Clear Creek
07. Black Rock - Green Bay Rock (MM 262.9) to Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2)(Black Rock)
| Difficulty | IV-V(V+) |
| Length | 4.8 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 114 fpm |
| Gauge | Clear Creek at Golden, Co |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 82 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 17, 2026 |
Black Rock is the most challenging run on Clear Creek, and is an after work favorite for Denver’s Class V boaters. At medium flows, lots of read and run Class IV will keep boaters on their toes in between the major rapids. The run is largely made up of highway blast rock, so swims can be particularly unpleasant. Overall, the run is a great step up from Lower Clear Creek, below, and is challenging enough to keep local creekers sharp.
While it is possible to put in right at the first major rapid, Black Rock (V-), most boaters will opt to put in higher, at mile 262.9 at a pullout, to add some warm up boogie water.
Black Rock (V-), which is conveniently next to a big black rock, requires navigating a long boulder garden to avoid an undercut rock near the bottom of the rapid on the left.
Class IV boogie water follows - fun boating at moderate flows, but it can get busy at high flows.
A narrowing canyon and a horizon line after the highway bridge signals the Narrows (V-), a three-part rapid with a tricky corner to start, followed by the sticky Mr. Bill hole (often run right), and then a boulder garden run out.
Class III terrain follows, allowing a breather before the walls close in and boulders appear on river right, signaling the start of Rigor Mortis (V). A sometimes tricky lead in brings paddlers to a fast ramp above a large hole - go right. And go right at the large rock below, particularly during an out-of-boat experience. Paddlers can scout, portage, or end their run on the right - the usual take out is just below the bridge for those not continuing on to Lower Clear Creek.
To get there: The put-in is at mile 262.9 on Hwy 6, at a pullout with large spray painted rocks, or at a larger pullout just upstream. The take-out is just downstream of Rigor Mortis after passing under the bridge (mile marker 267.2).
At mile 262.9 is a large dirt pullout with a house-sized spray painted rock - more parking at a larger turn-out just upstream.
The first hard rapid. You have to thread your way through the rock garden in the top half, and avoid the undercut rock at the bottom.
A three-part rapid with a sticky hole in the middle (Mr. Bill). A long runout is great fun at medium flows, but can make for long swims at high water.
A lot just below the bridge - or take out above Rigor.
The creek drops into a constricted mess of hydraulics. It is amazing the variety of carnage that can happen here. Concentrate on a clean line in the entrance to avoid the big hole at the bottom. There is a large, slightly undercut rock 50' downstream from the big hole, remember to swim right.
Jul 2, 2005
Ice riverboarding through the upper part of RigorMortis
IceMan in the middle of The Narrows
The fun slide in The Narrows
Jan 1, 1900
Rigor Mortis on Clear Creek during the winter, at an extremely low water level of 28 cfs. I was visiting the area to ski at Breckenridge, and took a detour along the way in order to see this class 5.3 rapid at lower water levels then I had ever heard of before. It was absolutely amazing to see a rapid like this at this low level, and get a chance to take a good look at the riverbed that forms those two massive holes at higher levels!
Jan 1, 1900
Rigor Mortis on Clear Creek during the winter, at an extremely low water level of 28 cfs. I was visiting the area to ski at Breckenridge, and took a detour along the way in order to see this class 5.3 rapid at lower water levels then I had ever heard of before. It was absolutely amazing to see a rapid like this at this low level, and get a chance to take a good look at the riverbed that forms those two massive holes at higher levels!
