Make sure to contact the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad ahead of time to reserve your tickets. When booking, let them know you're stopping at Needleton, as it's a different reservation from the usual Durango-to-Silverton roundtrip. Train details can be found at
www.durangotrain.com, but don't book your tickets online. Instead, visit their
Wilderness Access page to find the Needleton train schedule and the phone number you'll need to call for reservations. Note: pets are not allowed on the train.
If you're starting at the Durango station (
1), the ride is a slow-paced, scenic 30 miles along the Animas River, which takes about 2.5 hours (
2 and
3). Once you arrive at the Needleton stop (
4,
5,
6), grab your pack from the boxcar. Cross the Animas River via a suspension bridge, take a right, and begin your hike toward Chicago Basin. There is a well-maintained trail that leads all the way to the basin. After approximately 0.8 mile, stay left at a junction and continue along Needle Creek (
8). Not far past the junction, you'll enter the Weminuche Wilderness (
9). From there, hike another 2 miles and cross a small bridge over the stream flowing out of New York Creek (
10).
Continue for 3 more miles to reach Chicago Basin (
11). Stay on the left side of Needle Creek until you find a dispersed campsite that suits your needs. Many hikers prefer camping near the trail (
12), but there are also sites tucked away in the trees. At 11,200', near the end of the basin, locate the trail junction for Twin Lakes.
GPX Track File
