Upper Clear Creek
Colorado – US
- Class
- IV- to IV+
- Length
- 2.5 Mile(s)
- Put-in elevation
- 7,230 Feet
- Take-out elevation
- 6,899 Feet
- Typical season
- May to August
- Author
- Joshua Darnell, KSC
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 | 500 |
| Maximum | 2,000 |
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
Also known as the "Kermits" run.
This is most accurate gauge for the run:
http://www.clearcreekwater.org/flow.html
Another good after work class IV section from "The Tributary at 244" (formerly, "Kermitts") restaurant on Hwy 6 to Hwy 119. Of the class IV sections on Clear Creek, this one tends to pack the most punch. Although short, the run doesn't waste mileage and stays fairly continuous for the course of the run.
Put in at the large dirt pull out by The Tributary at 244 Bar on Hwy 6. Soon after putting on, you drop through the Beaver Drops, two 5 or 6 foot ledge drops. Class III boogie leads into Double Knife rapid, the biggest drop on the run. But don't rest on your laurels here because much of the carnage on this run happens in the busy section of whitewater that follows as the river tumbles through a couple of bends. Keep your eyes peeled for the terminator hole as you pass the eastern portal of the tunnel. Either sneak it on the far right side or boof hard.
In the straightaway that follows, there is a sleeper hole behind a wave that often surfs and sometimes swims the unexpected boater. One last fun rapid that can be seen from the road completes the run just before Hwy 6 & 119 intersection. There's a fun surf wave just under the bridge at the takeout. Due to contruction use a TO downstream of the intersection. Take out 1/4 mile downstream of the stop light. There is a paved parking area or continue on down Hwy 6 to many alternate TO options on Middle Clear Creek before the Blackrock section (V).
Put in: Pullout near The Tributary on Hwy 6
Take out: Pullout 1/4 mile downstream of the stop light for Hwy 6 and Hwy 119.
Rapids
No rapids added yet.
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take-Out | Hwy 119 and Hwy 6 intersection | 6,899 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Park at the obvious small dirt lot on the right side of the river just below where the river crosses the highway. |
| Put-In | Kermits | 7,230 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Near the intersection of Hwy 6 and the I-70 frontage road, across the street from Kermits Roadhouse is an obvious dirt pullout right by the river. |
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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