Home Camping Adventures A Visual Tour of the Weminuche Wilderness: Colorado’s Largest Wilderness Area
A Visual Tour of the Weminuche Wilderness: Colorado’s Largest Wilderness Area

5 min

September 7, 2023

Located within the San Juan National Forest, the Weminuche Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in Colorado. Roughly 500,000 acres, this place is positively enormous in size, and it’s mostly untouched. Sure, there are a few abandoned mine shacks randomly sprinkled throughout, but for the most part, it’s a rugged land of thick forests, raging rivers, and gigantic mountains. It’s almost as if the Grand Canyon, Zion, the Tetons, and the entire State of Washington had a love child, and named it the Weminuche. Below, we’d like to offer an ocular tour of its wild majesty.

Chicago Basin

All aboard the train to Chicago Basin. 
All aboard the train to Chicago Basin.
Chris Martin

The majority of passengers on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are bound for the old mining town of Silverton, where they’ll stop for lunch and a photo-op before taking the train back to Durango. Want to stay the night? Check out Durango Riverside Resort & RV Park nestled in the Rocky Mountains and relax by the Animus River.

Between 20 and 30 passengers, however, will not make it there. The train will leave them on the side of the tracks, deep within the Weminuche Wilderness. From there, they will hike six-miles up (and we mean up) to the fabled Chicago Basin.

Entering the Weminuche Wilderness. 
Entering the Weminuche Wilderness.
Chris Martin

Sitting at 11,200 feet beneath an amphitheater wall of 14,000-foot mountains, this bucket list destination attracts upwards of 5,000 hikers and mountaineers in a season.

It's all uphill to Chicago Basin. 
It’s all uphill to Chicago Basin.
Chris Martin

The steep spires, coated in snow through much of the summer, are nothing short of postcard material.

Admiring the views. 
Admiring the views.
Chris Martin

The six-mile hike into Chicago Basin is a steady, relentless uphill trudge. Following the cascading whitewater of Needle Creek, the trail leads hikers deeper and deeper into the Weminuche.

Camping among the evergreen forests. 
Camping among the evergreen forests.
Chris Martin
An abandoned mining shack resting in the wilderness. 
An abandoned mining shack resting in the wilderness.
Chris Martin
The Weminuche Wilderness' Chicago Basin
The Weminuche Wilderness’ Chicago Basin
Chris Martin

Every time you hit an opening, you’ll think, “this has to be the Chicago Basin.” It normally isn’t. But it will be very clear that it is the beginning of the basin when you see it. Once you do finally reach the basin, you can choose to set up base camp and venture out on numerous day hikes or push through and go deeper into the wilderness.

Twin Lakes

The trail to Twin Lakes is a well-marked, yet very steep route that travels up through the Chicago Basin. If camping nearby, it makes for an incredibly scenic (and somewhat strenuous) day outing from your basecamp. But the reward of reaching the clear blue waters of the alpine lakes makes it well worth the physical effort.

A day hike to Twin Lakes. 
A day hike to Twin Lakes.
Chris Martin
The trail to Twin Lakes in the Chicago Basin. 
The trail to Twin Lakes in the Chicago Basin.
Chris Martin
Closer and closer. 
Closer and closer.
Chris Martin
The cold alpine waters of Twin Lakes. 
The cold alpine waters of Twin Lakes.
Chris Martin

Windom Peak

Further up the trail from Twin Lakes, Windom Peak is one of three fourteeners in the Needle Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains (and it has arguably the best view of all). At 14,093-feet, it’s the highest point in La Plata County and the 54th highest peak in North America.

On the way up. 
On the way up.
Chris Martin
Windom Peak is the 54th highest peak in North America. 
Windom Peak is the 54th highest peak in North America.
Chris Martin
Windom Peak is also the 32nd highest 14er in Colorado. 
Windom Peak is also the 32nd highest 14er in Colorado.
Chris Martin

Sunrise Pass

Getting the feet wet. 
Getting the feet wet.
Chris Martin
The Weminuche in all its glory. 
The Weminuche in all its glory.
Chris Martin

 

Want to explore more of Colorado? Head north to Junction West RV Park and marvel at the Colorado National Monument or head over to Royal Gorge Campground and brave the highest suspension bridge in the world (956 feet) at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.

 

Featured image provided by Chris Martin

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