Clear Creek

Clear Creek of the Arkansas (CCA) is a high-quality, relatively non-intimidating Class V run with a continuous character.

The run is defined by two crux sections—First Gorge and Second Gorge—each with distinct features.

First Gorge starts with a challenging entrance where the river zigzags from right to left into a headwall. A sizable eddy on river right makes a good regrouping spot before ferrying over to drop in. You’ll know you’re close when you see an abandoned mine on river left about 200 feet upstream. After the entrance move, stay just left of center to thread between holes and diagonals while keeping off the cliff wall, which can feel uncomfortably close. First Gorge ends in a 4-foot boof over a large hydraulic, which may be backed up by a midstream boulder depending on flows.

After that, the river mellows briefly with fun rapids before gradually tightening again.

Second Gorge builds slowly, with twisting turns and tightening canyon walls. While none of these rapids are as tough as the two cruxes, they’ve caused more swims—often when paddlers err to the outside of the bends. The main crux of Second Gorge comes when the flow funnels hard right around a fridge-sized chalkstone in the center of the river. This sets you up for a 7-foot ledge drop that can be run several ways—most commonly by boofing hard left or right. Beware of an undercut at the bottom right—stay aggressive with your paddle strokes.

After this, it’s a short paddle to the standard takeout. A Third Gorge exists downstream, but it’s currently full of wood and will be added to this guide after cleanup next season.

Scouting Tips:

• First Gorge can be fully scouted from a trail that begins at the first hairpin turn on the road.
• Second Gorge is scoutable via a 10-minute bushwhack from a dispersed campsite at the top of the hill.

Always scout on the w

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