It may have been in last months Field and Stream... there was an article about taking the Durango/Silverton train, getting off, and hiking into the wilderness to trout fish. I can't find my magazine and the article doesn't exist on-line. It was one of the "Cheap Trips" features.

Has anyone ever done this? I'm looking to set up a trip next spring (pre-melt) to hike in and fish with some buddies. I think there may have even been a thread about this on the Outdoor board, but I can't search back that far.

I didn't do any fishing, but I've taken the train to the stop at Needleton and done the hike up the Needle Creek trail into Chicago Basin (during the summer). You can also reach the Needleton area with about an 8 mile hike in from the Purgatory campground off Hwy 550 if you don't want to bother with the train.

There was a thread. I've been over that way at least a dozen times, and is is pretty and scenic, and there are some excellent looking streams up there.

Frozen - thanks for the tip. I'm not really that into the train, but I wasn't sure if there was a better way to get into the area. Anyone else with some info?

[This message has been edited by lostboy (edited 7/25/2007 9:48a).]

There was another thread on here about a month back on that subject...it was very informative...maybe someone (I cannot find it) can find it and post a link!

Go to www.Durango.com or www.colorado.com then go to the links to Durango. Rode the train this summer, the train stopped let people off. In a few days or however long the people made arrangements for the train will stop and pick you up.

You can also just drive a 4WD up the million dollar highway from Durango towards Silverton, or even towards Ouray (550 I think), and pull off on one of numberous national forest jeep trails, and make your own offroad or hiking adventure.

Yeah I was the one with the threads about this.
Talk to the San Juan Mountains Association. (www.sjma.org) They have some excellent books. Also you can get some advice from some of the locals if you call the backpacking gear shops.
After some research, I am not going to Needleton or Chicago Basin, as it seems there is poop under every rock and no fires allowed in the needle creek drainage area.
Here are the threads:
http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=895791&forum_id=34
http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=903699&forum_id=34

Pirate - Thats the stuff I'm looking for! My buddies and I are thinking of doing a week trip. Drive up, have 4 or 5 days to hike/fish/camp and take in the mountain air, then drive back down to Texas. Time to start the research!

Gee, and some people wonder why devises such as the "Groover" are used by some groups. I've been into the Chicago Basin a few times. The last 2 times were so bad in regards to the poop issue, I really don't plan on going back. The shear amount toilet paper sticking out from under rocks is pretty sad in some areas.

"axe, cow, plow, gun ,and FIRE"--know them and use them

Call Tom Knopick at Duranglers fly shop in Durango. www.duranglers.com He's a nice guy and has co-authored the book, Fly Fishing Southern Colorado. I'm sure he can give you the info that you're looking for. My recollection is that the closer you get to Silverton, the poorer the fishing is due to the past mining activity.

There are some small streams that are north of Durango that are supposed to be pretty good fishing; but I've never fished there. The Animas on the south side of Durango, behind the Sears is a good stretch also.

Lots of options near Durango; of course, the San Juan River is great if you've never fished it.

I realize the steam train may not fit your idea of an adventure, but the views and history of it make it well worthwhile IMHO.

[This message has been edited by drivinwest (edited 7/27/2007 9:15p).]

I have been on the train twice. It was great. But we want to get an earlier start and get further out there. Call me antisocial, but the goal is to get far away from people and civilization.
Also, we are re-thinking our trip now due to the HOT weather up there. It is hotter than here.