Weminuche Wilderness

The Weminuche may be Colorado's wildest land, certainly its largest wilderness at about 490,000 acres. At the heart of the San Juan Range, the wilderness is cut by 80 miles of the Continental Divide Trail. Scores of peaks rise over 13,000 feet, with three towers in the Needles surpassing 14,000.

In a land averaging over 10,000 feet in elevation, alpine meadows and high spruce stands are interspersed with large areas of sharp, granite extrusions and rock slides. The high country originates two drainages that become massive river systems before reaching the sea. To the southwest flow Vallecito Creek, Los Pinos River, Piedra River and the San Juan headwaters, forming the vast San Juan drainage that eventually flows into the Colorado River. To the east, streams like Ute and Weminuche Creeks feed the headwaters of the Rio Grande.

In many respects, the Weminuche is an outdoor adventurer's nirvana. Hikers can lose themselves for days on its 500 miles of trails. Fisherman will find trout hiding in innumerable lakes and streams. Climbers will find the fourteeners in the Needles some of the easier climbs. Several of the thirteeners that dot the wilderness are even greater challenges. Anyone looking for wildlife may spot deer, elk and black bear, and if really lucky, bighorn sheep or cougar.

Chicago Basin - 15 miles from the Durango-Silverton Railroad to Vallecito Creek; Elevation gain: 3,560'; Access: Take the railroad to Needleton Bridge. Inform the conductor in advance that you intend to disembark there and get instructions for flagging the train if you intend to return this way. (Check with the railroad in advance as they are apt to change their policies regarding hikers.)

Another very popular route, this trail leads to the famous Needles. Expect to run into the climbing crowd aiming for these pinnacles. The route proceeds up Needle Creek. At about 5 miles, you will find yourself in Chicago Basin, surrounded by towering giants. Fourteeners Mt. Eolus and North Eolus anchor the semi-circle on the west and the equally tall Windom and Sunlight Peaks guard the east. Between them rise thirteeners Peak Eleven and Glacier Point - a sight to behold.

Continuing onward, the trail climbs to 12,680' Columbine Pass in another couple of miles. Then it's six miles down Johnson Creek to the Vallecito Creek Trail, an alternate route to retracing steps to the railroad.

Please note Chicago Basin is a very heavily used area - treat it lovingly.

Continental Divide Trail - The Continental Divide Trail runs 80 miles from Stony Pass in the northwest corner of the Wilderness to Wolf Creek Pass in the southeast. Oddly, three passes, Weminuche, Squaw and Piedra, are the lowest points on the Divide Trail - the route's average elevation exceeds 12,000'. I found the opposite ends, in fact, opposite. Out from Stony Pass, the trail pass through rounded open meadows. At the Wolf Creek end, the trail passes through timbered hillside. In between lies one of the remotest areas of Colorado.

Rainbow Hot Springs: If you are looking for a good soak, hike around 10 miles to Rainbow Hot Springs. The terraced pools are set in rock beside the West Fork of the San Juan River, like two small, perfect diamonds.

Climbing

Mountaineers head for the Weminuche's Needle Mountains in droves. The fourteeners of Chicago Basin are the most popular summits. While highest in the wilderness, they are far from the most challenging. Mt. Eolus, Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak are all tough but nontechnical scrambles. Don't be fooled, however. More than one victim has fallen prey to the hazards of falls and lightning.

Some of the Needle's thirteeners pose more daunting technical climbs. Pigeon Peak (13,972') and Turret Peak (13,835') tower over the Animas River gorge, which snakes along the Weminuche's west side. Other thirteeners include Monitor Peak, with a 1,200' east face, Knife Point, and Leviathan - and several others.

Just north of the Needles along Elk Creek rise another band of technical thirteeners, the Grenadiers. Arrow Peak at 13,803' is reputed to be one of the most challenging summits in Colorado. Vestal, the three Trinities, Storm King, Silex, and the Guardian all surpass 13,600'.

East of Vallecito Creek, Mount Oso (13,684') and Rio Grand Pyramid ( 13,821') reward those who have made the long treks to reach them. Both are nontechnical climbs.

River Running

The Weminuche Wilderness originates some of the wildest whitewater in Colorado. The Animas, what the Spanish called the River of Lost Souls, slices through a non-wilderness corridor, between the main body of the wilderness and the West Needles extension, a corridor kept undesignated wilderness as the Durango-Silverton railroad pass through. This is serious kayaking; experts only, for about thirty miles below Silverton. Further south of the wilderness, the Animas offers up great family rafting, with plenty of operators in Durango. Click here for more on the Animas.

The San Juan and the Piedra Rivers also feed on the snows melting in the Weminuche. The paddling doesn't start until well out of the wilderness, but don't pass these streams up. The Piedra is for serious paddlers, with Class IV rapids tumbling through two box canyons. The San Juan is a bit easier below Pagosa Springs, though still a good run for the money. Click here for more river information.

Fishing

For wild trout fishing in the backcountry, the Weminuche Wilderness is the place to head. The Los Pinos watershed has two major streams, the Los Pinos River itself and Vallecito Creek. In the wilderness sections of the watershed, the trout run wild - no hatchery-raised fish here. Trout aficionados say a serious angler could pop flies forever along Vallecito's riffles and pools. Both streams require at least a good dayhike in - but head in for a few days to really experience the magic of wilderness trout fishing.

Maybe it's stretching the definition of southwest, but the other side of the Weminuche launches another great trout stream, the Rio Grande. In the headwaters, brown trout run in sparkling, clear pools.

Cross-country Skiing

To really penetrate the Weminuche in winter, you better be prepared for a serious expedition. But a couple of spots lead to good skiing around the periphery. Wolf Creek Pass in the southwest corner is a jumping off point to the Continental Divide Trail. The surrounding area is a challenging ski.

On the north side of the Wilderness, vehicles can reach the dam at Rio Grande reservoir in winter. From there, skiers can jump onto the Squaw Creek and Weminuche Creek trails for a few miles. Or ski the unplowed section of the road to the west end of the reservoir and a bit farther on the Ute Creek trail.

Skiing in the West Needles addition is accessible from Molas Pass on Highway 550, between Ouray and Silverton. Just below the pass, the Crater Lake Trail takes off from Andrews Lake south to Crater Lake in the wilderness.