Jim Creek Trail
Jim Creek: Across U.S. 40 from the entrance to Mary Jane Ski Area at Winter Park, the National Sports
Center for the Disabled has created a 1.5-mile loop trail that includes a 1,000-foot boardwalk. (970) 726-
1646.
The following is a letter from Beth Fox, the Operations Manager of this area and contains great information:
The Bonfils-Stanton Outdoor Center is located on private land and US Forest Service land. The NSCD has a
special use permit for the area and owns and maintains the structures (boardwalks, picnic areas, restrooms,
campground, trail benches) but does not own the land. The Outdoor Center is free and accessible 24
hours a day year round to anyone who chooses to visit.
The restrooms and campsites are operational between mid-June after melt out and early October before
snow in. Campsite sign ups are based upon is first come, although NSCD does pre-register our own camps
for that area.
Fishing is available in two beaver ponds at the top of the trail and offer small brook trout.
Myriad birds and wildlife including moose, deer, bear (they are shy), fox, coyote, beaver, muskrat,
pine martin, skunk, and more live in the forest and wetland area of Jim Creek which is a major
drainage from James Peak. The BSF Outdoor Center is located at the bottom of the Jim Creek
drainage near the junction with the Fraser River.
To get to the BSF Outdoor Center from Denver drive west on I-70 to exit 232/Empire and drive through the
towns of Empire and Berthoud Falls, over Berthoud Pass, past the Mary Jane entrance of Winter Park Resort
and to the NE corner of US 40 and Winter Park Drive which is adjacent to Winter Park Resort. There is now a
stop light located at this intersection. There is parking at the trailhead kiosk. The drive from Denver is about
65 miles.
The trail system looks like an upside down wavy Q from the air with the boardwalks at either end of the Q and
the fishing pond access trail the tail of the Q. From the parking lot moving in a counter clockwise direction
one will see the trailhead kiosk, lower boardwalk, Discovery Trail, Fox den picnic site and toilet, campground,
water well, toilets, upper boardwalk, Rose Crown picnic site, spur to fishing ponds, Challenger trail to parking
lot. Rest benches are interspersed along the trails and boardwalks. The Outdoor Center trails and
boardwalks are for foot and wheelchair traffic only and horses, bikes, skateboards, ATV’s, etc. are not
permitted.
The Towns of Winter Park and Fraser are located just 3 and 6 miles, respectively, north on US 40 from the
BSF Outdoor Center. Scads of hotels restaurants, shops and more are located there.
I hope that this information is helpful as the area is beautiful and very accessible.
Sincerely,
Beth
Beth Fox
Operations Manager
National Sports Center for the Disabled
www.nscd.org
970-726-1646