Clear Creek
08. Lower - Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2) to the diversion Dam(Lower Clear Creek)
| Difficulty | IV |
| Length | 2.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 85 fpm |
| Gauge | Clear Creek at Golden, Co |
| Flow Rate as of 54 minutes | 82 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 13, 2026 |
Lower Clear Creek offers 5 miles of Class IV boating, and is a popular Class IV front range run. Clear Creek often has reasonably long seasons, and the easy access and reasonable length make this a popular after work run. The nature of the run is road side blast rock, which can make swims uncomfortable.
The common put in is just below the Class V Rigor Mortis, which is usually the end of the Black Rock run just above the Lower. Putting in here gives boaters a good warm up before Elbow Falls (IV), a solid ledge drop that can be run a few different ways.
Near the end of the run, Screaming Quarter Mile (IV) provides the other largest dose of excitement. A large eddy above the drop lets everyone regroup before launching into a 1/4 mile long rapid studded with waves, laterals, and rocks.
High water in 2015 rearranged this rapid somewhat, forming a large hole at medium high flows in the middle of the rapid (Cripps Hole, named after its first victim). It starts to wash out as things get over 1000 cfs.
Most boaters take out just above Tunnel 1 to avoid a chunky diversion dam just downstream. The dam drop is jagged and often portaged river left for those who want to continue into Golden.
To get there:
The put-in is below Rigor Mortis on Hwy 6 at mile 267.2 just west of Golden Colorado.
The takeout is 1/4 mile upstream from the exit of tunnel 1 on the river side of the road. Be careful pulling in as it is a very blind turn and many near accidents have happened here.
Rigor Mortis lies above the bridge at Mile Marker 267.2. Use the pullout downstream from the bridge and put in here.
Elbow Falls: fast lead-in water to two holes that make up the rapid. Choose between getting friendly with the rock wall on the right or the large hydraulic on the left. Good cartwheel hole at the bottom.
The creek will bend hard from river right to left, creating a nice eddy for viewing downstream into the rapid. Screamin' 1/4 mile rapid begins with two lateral holes, followed by the two rocks forming the goal posts of Cripp's Hole. Follow the main flow and hang on for the ride!
Sharp rocks in a nasty man-made drop. Unfortunately the portage is a pain.
May 30, 2019
I'd like to propose that we split this entry into 3 different sections. Without any objections I'll start on these changes over the next few weeks. 1) Lower Clear Creek from Rigo down to the dam. 2) 'Tunnel 1 Down' to the play park. 3) The Golden Playpark.
I'd also like to change the gauge for Tunnel 1 Down, Lower, and BR to a virtual gauge that adds the Church Ditch gauge to the Golden Gauge as Church Ditch can change flows by up to 115 cfs. I'd also change the gauge for the Upper to be that virtual gauge minus the North Fork CC gauge.
Jul 30, 2014
The currently suggested flow range (500-1000) is bogus. In kayaks, the minimum scrape down flow is about 200. At 300, you're pleasantly floating and no longer hitting rocks. Cripp's hole in the screaming quarter mile becomes more of a factor as flows get over 600-700 or so, but washes above 1500 or so. Flows above 1000 increase the difficulty to more of a IV+.
Jan 1, 1900
To each his own.
The whitewater park in Golden has a little of something for everyone from a park-n-play hole, to slalum gates to beer...... or at least the smell of barley and hopps.
You can do almost any play move you'd like in the Golden park-n-play hole. 360's, surfing, throwing ends, loops, dodging out of control slalom boaters....
Kirk carving a perfect line through Elbow Falls.
Lower Clear Creek is pretty much non-stop read-n-run boogie water. This is Kirk Duchow somewhere on lower Clear Creek.
Lower Clear Creek is pretty much non-stop read-n-run boogie water. This is Kirk Duchow somewhere on lower Clear Creek. Note: it is roadside the entire run.
