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Access Site CO

Rigor Mortis

Clear Creek • Elk Creek

Source: american_whitewater Updated 3 months ago

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City: CO
County: Jefferson
Type: Whitewater Take Out
Location: 39.74248000, -105.29520400
Air Temp: --
Location
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Nearby Gauge Conditions
Clear Creek at Golden, CO Same River 3.3 mi away
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North Clear Creek above Mouth near Black Hawk, CO Same River 5.6 mi away
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Clear Creek near Lawson, CO Same River 17.7 mi away
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Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Run
IV-V(V+) Take-out Clear Creek - 07. Black Rock - Green Bay Rock (MM 262.9) to Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2)
114 ft/mi
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Current Conditions
-- • 199.00-1000.00 cfs
Clear Creek at Golden, 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 08. Lower - Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2) to the diversion Dam
2.9 mi 85 ft/mi
IV-V(V+) Take-out at this location 07. Black Rock - Green Bay Rock (MM 262.9) to Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2)
3.1 mi 114 ft/mi
IV Upstream from here (5.3 mi from take-out) 05. Upper Clear Creek ("Kermits")
5.4 mi 110 ft/mi
III Upstream from here (4.9 mi from take-out) 06. Middle Clear Creek
1.9 mi
III Upstream from here (9.6 mi from take-out) 04. Idaho Springs Town Run
4.7 mi
III-IV Upstream from here (14.8 mi from take-out) 03. Lawson to Idaho Springs
7.7 mi
V+ Upstream from here (28.5 mi from take-out) 02. Silverplume to Georgetown
0.9 mi 390 ft/mi
IV(V+) Upstream from here (29.6 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 87 mi away 01. Missouri Creek TH to Dirt Road
7.7 mi 163 ft/mi
Whitewater data from American Whitewater
About This Access Site
Rigor Mortis is a whitewater take-out access point on Clear Creek in Jefferson County, Colorado. This site serves as an exit point for paddlers completing whitewater runs on Clear Creek, a substantial river system with a significant gradient and consistent flow. Clear Creek is classified as a large river with a stream order of 7, draining 1015 square miles of the Colorado high country and maintaining an average flow of approximately 187 cubic feet per second with an average velocity of 2.56 feet per second.

The creek descends over 3000 feet across its 93-mile length, creating sections suitable for intermediate to advanced whitewater paddling. The average gradient of 34.1 feet per mile indicates consistent rapids and technical sections throughout much of the creek. As a take-out point, this location is designed for paddlers exiting the water after upstream runs, making it essential for trip planning on Clear Creek's various sections.

Paddlers using this take-out should be prepared for fast current conditions typical of Colorado Front Range streams and should have appropriate whitewater skills and equipment. The location in Jefferson County places it within the greater Denver metropolitan area, providing relatively accessible whitewater paddling opportunities for experienced boaters.