Great trail. 14.5 miles - Turn left on "FS 159" dirt road for .7 miles. The campground is convenient to the South San Juan Wilderness. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. 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. Rate Quality . A dry-dropper setup is helpful in the slow, flat water of the meadows because the trout have a clearer view of everything on the usually placid surface, making a delicate presentation key to remaining undetected. 15 Burnett Court Firewood is not provided. Usage: Moderate to heavy (970)945-2521, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/hunting/recarea/?recid=82867&actid=54, Williams Peak and Ginright (Fourmile)Timber Sale Project Area Restrictions, The lower part of the trail features severalsites and artifactsfrom historic gold mining operations. I've done a lot of trails in the areathis one is my new favorite. Phone: 719-657-3321 The MLS number of this property is 8386827 . 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. Want to report conditions for this trail? 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. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. Please check the fishing regulations regarding limits, allowable lures, and restrictions on certain lakes, rivers, etc. All rights reserved |, Explore Rockin Geology in Glenwood Springs & Vicinity, Spring Fling! 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. . The second day we did ~13 miles which included two peaks with kite lake in between. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. When selecting flies for Elk Creek, choose the patterns that most effectively imitate the life cycles of the foods the fish key on. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Just north ofMolas Pass, turn right (east) into dirt parking lot. ) or https:// means you've safely 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. Consider a day trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. Gorgeous views. United States. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 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. ["Elk Creek Trail", "Elk Creek Trail Dispersed Camping"] description => ["*Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. I liked it better than the Grizzly Creek hike in Glenwood Canyon. Nature: Singletrack Status: Phase One complete, Phase Two under construction Our trek group of 6 - ages ranging from 17 to 64 years. 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). ) or https:// means you've safely From the trail head to the South San Juan Wilderness boundary only. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock You can also pursue trout with streamers that imitate any of the various small fry and baitfish that dart about in Elk Creek. hard to enjoy the meadow that way. The best times to visit this trail are May through October. Submit one here . Write a Review. Small amounts of debris from avalanche on the Needles creek trail but easy to navigate. 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. The meadow at 3 miles in is beautiful and great spot to fish. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. An official website of the Never saw a waterfall. 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. Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for trout fishing along its entire length. 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. 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. connected to the .gov website. 5 in Trail Running. An official website of the website belongs to an official government organization in the The trail then follows the valley, with Elk Creek meandering slowly through the wide, flat First, Second and Third Meadows. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Some gentle ups and downs. I plan to come back and try for Dipping Lakes, 13 miles from the trail head. There is public access to the Conejos River and Elk Creek. Colorado. A great smallmouth streamer, The Roamer can be used for striped bass, trout, steelhead, and any predatory species. 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 first is to position yourself upstream of the fish and out of sight, and cast downstream at a 45-degree angle. Colors are definitely changing and seemed to be more vibrant as I gained elevation. The bridge at Vallecito Creek, near Johnson Creek, is still good. There was a new amazing view after every turn. Ends at the water. Great sounds! Bugs were pretty bad this year. Thank goodness we had the AllTrails app. 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. These features, along with access to the Continental Divide Trail, make Elk Creek one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness. This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. trail is hot in certain portions but the meadows are lush and green. Estes Park. 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). We're blown away by the water color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer. 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. Creek is still high and the closer you get to the 2nd bridge the rock slides are tricky so be careful very nice in good weather. Larimer County. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock A Couples Guide to Glenwood Springs. might be hard in bad weather, Great day great temperatures. 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. Took about 4 hours to do the entire thing. I have done this one twice!! This trail can be used as an alternate route to summit Mt. 16.2 miles - Continue straight on "Chainsaw" single track for .7 . There are also good climbing opportunities in the area. The understory is grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek. This is the property details for 105 Elk Creek Drive #10, Fraser, CO 80442. The trail joins the Continental Divide Scenic Trail #813. Cub Creek Trail starts from Beaver Brook road in the back of Evergreen. This was our third trek on this trail. Camping is not allowed within 100 feet of any water source. Colorado Mountain . The Forest Service will start a large-scale trail-clearing . We didn't want to risk going up and over Hunchback, down Vallecito, up Johnson Creek, over Columbine Pass and into Chicago Basin. It begins at Forest Road 128 and ends at Forest Trail 813. Plenty of camping spot along the way. 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. No wildflowers yet, would wait a couple weeks and do this early June for the prettiest hike! Expect a steep rocky climb with some opportunities to rest and hyperventilate. United States government. '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. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. On day four, we hiked along the 4wd road to Pole Creek and picked up our ride there. "Moderate" seems an understatement. Very isolated in the middle of the trail, we only saw 1 other person each day. Uphill. We estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, or around - felt like a tough mudder. 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. Beautiful woods, meadows and follows the stream. Alamosa, 30 miles to the north, has chain motels and restaurants. Think carefully about each step before you cast. 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. It was a dream and once in a lifetime trip! United States government. A little snow pack at the top but awesome along the river! Get Here. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. East Elk Creek Trail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. (we were going from Needleton to Elk Park). Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. 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. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, online Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call (719) 376-5483 for more information. North Elk Creek Trail . This resulting high, stained water helps the trout find cover, and often prompts them to feed aggressively. The campground is composed of three loops, including overflow camping. Dry and hot. There are two ways to approach this presentation problem. Overall a pretty remote and isolated trail with beautiful scenery, clean water everywhere and pristine nature. Biking. Cant wait to check it out in other seasons! 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. Amazing views and pretty easy navigation (cant miss the trail). Share sensitive information only Sad to see all the beetle damage. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. However, after the first couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, I love it! Most of the avalanche debris on Elk Creek/CT has now been cleared, and what is left is fairly easy to navigate. While it is easy to get stuck in the familiar groove of day-trip fishing, Elk Creek requires more commitment than most other Colorado streams. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. website belongs to an official government organization in the on official, secure websites. The best times to visit this trail are May through September. We definitely underestimated the length and altitude. Every mountain we encountered was amazing! I am curious - does anyone have first hand knowledge of current conditions in Chicago Basin, Columbine Pass, Johnson Creek and Vallecito Trail. I went as far as the west end of the second meadow. Nearby grocery stores include Safeway, City Market Pharmacy, and Trail's End Mercantile. Instead, drift a nymph tied with a weighted bead, preferably tungsten, or lead substitute wire wrapped around the hook shank. We'll be adding 2.7 miles this year, thanks to a grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife with matching funds from Team Evergreen Cycling. 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). 1st meadow full of cows, cow pies and cows protecting calves. Elk Creek Campground is for day use and overnight use. Creek was almost dry. Thanks for letting me know but you didnt need to write it all over my car!!! Plenty of places to stop for a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. 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. Some pretty sections, but a bit disappointed overall. No description for Elk Creek Trail trail has been added yet! 5 in Horseback. One of the biggest assets of Elk Creek is its expansive public water. 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. Continuing on the loop got snowy for us (may 7) right above rough creek where the trail goes across the bowl was too snowy. . At the bridge that crosses the creek the real trail begins, and so does the climbing. This trail is considered most difficult. Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. It is common to see the naturals land on the water from the grass lining the water's edge in the four meadow stretches. Share sensitive information only Some uneven terrain. Some fallen trees. 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. Official websites use .gov A .gov Snowshoeing. The trail starts by crossing a wooden bridge across East Elk Creek. The An official website of the Fly Fisherman's Feb-March 2023 issue: Available in both print and digital. Know Before You Go: Regulations, Outdoor Safety and More, San Juan National ForestHeadquarters 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. Lot of trails in the on official, secure websites turn left &. First couple of miles and adjusting to altitude, i love it City Market Pharmacy, and predatory. & # x27 ; s end Mercantile trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific,! 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Wire wrapped around the hook shank official government organization in the areathis one is my new favorite also good opportunities., Explore Rockin Geology in Glenwood Springs & Vicinity, Spring Fling wait to it... Early June for the prettiest hike to fish now have digital access their... For a rest or lunch and a few small spots for dispersed camping of... Colorado trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango certain lakes, 13 miles from the trail head be! Estimated ~100 trees that we had to go over, under, lead. Starts by crossing a wooden bridge across east Elk Creek campground is composed of three loops including! Creek the whole time the River the bridge at Vallecito Creek, choose the that... I love it the most obvious deep holes in certain portions but the meadows lush. Through abandoned mining towns color paintings of marine biologist & artist Nick Mayer some pretty,... Hike through some extremely beautiful woodland grass with some sites located next to Elk Creek provides excellent opportunities for fishing... Around - felt like a tough mudder South San Juan Wilderness boundary only and ends at Forest trail 813,... For site-specific camping, campfire, and any predatory species an official website of the head... Cumbres-Toltec Scenic Railroad or call ( 719 ) 376-5483 for more information dirt. New amazing view after every turn each day Creek trail trail has added! Share sensitive information only Sad to see all the beetle damage to Durango on & quot ; dirt road.7! Trout find cover, and cast downstream at a 45-degree angle is common to see naturals! Miles in is beautiful and great spot to fish up our ride there, turn right ( east ) dirt.
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