Responsible Recreation on Clear Creek

A Note About This Season

You may notice Clear Creek looking different this year. Drought has lowered water levels in places, and the creek may look calmer than usual. Don't let that fool you: low water doesn't mean safe water. Submerged rocks, uneven creek beds, and sudden deep pools are present regardless of flow, and shallow conditions can trap feet and limbs between rocks, one of the most dangerous hazards on any moving waterway. Treat Clear Creek with the same respect you would any other year.

Before You Go: Know the Conditions

Clear Creek is not a lazy river. It can be swift, cold, and powerful, especially after rainfall, and conditions can change without warning. Whitewater activities, including tubing, carry real inherent risk. Check flow conditions and flag warnings before you head out.

Friendly Creek Ambassadors are on hand throughout the summer to help, and park rules are actively enforced to keep the area safe and welcoming for everyone. Learn more about Creek Ambassadors, park rules and volunteering.

Essential Tips for a Safe Visit

• Protect Our Water: Clear Creek is a recreation spot and a drinking water source. Pack out all trash, and never pollute the creek.
• Use Designated Access Points: Enter and exit only at marked spots. Avoid disturbing creek banks to prevent erosion and protect habitat.
• Leave No Trace: Skip hammocks, chairs, and anything else that damages bank vegetation. No glass, alcohol, or single-use plastics.
• Plan Ahead: Set a meeting point with your group in case you get separated, and know your route before you get in the water. Share the trail and be courteous to others.
• Secure Your Stuff: Tie down or leave valuables on shore. Loose items are frequently lost in the creek.
• Wear the Right Safety Gear: Life jackets or PFDs (personal flotation devices) are strongly encouraged, especially for tubing or for weaker swimmers. Helmets are recommended for whitewater activities, and water shoes protect against rocks.
• Exit at the Right Spot: Tubers and kayakers must exit the water no later than Vanover Park. A dam lies immediately beyond the takeout and poses an extreme danger. 
• Respect Wildlife and Conditions: Drought and warmer water have stressed the creek's ecosystem this year, including fish and other aquatic life. Give wildlife space and avoid disturbing low-water areas where they may be sheltering.

We're Here to Help

Look for Creek Ambassadors on Fridays and weekends throughout the summer season. These City of Golden staff members are stationed at key locations, including the Clear Creek Parking Lot, Vanover Park, near the Lions Park Ballfields, and at the west end of the Clear Creek RV Park. They can help with directions, access points, tips for your visit, and have trash bags available for larger items. Inflation stations and Spanish language services are available at select sites.

Park rules are actively enforced. Violations such as unleashed dogs, alcohol use, littering, and parking infractions will result in tickets. Flaggers are stationed at key crossings like Ford Street to assist with pedestrian safety during busy periods.

To report trail or park concerns or share feedback, call 303-384-8074 or email creek@cityofgolden.gov. For non-emergency issues, use the Jeffcom 911 App or call Golden Police at 303-980-7300. For emergencies, dial 911.

Get Involved

Want to give back to the creek that makes Golden special? Join the Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup and help keep our trails, parks, and waterways beautiful. Cleanups run Monday mornings, June through mid-September. Newly added! Thursday mornings are now on the schedule too, starting July 23 through early September, giving you more chances to pitch in. Register for the Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup

Make a Day of It in Golden

The creek is just the beginning. Golden is a small town packed with lots of things to see and do. Fuel up before or after your float at one of the locally owned restaurants, or browse the shops in our historic downtown. Hikers and mountain bikers will find miles of trails just minutes from downtown, from the mesa tops of North and South Table Mountain to the forested climbs of Apex Park, White Ranch, and Mount Galbraith Park. History lovers can explore the Golden History Museum and Park and the Mines Museum of Earth Science, or head up Lookout Mountain to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave for sweeping views and the legendary story of the man who defined the Wild West. However you spend your day, the free Ore Cart shuttle makes it easy to get around town without a car. 

This summer, the new free Westracks shuttle connects Golden's RTD station to Red Rocks, Dinosaur Ridge, Matthews/Winters Park, Downtown Morrison, and the Morrison Natural History Museum — running every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bikes and leashed dogs welcome.

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