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Access Site CO

Take Out

Clear Creek • Chicago Creek

Source: american_whitewater Updated 3 months ago

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City: Idaho Springs, CO
County: Clear Creek
Type: Whitewater Take Out
Location: 39.74029700, -105.52118800
Air Temp: --
Location
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Nearby Gauge Conditions
Clear Creek near Lawson, CO Same River 5.9 mi away
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North Clear Creek above Mouth near Black Hawk, CO Same River 6.5 mi away
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West Fork Clear Creek above Mouth near Empire, CO Same River 7.5 mi away
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Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Run
III-IV Take-out Clear Creek - 03. Lawson to Idaho Springs
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Current Conditions
-- • 200.00-1500.00 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
III Put-in at this location 04. Idaho Springs Town Run
4.7 mi
III-IV Take-out at this location 03. Lawson to Idaho Springs
7.7 mi
IV Downstream from here (5.9 mi to put-in) 05. Upper Clear Creek ("Kermits")
5.4 mi 110 ft/mi
III Downstream from here (9.0 mi to put-in) 06. Middle Clear Creek
1.9 mi
IV-V(V+) Downstream from here (13.3 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 (15.5 mi to put-in) 08. Lower - Rigor Mortis (MM 267.2) to the diversion Dam
2.9 mi 85 ft/mi
V+ Upstream from here (13.1 mi from take-out) 02. Silverplume to Georgetown
0.9 mi 390 ft/mi
IV(V+) Upstream from here (14.2 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 75 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 take-out site on Clear Creek near Idaho Springs provides access to one of Colorado's most popular whitewater rivers. Clear Creek is a large river system with a significant gradient averaging 34.1 feet per mile, making it well-suited for whitewater kayaking and rafting. The creek drops 3193 feet over its 93.73-mile length and maintains an average flow of 187.55 cubic feet per second with velocities around 2.56 feet per second, creating dynamic whitewater conditions throughout the year.

The Idaho Springs take-out location is a critical access point for boaters finishing runs on Clear Creek's popular upper sections. Given the river's substantial gradient and fast current conditions, this take-out serves intermediate to advanced paddlers who have navigated the challenging whitewater upstream. The large drainage area of 1015 square miles means water levels can fluctuate significantly with snowmelt and monsoon activity, affecting flow rates and difficulty ratings.

Boaters should be prepared for fast-moving water and current-related hazards typical of high-gradient mountain streams. The elevation range from 1065 to 2038 meters indicates the take-out is in the lower canyon section where the creek has already dropped significant elevation from its headwaters in the Front Range.