5280 Mountain Guide • Clear Creek County, Colorado
From gentle float trips to thundering Class V rapids — the most accessible whitewater in Colorado, just 35 miles west of Denver.
The Runs
Clear Creek offers more variety per mile than almost anywhere in Colorado. Every skill level finds the right stretch.
A relaxed float through Golden's open valley. Wide channels, gentle riffles, and beautiful mountain views. Perfect for families, beginners, and stand-up paddleboarders.
The gateway run into the canyon. Continuous Class II with the named "Cough Drop" rapid offering a fun Class III punch. Great first whitewater experience — popular with guided half-day trips.
The signature Clear Creek run. Numbered rapids (#1 through #9) thunder through a narrow granite gorge. Continuous steep gradient, powerful hydraulics, and mandatory portage at #6 in high water. This is serious whitewater.
Runs right through downtown Idaho Springs — waves, holes, and a festive crowd. Easy shuttle, good flow range, and ideal for intermediate paddlers who want a quick high-quality run.
A short, steep, and committing stretch that forms only at high snowmelt flows. Boulder gardens, pushy water, and technical lines. For experienced whitewater kayakers — not appropriate for raft trips at most levels.
Remote, committing, and relentlessly steep. Multiple mandatory portages, undercuts, and no bail-out options. Only attempted by expert kayakers with local knowledge and full safety gear. Not commercially guided.
Season Calendar
Clear Creek is fed by snowmelt from the Continental Divide. Flows peak in late May–early July, then drop to low runnable levels through August.
Local Outfitters
All licensed outfitters operating in Clear Creek Canyon. All provide guides, gear, and shuttles — some offer multi-sport packages with zip lines and ropes courses nearby.
One of the oldest operations on the creek. Family packages and corporate groups welcome. Wetsuit rentals included in all trips.
clearcreekrafting.com →Multi-sport hub. Combine a rafting trip with zip lining or a ropes course on the same day. Great for groups who want variety.
coloradoadventurecenter.com →Multiple put-in options including the mellow Lower Canyon float — great for guests who want a scenic creek experience without big rapids.
whitewaterexcitement.com →Ranch-based adventure packages combining rafting on upper Clear Creek tributaries with horseback riding and overnight camping.
tumblingriverranch.com →If you just want to tube the Golden stretch or rent a kayak for the lower canyon, this is the most accessible and affordable option on the creek.
goldenhistory.org →Best source for kayak lessons and whitewater instruction on Clear Creek. They also run swift water rescue certification courses on the Numbers.
confluencekayaks.com →Prepare Right
Ready to Paddle?
Peak season books out weeks in advance. Reach out to one of our local outfitters, or call for same-day availability during the week.