Current Status: No Flag – Use Caution. Flag tracking begins in June, often starting with red flags when the water is swift and high; the flag typically turns green for the official creek season in late June to mid-July. If you plan to tube before then, please use caution, as Clear Creek carries year-round risks such as cold water, blasted rock, undercut rocks, and potential strainers. No smoking or drinking along the creek, and pets must be leashed.

Creek Warning Flags

Colored flags posted along the corridor tell you at a glance how safe the creek is for recreation:

• Double Red Flag: Closed. High flows combined with unsafe conditions such as cold temperatures or debris make the creek unsafe for all users.
• Red Flag: High Flow. The creek is closed to swimming and tubing. Only experienced kayakers and other vessels should be on the water. Protective gear is required and users must be able to self-rescue.
• Yellow Flag: Moderate to High Flows. Considered unsafe for children under 18. All other uses are open with heightened caution required.
• Green Flag: Moderate Flows. The creek is open to all users. Always use caution.

Dressing for the creek means dressing for comfort, sun, and safety. A swimsuit or wetsuit, depending on water temperature, is a good starting point, paired with quick-drying shorts or a moisture-wicking shirt. Water shoes or sandals with secure straps and sturdy soles are a must for protection against rocks. A sun-protective top, hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen will go a long way on a full day outdoors.

For safety gear, a properly fitted life jacket or PFD (personal flotation device) is strongly encouraged for all users, and a helmet is recommended for tubing, kayaking, and any whitewater activity. A waterproof dry bag keeps your phone, keys, and valuables protected. If you are heading out early or on a cooler day, layer up. Mountain weather can shift quickly and Clear Creek runs cold even in summer.

Match your gear to your activity and when in doubt choose more protection rather than less.

In the Water

• Use lifejackets and appropriate water safety gear
• Watch the creek safety video before tubing
• Establish a safety plan and meeting place with your group
• Disposable containers are not allowed 

In the Corridor

• Keep dogs on a leash
• No smoking or vaping
• No glass, alcohol, or single use plastics
• No charcoal grills; portable propane stoves with tanks of two pounds or less are permitted
• Picnic and grill in parks, not on creek banks
• Pick up your trash and recycle

On the Path

• Pedestrians and tubers: use the trail on the north side of Clear Creek
• Cyclists and faster traffic: use the south side
• Travel single file and keep things moving
• Cyclists must slow to 8 mph or less on the north side and give an audible signal before passing pedestrians
• Use designated crosswalks; no mid-street crossing

Park rules are enforced! Tickets will be issued for violations including unleashed dogs, alcohol use, littering, and parking infractions. Creek Ambassadors and City staff are on-site throughout the season to assist visitors and encourage responsible recreation.

Do your part to keep Golden, and all of Colorado, beautiful and safe.

If you need equipment, we encourage you to support one of our local outfitters. Adventure West and Golden River Sports both offer tube rentals and are already registered with the city’s creek monitoring program.

A public shuttle, operated by Adventure West, runs between Vanover Park and the Gateway Trailhead. Two rides upstream are available for $15 per person. Walk-ups are welcome if space allows, but advance reservations are recommended.

After your time on the water, hop on the free Ore Cart shuttle to explore Golden’s shops and restaurants. Note that inflated tubes are not permitted on the Ore Cart.

Free parking is available at the Clear Creek Parking Lot, 304 10th St., near Vanover Park. Paid parking is available in the Jackson Street garages (between 11th and 13th Streets) for $2.50/hour, with a $10 daily maximum. The first 2 hours are free when you register your license plate. For a full parking map and details, visit parkgoldenco.com. Jefferson County Open Space also offers parking at the Gateway Trailhead, west of Highway 6.