PHOTOS OF
COLUMBINE PASS TRAIL
in the
WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS
Columbine Pass Trail starts at the Needleton stop of the Durango and Silverton
Scenic Railroad and proceeds up 2900 feet in about 6 miles to reach the
Chicago Basin of the Weminuche Wilderness, one of the most heavily-visited
areas of the wilderness. Two more miles (and another 1480 feet up) through
the basin and you reach Columbine Pass. The trail then descends about 6.5
miles and ends at the Vallecito Trail.
Needle creek is to your right as you proceed up the narrow, steep canyon,
and the creek has numerous small waterfalls and cascades. Try to remember
as you hike up or down that this was once a wagon road for carrying supplies
up to the Basin and ore down.
The final .5 mile or so is quite steep and above treeline. Here is Len
as we descended into Chicago Basin from Columbine Pass (12,680 feet.)