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Description
This run is a good advanced beginner, early intermediate run for those comfortable with bracing and fast water. Swims (especially above 400cfs) have a habit of being sharp but short, though gear has a habit of running a long way downstream.
There are two options for where to put in:
1. Put in above (west of) Tunnel 1 at the Lower Clear Creek takeout but walk down below the diversion dam just below there. This put in allows you to run a handful of class III rapids on the oxbow around the tunnel.
2. Put in below (east of) Tunnel 1 at the large dirt pullout. This allows you to bypass the hardest rapids and many crews will split and have the stronger paddlers go upstream and join weaker paddlers at this put-in.
Below the second put in, near where the river comes back to the road, the Church Ditch diversion pulls about 40 cfs out of the river. Go Right at all splits in the river to avoid going down the ditch.
Takeout in the Golden Play Park. Most people park in the lot between Lions Park and the Softball Fields.
From there, take 10th st back east to Washington St and turn left. Go 1/4 mile and turn left to get on Hwy 58 West. Continue through the traffic light where going straight will take you onto Hwy 6 into the canyon. Go less than a mile and just before the first tunnel you'll see a pullout on the left. This is the lower put in that misses most of the Class III stuff.
To get to the second put in, go through the tunnel and 1/4 mile past the exit there is a pull out on the left on a blind turn. Park here and walk downstream to below the dam to put in.
Difficulty Classes
I EasyII NoviceIII IntermediateIV AdvancedV Expert/ExtremeVI Unrunnable