Clear Creek Advanced Rafting: Class IV-V Rapids in Idaho Springs

Paddle Class IV-V Rapids Without Stopping

Advanced whitewater rafting on Clear Creek near Idaho Springs is a 3.5-hour trip dropping over 100 feet a mile through continuous class IV-V rapids—Beaver Falls, Guide Ejector, Double Knife, Hells Corner, the Terminator holes, and Corkscrew. Certified guides and all safety and rafting equipment are included; transportation from the boathouse to the put-in is provided. Minimum age is 16, and participants must have prior rafting experience, strong physical conditioning, and the ability to swim. The trip runs only at optimal water levels, normally June and July.

The Experience

This is not a warm-up run. Clear Creek's advanced section hits continuous class IV-V rapids almost immediately, with very little flat water between them. You'll paddle hard through named drops—Beaver Falls, Tricky Dicky, Guide Ejector, Double Knife, Hells Corner, the Terminator holes, and Corkscrew—each one technical and steep. The canyon itself is dramatic: mining ruins, wildlife, and the sheer walls of the gorge frame the whitewater as you move through it.

The trip runs 3.5 hours and covers more than 5 miles. A certified guide leads your raft and handles the major decisions, but you're paddling—not watching. You need prior experience on whitewater, the ability to swim, and a high level of physical fitness. The operator reserves the right to refuse the trip to anyone at their discretion if water levels aren't optimal or if they assess that a paddler isn't ready. The season is normally June and July, dependent on how much snowmelt is flowing down the mountain.

Transportation from the boathouse to the put-in is included, along with all safety and rafting equipment. You'll need to be at least 16 years old. This is the most extreme and technical stretch of Clear Creek that the operator runs, and it's built for people who came to paddle hard, not to float and look around.

What’s included

• Certified guide leading the raft.
• all safety and rafting equipment.
• transportation from the boathouse to the put-in.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Colorado Adventure Guides

Is this one for you?This trip is for experienced paddlers who want continuous class IV-V whitewater and can handle a steep, technical canyon with very little rest between rapids. If you're new to whitewater or looking for a scenic float, the advanced section will be too much—book a lower-class trip instead.

Top questions

What rapids will I paddle on Clear Creek's advanced trip?

The advanced trip includes Beaver Falls, Tricky Dicky, Guide Ejector, Double Knife, Hells Corner, the Terminator holes, and Corkscrew—continuous class IV-V drops over more than 5 miles with very little flat water between them.

Do I need whitewater rafting experience to book this trip?

Yes. The advanced trip is for experienced paddlers only and requires prior rafting experience, strong physical conditioning, and the ability to swim. You must be at least 16 years old.

When does the advanced rafting season run on Clear Creek?

The season is normally June and July, but it depends on water flows. The operator runs the trip only at optimal water levels.

What's included in the Clear Creek advanced rafting trip?

A certified guide, all safety and rafting equipment, and transportation from the boathouse to the put-in are included in the 3.5-hour trip.

How steep is the drop on Clear Creek's advanced section?

The advanced section drops over 100 feet a mile for more than 5 miles—one of the steepest and most technical stretches the operator runs.