Lower Clear Creek
Colorado – US
- Class
- IV- to IV+
- Gradient
- 85 FPM
- Typical season
- May to July
- Author
- Joshua Darnell
Current Flow
109 CFS
Gauge height: 4.07 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM
▼ -0.08/hr (12h) ▼ -0.04/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- CLEAR CREEK AT GOLDEN, CO Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗ NOAA river forecast ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 300 |
| Average | 700 |
| Maximum | 1,300 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
Awesome after work class IV run.
Class III to IV- warmup leads into Elbow Falls a small class IV ledge drop with a wall on the right side. More class III to IV- leads to a sharp left bend in the river with an eddy signaling the lead in to the Screaming Quarter Mile. A quarter mile of fun rock dodging. Take out at the bottom of Screaming Quarter Mile at the river left eddy to portage or scout the dam. Be sure to scout the take out eddy if it is your first time down, as the diversion dam is not far downstream from it.
Put in: Is just downstream of the bridge at the end Rigor Mortis rapid.
Take out: Tunnel 1 above the diversion dam at the end of the Screaming Quarter Mile. Also you can continue on to the Golden Whitewater Park as an alternative take out option after portaging the dam.
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elbow Falls | IV- to IV+ | 300–1,300 |
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| 2 | Screaming Quarter Mile | IV- to IV+ | 300–1,300 | ||
| 3 | Diversion Dam | V to V+ | —–— | Dangerous diversion dam at the end of the run that is usually portaged. Although, it is run by some paddlers. This feature is below the takeout eddy. |
Access
No river access points added yet.
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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