Perform this maneuver while standing directly above the area where the trout is holding, knowing that the fish cannot see anything above its position. 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. This was our third trek on this trail. The trail seems dry, not many wild flowers to be seen,. This is an awesome hike through some extremely beautiful woodland. Some fallen trees. If you haven't yet checked out the first . Wowee what a beautiful trail, particularly at the moment. We went in late January, so it was covered in snow, but there was a bit of the path packed down, so it was easier to hike. Beautiful Sights throughout. At that point, one of our trek members sustained a significant ankle injury. Fishing: Elk Creek is rated good for rainbow and brook trout in the lower section of the creek. Check trailhead signs or Forest Service Offices for site-specific camping, campfire, and livestock regulations. To exit we kept walking all the way to Purgatory. View the Map for the East Elk Creek and Spring Creek Trails (.pdf document), From New Castle, CO travel northwest on County Road 245. 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. Don't just fish the most obvious deep holes. might be hard in bad weather, Great day great temperatures. Experience this 8.3-mile out-and-back trail near Antonito, Colorado. Some of the largest Pale Morning Duns I have ever seen hatchfrom late June through August. About 1.2 miles from Castle Valley Boulevards intersection with the Buford Road, take the right branch of the Y onto East Elk Road (CR 241). . Hiking River Wildlife Description No conditions reported in the past 7 days The trail can be access from either Molas Trail #665 or the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rainroad Elk Park train stop. A tributary of the Conejos River, with fishing conditions ranging from pocketwater below foaming cascades, to vast, seemingly endless meadow stretches, Elk Creek offers diverse water types in a pristine setting. Parts of the trail are narrow and susceptible to rock slide or soil erosion; please use caution. These and others within the wilderness area are fed by runoff from the high peaks, and provide great fishing for brook trout in clear, icy water. Nice hike overall. An official website of the Think carefully about each step before you cast. Plenty of camping spot along the way. Lots of great waterfalls and views along the way. The four debris fields we crossed we scary enough. This jigging technique will allow you present streamers to trout that would be otherwise unapproachable. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. website belongs to an official government organization in the I'm hoping that we weren't unncessarilly cautious and missed out. We didnt take the train so we started at Molas Lake and walked to Needlestop. Colors changing . Elk Creek Colorado Trail 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. US Forest Service 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. website belongs to an official government organization in the There are three favorable times and situations for fishing streamers to Elk Creek's large trout: in high, dirty flows, when the fish will spread out under the protection the off-colored water affords; near undercut banks, where the trout feel safe from predators; and in low-light conditions such as on cloudy days, and near sunrise and sunset. Recent avalanche activity over the winter/spring created several debris fields that required us to do some significant trailblazing. An official website of the on official, secure websites. The drive to reach this trailhead is long and somewhat rough (moderate to rough in difficulty) requiring over 25 miles on 4x4 roads. I've done a lot of trails in the areathis one is my new favorite. About 2.25 miles from the parking area is where the trail goes out to more exposed rock and fewer trees. It is verdant throughout, hiking along the creek the whole time. Mechanized means of transport are not permitted (mountain bikes). This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. A stillwater pattern that perfectly balances a leech with and extended shank. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. 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. LockA locked padlock Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 h 6 min to complete. Highlights were kite lake, columbine pass, and Chicago basin. Suitable camping sites are dispersed along the valley. 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. When I returned there was a note on my car not to park there!! We had a couple of long days and some short days with lots of time to relax. At a higher level of commitment, the creek has enough terrain and water to support a multiday backpacking trip. website belongs to an official government organization in the "Moderate" seems an understatement. Map showing recreational areas. 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. 5 in Horseback. 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. Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District. Fly Fisherman's digital editor Josh Bergan describes the main forage foods of trout in alpine environments, including baitfish, crustaceans, and insects. The campground is convenient to the South San Juan Wilderness. Share sensitive information only Went 4 miles out. Follow @nickmayerart (Facebook and Instagram) to see more of his work and enjoy his art at www.Nickmayerart.com. Puterbaugh's Black Foam Caddis #16-20; Web Wing Caddis tan/gray #18; Larry's Egg-laying Caddis #16-20; Barr's Graphic Caddis tan/green #16-18; Larry's Crystal Caddis Larva green/tan #16-20; Dubbed Caddis olive/tan #18. From here, the trail climbs steeply uphill and leads visitors to the rim of the canyon. Elk Creek drains the northern portion of the Grenadier Range, which includes Arrow, Vestal, and the Trinity Peaks; a mecca for mountaineers. 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. Food and accommodations are limited in Antonito. Length:18 miles out and back Landon Mayer is a Colorado fly-fishing guide, and author of Sight Fishing for Trout (Stackpole Books, 2010). Explore this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near New Castle, Colorado. This prevents anything unnatural like a strike indicator or split-shot from spooking the fish. Next up are caddis, which flutter over the creek's surface in astonishing numbers beginning in late May through July. We loved this trail and would highly recommend! 5 in Trail Running. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. After crossing the creek, continue for another 0.5 miles to an intersection with Spring Creek Trail #2068, which is just past a second creek crossing with a log bridge. Biking. On average it takes 7 minutes to complete this trail. 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. Uses: Hiking Weather. For the boulder-filled pocketwater, a dry-dropper rig is helpful in suspending the nymph, though the dry often attracts the strike. It's best to present the fly from downstream, allowing you to remain undetected. No description for Elk Creek Trail trail has been added yet! Remember to filter water and practice low-impact camping and follow all Wilderness restrictions. 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 initial trail segment features several small waterfalls and pools surrounded by beautiful rock formations; these spots offer great opportunities for photography and fly fishing. Monte Vista, CO 81144 Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. This creek has both a spectacular setting and an abundance of browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and cuttbows from 12 to 22 inches. The walk down a single lane unused road along the creek to the trail is a nice walk in itself. Chicago Basin area was very pretty, and not too crowded with tents. Highway 17 is a secenic byway, Los Caminos Antiguos. on official, secure websites. 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. (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. We saw deers, elk, mountain goat, beavers. Elk Creek Trail #503 is part of the Colorado Trail, traversing the mountains from Denver to Durango. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Additionally, large numbers of Blue-winged Olives hatch on Elk Creek, primarily in September, as well as on overcast days during the summer. East Elk CreekTrail #1841 is 6.9 miles long and is the closest Forest Service recreation site to the Town of New Castle. Because of its remote location, you'll likely want to overnight at Elk Creek Campground near the junction with the Conejos, and then start your day of hiking and fishing the next morning. 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