Buck Creek and Broken Thumb

A challenging climb with a rewarding view. A legendary ascent through a historic area. This is worth the work!

Start in the town of Winter Park and ride Fraser River Trail in the direction of Winter Park Resort. This is a pleasant trail with a forest canopy. Take time to enjoy the cool shade of the mountain forest. Just past the beaver ponds, you come out on Trademark Drive. Turn right on Trademark Drive, left on Winter Park Drive and left again on Old Town Drive to Hwy 40. Directly across the road is the Lakota subdivision.   Carefully cross Hwy 40 and ride on Lakota Trail. Turn right on Arrow Trail and follow to Water Board Road (FS 128). Please ride with care and be respectful of the area. Lakota is a private subdivision. Turn right on FS 128 and continue on the gravel road for about one-half mile. You are looking for Buck Creek, a logging road on your left. Buck Creek is normally not marked with a sign but is easy to find because a metal gate crosses the road to prevent the entrance of motorized vehicles. Turn left onto Buck Creek and go around the gate. Buck Creek is an aggressive but not a technical climb. There is a very distinct track, usually on the left, that rides like a single track. The first part of the climb is the hardest. Loose rock and a steady steep pitch will challenge even the best of riders. The second part of the climb is a good double track surface and much less steep. Keep an eye out for deer and elk in this area. The second part of the climb has incredible views of the Winter Park ski area and the valley below. As you crest a small hill, there will be an intersection. Follow the road to your left. This should bring you almost immediately to the Corona Pass/Rollins Pass Road. Turn right onto Corona Pass/Rollins Pass Road, and then take an immediate left. A short distance ahead you will see a road and sign on your left. This is Broken Thumb. Turn left onto Broken Thumb. The first part of the trail is a double track, rocky and a bit of a challenge, followed by a smooth single track. Don’t be lulled. You have a very rocky and difficult section ahead of you. Keep the speed in check, as the trail will become steeper with large loose rocks. Your next intersection will be at a pond and old cabin to your left. Continue to the right along a flat yet sometimes rocky double track. At the end of the double track, turn left onto a short single track. This section is steep. Avoid skidding. Watch for cars as you exit from the trail onto FS 128. Turn left on FS 128. You will cruise along on a good gravel road that climbs to an intersection with the Corona Pass/Rollins Pass Road. Continue straight ahead, as this will bring you back to your original route just above the Lakota subdivision. Turn into Lakota on Arrow Trail and left onto Lakota Trail to Hwy 40. Cross the highway carefully to Old Town Road. Turn right onto Winter Park Drive and right onto Trademark Drive. You will see Fraser River Trail just over the creek on your left. Follow the trail back into Winter Park.