Backpacking the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado is a particular expertise. This journey information outlines a 60-mile backpacking loop by the Central San Juans through Vallecito Reservoir – a route that’s distant, bodily demanding, and filled with magnificence.
The Vallecito Reservoir Loop (for lack of a greater title) hyperlinks a few of the most spectacular alpine lakes, excessive passes, and distant ridgelines within the San Juan Nationwide Forest. The loop begins on the east facet of Vallecito Reservoir, climbs up the Pine River drainage previous Emerald Lake, winds deep into the Weminuche Wilderness, and finally circles again alongside Columbine Go, Silver Mesa, and Endlich Mesa earlier than dropping again all the way down to the reservoir.
We hiked this loop in mid-September over 4 days and three nights, protecting about 65 miles and 14,000 toes of elevation acquire. That’s a number of floor in a brief period of time—most backpackers will wish to take longer—however the reward was monumental. We discovered pristine alpine lakes, sweeping mountain vistas, clear operating water, and only a few folks. Exterior of some hunters, we had lengthy stretches of full solitude.
Trails are typically well-graded and maintained, however there are exceptions. A stretch of Silver Mesa after Trimble Go requires cairn-to-cairn navigation. And the descent from Miller Mountain on the Endlich Mesa Path is faint, overgrown, and riddled with blowdowns—you’ll want endurance and strong navigation abilities to get by. A GPS monitor is totally important right here. (We offer one beneath to obtain.)
For skilled backpackers searching for a difficult route with massive payoffs, this loop delivers. Through-hikers on the Continental Divide Path typically rank this stretch as a spotlight of the complete path. After climbing it, we are able to see why. For us, it was the proper mixture of pushing arduous, reconnecting with shut associates, and absorbing a few of the most dramatic wilderness Colorado has to supply.
Fast Info
- Location: San Juan Nationwide Forest/Weminuche Wilderness close to Durango, CO
- Trailheads: Begin at Pine River Trailhead, finish close to Vallecito Lake Occasion Heart. Shuttle or automobile shuttle required.
- Distance: 55-65 miles (with alternate loop and out-and-back choices of various lengths – see Route Choices part beneath)
- Days Wanted: 4-7 days
- Finest Journey Time: July – Mid-September
- Permits: None
- Campsites: dispersed tenting solely
- Water sources: Dependable streams and lakes all through a lot of the loop, aside from a protracted dry stretch on Endlich Mesa. Water remedy important — see Water Sources part.
- Canines: Allowed however should be on leash or below voice management (varies by part)
- Maps/Navigation: Topo Maps+ app (iOS), Gaia GPS (Android/iOS), and Caltopo Weminuche Wilderness Map. A full GPS monitor obtain is extremely really helpful.
- Google Map Hyperlink: Google Map Overview
- Issue: Very strenuous
Highlights
- Beautiful alpine lakes (Emerald, Rock, Moon, Twin, Ute, and many others.)
- Expansive excessive mountain views throughout rugged terrain
- Robust number of surroundings — from lush river valleys to alpine passes to ethereal mesas
- Wildlife viewing (elk, deer, bald eagles, black bears, foxes, mountain lions, and many others.)
- Glorious solitude later within the season (September and past)
- Lovely wildflowers in July and August
- Good fall colours round Vallecito Reservoir and in greater meadows (late September/early October)
- Usually well-graded trails that make massive climbs extra manageable
- Clear, clear mountain water alongside a lot of the route
- Distant really feel with few entry factors as soon as deep within the loop
- A number of path connections and alternate choices (together with the Continental Divide Path and Vallecito Creek Path)
Lowlights
- Very strenuous mileage and elevation acquire (relying on route selection)
- Overgrown, faint, and blowdown-heavy path south of Miller Mountain on the Endlich Mesa route
- A couple of unmarked path junctions could cause missed turns with out GPS
- Lengthy dry stretch after Metropolis Reservoir throughout Endlich Mesa — should carry water
- Afternoon thunderstorms are widespread in July and August (lightning, hail, heavy rain)
- Excessive-altitude challenges: complications, stressed sleep, and altitude illness are potential for these not acclimated
- Publicity above treeline leaves hikers susceptible to storms and solar
- Campsites not considerable in alpine areas — planning forward is essential
- Very distant — rescues and bailouts are tough; carrying a Garmin inReach Mini or related satellite tv for pc machine is really helpful
Finest Time to Journey
The very best time to backpack the Vallecito Reservoir loop is mid-July by mid-September, as soon as excessive snow has melted. Snowpack timing varies yr to yr, and a few seasons could permit earlier journeys.
- Wildflowers: Peak bloom July to early August
- Monsoon season: Afternoon thunderstorms are widespread in July and August — begin early and plan to be off excessive passes by early afternoon.
- Fall journeys: Early September may be wonderful, with solitude and good fall colours. Nevertheless, early-season snowstorms and below-freezing nights are widespread later within the month.
At all times test the NOAA forecast earlier than your journey.
DIFFICULTY
We’d charge this loop as very strenuous. The total circuit is lengthy, steep, and distant, with sustained climbs and high-elevation journey that may push even skilled hikers.
We hiked the loop in 4 days and three nights, averaging about 16.5 miles and three,500 toes of elevation acquire per day. That tempo is barely reasonable for skilled backpackers with light-weight packs, sturdy health, and plenty of backcountry expertise.
Most hikers will wish to take 5–7 days for this loop. This drops the every day mileage right into a extra manageable vary and permits further time for taking breaks, exploring facet trails, and absorbing the views. Even at a slower tempo, anticipate massive climbs and full days on the path.
This loop is just not well-suited for inexperienced persons. Altitude, climate, and remoteness all add to the problem. This journey requires a excessive degree of preparation to finish safely.
PERMITS, FEE, REGULATIONS
Permits: None required.
Charges: None for parking or tenting.
Campfires: Allowed after we hiked, however seasonal bans are widespread attributable to drought.
Group dimension: 15 most (Weminuche Wilderness)
Meals storage: Black bears are widespread on this space. Every member of our group carried an Ursack. Bear hangs are potential however not as efficient, and so they take much more time. See our bear bagging tutorial.
TRAILHEADS & ACCESS
- Begin: Pine River Trailhead, east facet of Vallecito Reservoir. Dust highway in respectable situation — no clearance points.
- Finish: Freeman Creek Path to Freeway 501 close to the Vallecito Occasion Heart. Not a proper trailhead; verify permission to park.
- Different trailheads: Vallecito Creek TH is a bigger, well-traveled different.
- Shuttle: Required — we organized an area journey by calling round.
WATER SOURCES
Water is usually considerable all through the loop with frequent streams and lakes.
Exception: Endlich Mesa. After climbing above Metropolis Reservoir to the saddle, there are not any dependable sources for round 15 miles. Plan to hold further water for this stretch.
Therapy strategies:
Advisable capability: 2–3 liters more often than not – possibly extra for Endlich Mesa, relying in your timeline. See our Finest Water Filters & Purifiers Information for more information.
CAMPSItES & ITINERARY
Campsites are dispersed solely. Use established websites when potential. Choices are respectable close to lakes and creeks however may be sparse above treeline.
Our itinerary (4 days / 3 nights):
- Night time 1: Moon Lake
- Night time 2: Junction of Rock Creek & Vallecito Creek Trails
- Night time 3: Metropolis Reservoir
Observe: After Metropolis Reservoir, water is scarce till the top of the loop. Tenting after this level would require further water for a dry camp.
Different potential tenting places:
- Little Emerald Lake / Emerald Lake
- Rock Lake
- Twin Lakes
- West Ute Lake
- Nebo Creek Path / Vallecito Creek Path Junction
- Johnson Creek Path / Vallecito Creek Path Junction
- Valley midway up the Columbine Go Climb
- Lake Marie
- Alongside Endlich Mesa Path (Dry)
ROUTE Choices
- Full Loop (our journey): Pine River → Emerald Lake → Moon Lake → Rock Lake → CDT previous Twin Lakes & West Ute Lake → Nebo Creek → Vallecito Creek → Johnson Creek → Columbine Go → Trimble Go → Metropolis Reservoir → Endlich Mesa → Freeman Creek → Vallecito Reservoir. (~65 miles, ~14,000 ft acquire)
- Rock Creek Cutoff Path: Shaves off 9–10 miles and about 2,500 toes of elevation acquire by bypassing the Twin Lakes / CDT part of this loop.
- Pine River–Flint Lakes Loop: A shorter choice from Pine River Trailhead up the Flint Creek Path, previous Flint Lakes, Rock Lake, Moon Lake, and Emerald Lake earlier than looping again down Pine River.
- Pine River Out-and-Again: A less complicated journey up the Pine River drainage to Emerald and Moon Lakes, then again down the identical approach.
- No Columbine Go / Endlich Mesa: Finish the loop on the Vallecito Creek Trailhead as an alternative of continuous over Columbine Go, Trimble Go, and Endlich Mesa. This eliminates the overgrown, hard-to-follow Endlich Mesa descent and simplifies logistics, however you’ll additionally miss some lovely high-country surroundings.
- Vallecito Creek Out-and-Again: Out-and-back journeys alongside the Vallecito Creek Path are widespread. You may also join with the Rock Creek Path and the CDT to make a shorter loop close to the top of the valley.
Different Choices: This space has a big and well-connected path system. With some planning, a dependable GPS monitor, and an excellent map, it’s straightforward to create customized loops or out-and-backs that suit your timeframe, health degree, and objectives.
MAPS & RESOURCES
- Obtain: Full GPX monitor for this loop.
- Apps: Topo Maps+ (iOS), Gaia GPS (iOS/Android). We used Topo Maps+ for this route, and it labored effectively. When you discover ways to use it, there are lots of useful options.
- Customized map: Construct a map utilizing Caltopo and print it to be used on the path.
- Backups: Everybody in our group downloaded GPS maps for offline use as a redundancy and for emergencies.
Paper map: NatGeo Weminuche Wilderness, Weminuche Wilderness West / East
Information: Learn how to Use Your Telephone as a GPS Gadget
WILDLIFE, BUGS, & HAZARDS
Wildlife: Elk, deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bears, bald eagles, and many others.
Bugs: Count on mosquitoes at decrease elevations and close to standing water in July and August. We skilled few in September.
Hazards: Afternoon thunderstorms (lightning, hail, heavy rain), publicity above treeline, excessive altitude/danger of altitude illness (see our Altitude Security video).
Path challenges: Silver Mesa cairn navigation, Endlich Mesa overgrowth/blowdowns, a couple of steep drop-offs.
Security: Carrying a Garmin inReach Mini or related machine is really helpful.
LEAVE NO TRACE
The Weminuche Wilderness is rugged and fragile. Please assist shield it by following Depart No Hint rules:
- Camp in established, impacted websites.
- Pack out all trash; dig catholes 200 toes from water.
- Deal with all water and hold soaps, meals waste, and suds out of streams and lakes.
- Retailer meals securely — black bears and small critters are widespread.
- Examine fireplace restrictions; use a range when potential.
- Depart rocks, crops, and different pure options as you discovered them.
Please journey thoughtfully so this wild place stays pristine for the subsequent customer.
Gear Checklist
Be sure to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines, so that you don’t overlook one thing essential.
Beneath you’ll discover our present favourite backpacking gear. If you wish to see further choices, our curated gear guides are the results of a few years of intensive analysis and hands-on testing by our group of outside consultants.
BACKPACK
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
The Vallecito Reservoir Loop within the Central San Juans is a giant, burly journey in one in every of Colorado’s most spectacular wilderness areas. With massive climbs, excessive passes, and gorgeous alpine lakes, it delivers a real backcountry journey for hikers who’re up for the problem.
This isn’t a beginner-friendly route. Nevertheless, for skilled backpackers who don’t thoughts lengthy miles and distant terrain, it gives solitude, magnificence, and a way of accomplishment that few trails can match. With a versatile community of connecting trails, it’s additionally an space the place you may modify mileage and problem to suit your objectives.
When you’re searching for a strenuous, scenic journey deep within the San Juans, the Vallecito Reservoir loop deserves a spot in your checklist.
