Jim Creek Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs
Jim Creek
Photo: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 6.5 mi
- round trip
- 1,229 ft
- climb
- 10,655 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun, Sep
- best months
Caution today
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 11 h ago
Is Jim Creek open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Sulphur Ranger District · USFS · Sulphur Ranger District
Permanent Recreational Shooting Order
Agency alert covering Sulphur Ranger District · Order 02-10-00-25-02 · USFS · Sulphur Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Jim Creek is a hard, out-and-back hike in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, within the Sulphur Ranger District. The trail runs about 6.5 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1,229 feet, starting at a low point of 9,319 feet and reaching 10,655 feet at its high point. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route's natural surface makes for a straightforward but steep climb. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Cabin Creek weather station, which sits about 635 feet lower than the high point, show July highs near 69°F and lows around 46°F, while winter highs stay near freezing from December through February. The trail opens from June 1 to November 15, and the trailhead is called Jim Creek Trailhead. The Challenger Trail and the Discovery mountain biking route both lie about 0.3 miles away. Midland Group Campground is 1.2 miles off, and B-Lot Boulder, a climbing area, is 0.9 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Pepperonis
Pub
On your way back · 1 mi
If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHistoric house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)
More in Idaho SpringsLocal outfitters
- Camp Always Choose Adventures11 mi away
- Lostfork Basecamp29 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Challenger TrailHikingPhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.3 mi
- DiscoveryMountain biking0.3 mi
- B-Lot BoulderRock climbing0.9 mi
- Midland Group CampgroundCamping1.2 mi
- Idlewild CampgroundCamping2.7 mi
- Vasquez RoadRock climbing3.8 mi
- Vasquez CreekCanoeing4.7 mi
- Ranch CreekCanoeing6.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Challenger TrailHiking · Next doorPhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Blue SkyHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: edcrowle, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
UteHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: glennharper, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Discovery TrailHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- MoffatHiking · ~3 min drive
Broken Thumb TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Andrew Evans, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- RiflesightHiking · ~4 min drive
Fraser RiverHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Eye to EyeHiking · ~5 min drive
Lower Long TrailHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: aperturismo, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Also worth it near here
- Jim Creek CampgroundCamping · Next door
Winter Park ResortDownhill skiing · ~4 min drivePhoto: Cemeyer2, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Parry PeakSummit · ~6 min drivePhoto: The original uploader was TBerrigan at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Crater LakesLake fishing · ~6 min drive
Best time to visit Jim Creek
Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
32° / 12°
8 wet
Feb
31° / 11°
8 wet
Mar
38° / 17°
9 wet
Apr
43° / 23°
10 wet
May
53° / 31°
9 wet
Jun
64° / 40°
9 wet
Jul
69° / 46°
13 wet
Aug
67° / 44°
14 wet
Sep
61° / 38°
10 wet
Oct
50° / 29°
7 wet
Nov
39° / 19°
7 wet
Dec
32° / 12°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cabin Creek, CO, 15.6 mi away at 10,020 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
