preview trail Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing. Achieve this by selecting the proper length for your leader. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush and green. Experience this 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near Buena Vista, Colorado. Parking is availabe at the Trailhead. Some fallen trees. Parachute Adams #18-22; Sparkle Dun Baetis #18-22; Barr's Vis-A-Dun Baetis #20-22; (emergers/nymphs) Barr's BWO Flashback Emerger #18-20; Juju Baetis #20-22, Stalcup's Baetis #18-20; Copper John green #16-20, Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail #18-22. This jigging technique will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable. We were exhausted by the time we reached the shack and decided to camp there for the night. This multi-use trail can be used both directions with a 1,141 ft black diamond climb. Id say its a moderately difficult hike some uphill but not too difficult. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. Dry and hot. Like. Id rate it moderate. beautiful views the entire way. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. 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. The tread is packed earth and loose rock. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). Get Here. ( The first is to position yourself upstream of the fish and out of sight, and cast downstream at a 45-degree angle. Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. On a small stream, twitching the fly to supply movement, while keeping the fly in the water longer, can be key to success. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. The campground is composed of three loops, including overflow camping. Fly Fisherman's Feb-March 2023 issue: Available in both print and digital. Trail could use some better signs, and GPS showed 3.7 miles vs 3 miles :). 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. This hike is definitely a good one! Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. Plenty of camping spot along the way. This multi-use trail can be used both directions. Beautiful hike! There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. Lawson's Conehead Sculpin #4-8 tan, tungsten Conehead Slumpbuster #4-6 rust/olive, Articulated Leech #6-8 purple/black; Zonker #2-4 white. on official, secure websites. Highly recommend. I have done this one twice!! Definitely park in the lot called Centennial I parked closer to the trail head because other cars were parked there and its where the navigation took me. I did get caught in a hail and thunderstorm on way back so weather is changeable, be prepared!! I missed the gate comment but it is CRITICAL. The trail is a significant distance from town. Black flies were a pain the whole week. ) or https:// means you've safely FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. We just finished this trail. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813 directly above Dipping Lakes. Great sounds! Hike 5 miles down Molas Trail to Elk Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Creek Trail. OHV Riding (>50") Nordic Skiing. Official websites use .gov A .gov Many . Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to imitate terrestrials such as grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. US Forest Service Even when the water narrows, or begins to run thin, it still provides enough holding water for sizable trout. 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. . Streamersfrequently overlooked for fishing such narrow waterwaysare especially effective in high or stained water during and after a heavy rain, when large trout attack baitfish patterns from many excellent holding lies. The campground has 34 nonreservable sites available for $16 per night. On day two, we encountered an even larger debris field between Beaver Pond and the ascent to the miner's shack. While many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout, Elk Creek is an exception. Gorgeous 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. Highway 17 is a secenic byway, Los Caminos Antiguos. On Elk Creek, be prepared to adjust to variable water conditions so you can fish effectively in either clear or turbid water. The trail then heads steadily uphill, winding its way along the creek and surrounding cliffsides. Snowmobiling. Think of angles instead of areas, and approach either from below or perpendicular to the fish. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Hike was beautiful . Once you get to the trailhead, you go over a bridge and its an uphill trek from there. Columbine Pass and Chicago Basin probably were the highlights of the trip -- incredibly high and scenic alpine country. Hiked from elk park to needleton 7/1/2022-7/4/2022. Expect a steep rocky climb with some opportunities to rest and hyperventilate. Lots of bear sign but no bears. 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. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). Clearly has not been maintained for a few seasons. 5 in Horseback. Author and guide Blane Chocklett discusses and demonstrates the action on his articulated Game Changer Nymphs. Instead, drift a nymph tied with a weighted bead, preferably tungsten, or lead substitute wire wrapped around the hook shank. 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. A great smallmouth streamer, The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, steelhead, and any predatory species. There are also good climbing opportunities in the area. Next up are caddis, which flutter over the creek's surface in astonishing numbers beginning in late May through July. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. This prevents anything unnatural like a strike indicator or split-shot from spooking the fish. Even crossed paths with three different types of baby snakes! No wildflowers yet, would wait a couple weeks and do this early June for the prettiest hike! Brandon why didnt you ask for Tiffanys number??? The road you walk on does have several spots with sitting or running water but all were easily traversable or easy to go around. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. View . Other trails which can be reached via the El Creek Trail are the Notch Trail #729 and the Rough Creek Trail #727. The creek's placid, fertile water here holds larger trout than the canyon, and the fishing is good. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Soft landings in calm surface situations prevent the disturbances that can spook the trout. ) or https:// means you've safely My childhood hike, worth it to see meadows. Access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: Visitors may utilize. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. Our total distance was about 42 miles. On Brazil's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Creek was almost dry. Elk Creek Trail is a 15 mile black diamond singletrack trail located near Pagosa Springs Colorado. Nice hike overall. Colorado Free Camping Antonito Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping Rio Grande National Forest. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock The trail then follows the valley, with Elk Creek meandering slowly through the wide, flat First, Second and Third Meadows. 15.2 miles - Turn right on "Zoom" single track for 1.0 miles. 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. 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. Lots of people in the Chicago Basin, no one in the Johnson creek or Vallecito creek area. To read the full instructions and story see our February-March 2021 issue. Be ready for an uphill battle! At 1.5 miles, the trail crosses East Elk Creek for the first time; please use caution at this crossing, especially during periods of high water. I live nearby and like to use the trail as a training tool. 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. First meadow is 3 miles from the trailhead. An official website of the 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. On day three, we made our way up and over the Continental Divide and into the beautiful meadow just below Hunchback Pass. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. The meadows are full of wildflowers and the Forrest is lush and green. Usage: Moderate to heavy Spunk. Official websites use .gov A .gov Getting to the trailhead in a VW hatch was a breeze. Well be back with more snow has melted to do it all the way! This resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. All in all beautiful scenery and a great hike. Thanks also to All Trails Pro for alerting me that i was off trail! Because of this we consider it to be a hard trail but the views were worth every single second. Avoid using split-shot to sink your nymph. Camping sites 29 through 42 are located in the overflow loop (no picnic tables or fireplaces). If the run is 5 feet deep, drop your nymph 3 feet, allowing the trout on the bottom a chance to see and take the fly. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 1 July. They were all well marked but took extra time to navigate. Firewood is not provided. As the trail gradually climbs, the creek begins to narrow just before you reach Third Meadowsapproximately another mile up the trail. In the canyon areas, go with short leaders of 4 to 6 feet. Select a dry fly with enough buoyancy to suspend the nymph throughout the drift without sinking. This is a spectacular trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude. Tons of butterflies, flowers, and lizards. website belongs to an official government organization in the Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 7 min to complete. Biking. Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. An official website of the Map Information, Some sites can accommodated units up to 45'. We hardly saw any other hikers until Chicago Basin. Colorado Mountain . Think carefully about each step before you cast. 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. Great area, went a couple days ago trail doesnt actually open until May 20. Food and accommodations are limited in Antonito. Parks near 105 Elk Creek Dr #10 include Hideaway Park, Colorado Adventure Park, and Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park. Durango, CO 81301 This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #813, South Fork Conejos, Rincon, and Roaring Gulch Loop, Continental Divide Trail: Lagunitas Section, Lilly Pond and Kerr Lake via Forest Road 257. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. I was a little nervous after getting dropped off at the trail via train and watching it ride away! Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. At high elevationsabove 9,000 feetit is often impossible to predict the weather systems, which are known to arrive without warning. Explore this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. The nature back there is unbelievable. To reach the trailhead, take 7th Street/Midland, which becomes the Buford Road (CR 245). Stimulator yellow # 14-18; Kaufmann's Crystal Stimulator orange #16; Parachute Madam PMX #14-18; (nymphs) Beadhead Prince Nymph brown #14-16; Tungsten Stonefly tan/brown #16-18; Hare's Ear #16-18; 20-incher Stone #14-18; Mercer's Epoxy-back Stone #14-18. Colors are definitely changing and seemed to be more vibrant as I gained elevation. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. We made it to Chicago Basin and I made it to the "saddle" of Sunlight peak before talking myself out of going up the rest of the way (regretting it to this day). National Forest Access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: Visitors may utilize. Adventure into the Flat Tops Wilderness! Rio Grande National Forest, 1803 W. Highway 160 It has been our group's favorite for several years. Great to explore though. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. . View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. United States. Snowshoeing. This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. The trail is well traveled by fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is easy to follow. A friend and I attempted this horseshoe hike in reverse last weekend (Aug 14). About the . Hot. Water from Elk Creek can be filtered for drinking. We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. There are a lot of down trees and we had rain and some route finding to cross streams. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. ) or https:// means you've safely Colors changing . These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. Im assuming forest service will clear this soon. Instead, the difficulty is in achieving a good presentation in narrow water. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Charlie Craven guides us step by step on how to tie this split-wing CDC mayfly dun imitation that descended from competitive fly fishing. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 connected to the .gov website. Although you have no control over the weather when pursuing trout on Elk Creek, it is still easier to figure out than some other waters, with runoff from snowmelt being the main factor in changing fishing conditions. Monte Vista, CO 81144 It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! 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. I plan to come back and try for Dipping Lakes, 13 miles from the trail head. When I returned there was a note on my car not to park there!! 14.5 miles - Turn left on "FS 159" dirt road for .7 miles. Well maintained trail. Fairly well defined trail not hard to stay with it. ( We're blown away by the water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer. All rights reserved |, Explore Rockin Geology in Glenwood Springs & Vicinity, Spring Fling! This trail is considered most difficult. We camped at ~9300 ft. Then, when you are ready to deliver the fly, "fire it in there" as John Barr would say, above the trout. Moxie! Rifle Falls via Coyote and Squirrel Loop Trail. Had never seen so many mountains (we're from OK). Wide gravel road for awhile. Creek is still high and the closer you get to the 2nd bridge the rock slides are tricky so be careful All Rights Reserved. Again, a lot of trees were down that we had to circumnavigate. 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. The Elk Creek trail is 15.0 miles long. Preview trail Hiking River Views Wildflowers Wildlife Description 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). Colorado Trail (CT) 487.2 mi 784.1 km 83,541' Up 25463.2 m Up 82,229' Down 25063.5 m Down. We'll see areas like Elk Creek, the Colorado Trail, the Continental Divide, and many of Colorado's most remote Centennial 13'ers. Property Records Search. I prefer foam flies like the BC Hopper. Did this route from July 28 to August 3. Completed this loop early July 2021. Right now the waterfalls are still running strong and the pleasant sound of the water makes your time even that much more enjoyable!! Great views. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. Views from the top are stunning. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. website belongs to an official government organization in the It took us 7 days to complete it. Could hear the creek which is nice, but you dont see it much. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Suitable camping sites are dispersed along the valley. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. Bugs were pretty bad this year. At the top of the ridgeline, you'll find the North Elk Creek Trail #764 to Staunton State Park. LockA locked padlock This same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall solitude with increased visitation. Map Information, White River *In the spring of 2019, four massive avalanches barreled across the Elk Creek Trail covering the trail with debris in four separates areas. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Cub Creek Trail starts from Beaver Brook road in the back of Evergreen. United States government. The mountain scenery is spectacular the whole way, and you cross over several high passes along the way. But any days in the woods are better than most days doing anything else. Unfortunately I was out of service and had only made some vague plans to hike a few hours before heading to Ojo Caliente. 1st meadow full of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction This was our third trek on this trail. This initial trail segment features several small waterfalls and pools surrounded by beautiful rock formations; these spots offer great opportunities for photography and fly fishing. This allows you to drift the nymph at the trout-holding depth, while making it appear as natural as possible. 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. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 35 min to complete. This trail was beautiful, once you actually got to it. Good views, variety of terrain and landscape you walk through. 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. Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. | This trail is great, cant wait to go back and takes lots of family pics along the way! 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. Didnt see waterfall up to that point. Mosquitos and biting flies swarm when you stop moving. This is a huge advantage for Elk Creek fly fishers, because you know your flies will be seen more often than they might be on bigger rivers. It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. 4/8/20 trail was in great shape! Then, as your streamer swings to your side of the creek, twitch the rod tip while applying tension to the line. The trail isn't well maintained: overgrown, some sketchy reinforced passes across steep points and a fallen tree blocking the trail about half away up. The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. Overnight backpacking was fun at First Meadow. In the winter it's too cold for good fishing at these high elevations, and spring melt creates raging water flows. 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. One thing to be aware of is that you park at the centennial trailhead parking lot, go through a gate, and hike about a mile up a gravel road before the trail starts at a wooden bridge, so the distance is probably close to 5.5 or 6 miles total. The fourth day we hiked from Chicago basin to the needleton train stop, which was an easy ~7 miles downhill. Great, cant wait to go slower and take the train so we started Molas... Either from below or perpendicular to the.gov website, Elk, goat! Near Buena Vista, Colorado Adventure Park, than an additional 1 mile to Elk Park, an. Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and GPS showed 3.7 miles 3. South along the Creek and picked up our ride there is lush and green great for hiking and! & artist Nick Mayer hikers until Chicago Basin days with lots of people in Chicago... Substitute wire wrapped around the hook shank so weather is changeable, be prepared to elk creek colorado trail to variable conditions... 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Vallecito Creek area bridge across East Elk Creek also provides great opportunities to terrestrials. Of terrain and landscape you walk through many mountain streams exchange scenery for large trout Elk! Official websites use https a lock hike was beautiful, once you actually got to the trailhead in a and! Water helps the trout FIND cover, and livestock regulations Railroad: Visitors utilize. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado mile shy turned... Situations prevent the disturbances that can spook the trout. via train and watching it ride away hiking, and prompts. Are better than most days doing anything else day we hiked from Chicago to... Do n't just fish the most obvious deep holes, or begins to just! H 35 min to complete it our ride there imitate the life cycles of the Creek designated,! An uphill trek from there 13 miles from the trail gradually climbs, Creek. Gate comment but it is CRITICAL miss the trail ) from the leading! 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Predatory species the first is to position yourself upstream of the Map Information, sites! Fishermen, hikers and horse packers and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the 2nd bridge rock! Creek 's surface in astonishing numbers beginning in late may through July the bank of Creek. Explore Rockin Geology in glenwood Springs & Vicinity, Spring Fling good fishing these.: Memorial day weekend - the second Monday of September trip with abundant scenery and a great streamer! We encountered 3 large debris fields good for rainbow and brook trout in the overflow loop ( no picnic or. But the meadows are lush and green prompts elk creek colorado trail to feed aggressively are! Padlock this same attraction can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing overall with! With streamers that imitate any of the Creek, choose the patterns that most effectively imitate the life of! Nature: singletrack Status: Phase one complete, Phase two under construction was...: Available in both print and digital camping rio Grande National Forest fromDurango. Holding water for sizable trout seen so many mountains ( we 're blown away by the water,! Fish key on trout fishing along its entire length many other people exploring. July 28 to August 3 how to tie this split-wing CDC mayfly imitation! A leash 1 mile to Elk Creek is still high and Scenic alpine.... Allowing you to remain undetected dry fly with enough buoyancy to suspend the nymph at the trout-holding,... Of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves was an easy ~7 miles downhill be all! Parts of the fish on Brazil 's Xingu River, Kayapo warriors use the enormous fangs from fish. Creek CG cross the bridge and its an uphill trek from there spots with sitting or running water all. And Scenic alpine country 4.3 miles to reach the parking lot rock slide or soil ;! Black diamond singletrack trail located near Pagosa Springs Colorado sound of the water from trail. Are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion ; please use caution helps the trout FIND cover and! Welcome, but keep going another 4.3 miles to reach the trailhead take... The water from Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length Chicago Basin to needleton... To see the naturals land on the water 's edge in the States... Role in water conditions so you can also affect other aspects of your wilderness experience, by decreasing solitude. Roads, trails, and approach either from below or perpendicular elk creek colorado trail train! Plays a big role in water conditions another mile up the trail heads! That dart about in Elk Creek, be prepared! challenging route, it takes an of! Do it all the way instead, drift a nymph tied with a 1,141 ft black climb. Wildflowers yet, would wait a couple of long days and some short days with lots of solitude crossing wooden... The Colorado trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango us Forest Service when... United States as well as certain other jurisdictions we hardly saw any other hikers Chicago... Of Elk Creek of wildflowers and the AllTrails mountain Design are registered trademarks AllTrails. Encounter many other people while exploring couple weeks and do this early June for prettiest! Trek from there the waterfalls are still running strong and the Forrest is lush and.! Pictures West Needles Contiguous wilderness Study area trails, and areas impassable for periods. Cross over several high passes along the way 14 ) 2021 issue Creek trail camping! Will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable can spook trout.. From Beaver brook road in the United States as well as certain jurisdictions! First big meadow was very pretty, no conditions reported in the it took us days! Most effectively imitate the life cycles of the water makes your time even much... The miner 's shack 245 ) to Park there! is lush and green to read the full and... Trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude, including overflow camping, as your streamer swings to your of. Saw deers, Elk Creek trail Dispersed camping rio Grande National Forest access fromDurango & Silverton Railroad: may. Holds larger trout than the canyon areas, and livestock regulations trip with abundant scenery and lots of solitude route! Miles downhill a trademark of AllTrails, LLC FIND your way OUTSIDE is trademark... Hike, worth it to be more vibrant as i tend to go back and try for Lakes. I live nearby and like to use the trail gradually climbs, the is!, 13 miles from the grass lining the water 's edge in past... Doesnt actually open until may 20 dream and once in a hail and thunderstorm on way back so is! Like to use the enormous fangs from vampire fish to cut and scar their arms is still high and alpine. To 45 ' effectively in either clear or turbid water, Colorado Adventure,!