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Access Site CO

Put In

Clear Creek

Source: american_whitewater Updated 4 months ago

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City: CO
County: Clear Creek
Type: Whitewater Put In
Location: 39.74540000, -105.43500000
Air Temp: --
Location
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Nearby Gauge Conditions
North Clear Creek above Mouth near Black Hawk, CO Same River 1.9 mi away
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Clear Creek near Lawson, CO Same River 10.3 mi away
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Clear Creek at Golden, CO Same River 10.6 mi away
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Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Run
IV Put-in Clear Creek - 05. Upper Clear Creek ("Kermits")
110 ft/mi
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Current Conditions
-- • 199.00-1000.00 cfs
Clear Creek near Lawson, CO
Whitewater Runs on Clear Creek
9 runs (8 nearby)
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site: Put-in at this location This location is on the run Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
IV Put-in at this location 05. Upper Clear Creek ("Kermits")
5.4 mi 110 ft/mi
III Take-out at this location 04. Idaho Springs Town Run
4.7 mi
III Downstream from here (3.0 mi to put-in) 06. Middle Clear Creek
1.9 mi
IV-V(V+) Downstream from here (7.3 mi to put-in) 07. Black Rock - Green Bay Rock (MM 262.9) to Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2)
3.1 mi 114 ft/mi
IV Downstream from here (9.5 mi to put-in) 08. Lower - Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2) to the diversion Dam
2.9 mi 85 ft/mi
III-IV Upstream from here (5.1 mi from take-out) 03. Lawson to Idaho Springs
7.7 mi
V+ Upstream from here (19.0 mi from take-out) 02. Silverplume to Georgetown
0.9 mi 390 ft/mi
IV(V+) Upstream from here (20.1 mi from take-out) 01. Loveland Ski Area to Silverplume
11.1 mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
V 80 mi away 01. Missouri Creek TH to Dirt Road
7.7 mi 163 ft/mi
Whitewater data from American Whitewater
About This Access Site
This put-in access point on Clear Creek in Clear Clear County provides entry to a large river system with significant whitewater characteristics. Clear Creek is a substantial waterway with a total length of nearly 94 miles, dropping over 3,100 feet in elevation as it flows through the region. The creek maintains an average flow of 187.55 cubic feet per second with an average gradient of 34.1 feet per mile, indicating continuous whitewater conditions that vary in intensity depending on seasonal water levels and specific section characteristics.

Paddlers using this put-in should be prepared for fast-moving water with average velocities of 2.56 feet per second. The creek's designation as a Stream Order 7 waterway confirms its status as a significant river system rather than a small creek. The substantial elevation change and consistent gradient throughout the drainage basin of 1,015 square miles means that water conditions can be dynamic and challenging. Boaters should assess current conditions before launching and be aware that water levels can fluctuate based on snowmelt, recent precipitation, and seasonal patterns typical of Colorado mountain streams.