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 1 hour | 94 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 22, 2024 |
This is the most popular run on Clear Creek with its close proximity to Golden Colorado.
The riverbed is all blasted rock and is unkind to upside down or swimming boaters.
Sharp angled rock lines this route. Most people put in below Rigor Mortis and take out above the dam which makes this run a solid class IV.
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 Kripp'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 in the butt. You can take out just upstream, but the best surf waves and the play park are just downstream...
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+.
May 4, 2007
Great day to play. Nice cartwheels. Feel free to add the subject name if you recognize him.
This one is textbook pretty. No edges to catch here. Feel free to add your name if you see this and recognize yourself.
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.
