Had an amazing time!!! The tour guide was friendly, helpful, and made the trip full of fun, laughter, and memories! We were college kids trying to make the most of Colorado on a tight budget and this whitewater rafting tour was worth the money! Would recommend 100%!
Upper Clear Creek White Water Rafting
Intermediate level (class III-IV rapids)
Ages 13+ welcome
Half-day tour
Jam-packed with invigorating rapids, Clear Creek rafting never disappoints! Get your fix with some of the best white water rafting in Colorado, and have the adventure of a lifetime in stunning surroundings. This half-day white water rafting trip near Denver, CO is for those who have a little bit more experience or are ready for the challenge! Either way, our guides are well-prepared to keep you safe and having a great time.
Highlights
Enjoy top-of-the-line equipment, including a wetsuit and splash jacket — all included in the tour price
Breathtaking views and lively rapids are just what the doctor ordered on this outdoor adventure
Leave those worries behind with our certified and experienced guides that will help keep you safe and having a fantastic time
Price
$81 per person
Difficulty
Intermediate (class III-IV rapids)
Departure times
Every day at 8:45AM, 12PM, 3:15PM
Meeting point
Downstream Adventures
409 E Park Avenue,
Empire, Colorado 80438
Starting & ending points
Put in at Dumont
Take out at Idaho Springs
Availability
Late May until mid-August
Our season duration is dependent on snow run-off. How much snow falls in the preceding winter directly affects the length of our season. Typically, the season will begin in the third to fourth week of May and last until the second or third week of August.
Duration
3 hours total (usually between 1 and 1.75 hours on the water)
Participation requirements
Participants must be at least 13 years old.
Physical fitness and the ability to swim are strongly recommended.
Included
- Transportation from our outpost to the river and back
- Excellent white water rafts and safety equipment
- Wetsuit and splash jacket for each guest
- Custom-fit PFD (personal flotation device or life jacket) and helmet
- Dry bag for necessary items like medication
Note: Neoprene bootie rentals are available for $5 per person.
What to bring
- Swimsuit or non-cotton shorts
- Shoes that can get wet and stay on your feet (tennis shoes or sport sandals are great)
- Sunscreen
- Dry change of clothes for after the trip
- Your excitement and enthusiasm!
For more information, check out our recommendations on rafting safety & basics.
About your guide
One of our certified and highly trained river guides will accompany you on your tour. Read more about our guides!
An Ideal Rafting Adventure Near Denver
Upper Clear Creek is the perfect white water rafting trip for experienced paddlers, families with children 13 years and older, and enthusiastic first-timers. Start your trip with instruction from your expert guide on safety procedures and paddling techniques. Once you’re up-to-snuff and all your concerns have been addressed, we’re ready to get onto the water and start paddling!
Take In Idaho Springs Scenery
Set against the most stunning backdrop, we’ll cascade past scenes of breathtaking natural beauty and historical mining relics — we may even catch a glimpse of real gold diggers! Clear Creek is the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with natural splendors. We guarantee you won’t find a more iconic landscape than the towering Rocky Mountains, and it’s easy to get to — only an hour from cities like Denver and Vail!
Prepare For A Rafting Adventure
This 8-mile section is bursting with adrenaline-pumping class III-IV rapids that are bound to give a rush! Conquer rapids like Phoenix, Deliverance, Outer Limits, Nomad, and Fall River for an unforgettable experience!
Please note: this high elevation run often drops too low for rafting during late summer, in which case we offer our Lower Canyon trip as an intermediate alternative.
Good to Know
Why Clear Creek?
Clear Creek has more rapids per mile than almost any other commercially run stretch of white water in the nation. Even the most seasoned paddlers can get their fix here!
Our location
Downstream Adventures is situated just 40 minutes from Denver, Colorado and less than an hour from Breckenridge, Boulder, Keystone, and Winter Park. You won’t find a better rafting trip so conveniently located!
What you’ll see
Clear Creek is a place of stunning beauty. Witness the remains of our rich gold rush history, including Argo Mill, once the longest tunnel in the world. Keep an eye out for exciting animals and admire the majestic Rocky Mountains.
Qualifications of our guides
At Downstream Adventures, we guarantee that all of our guides are highly qualified and experienced. Each guide has been certified in CPR/first aid and trained in life-saving swiftwater rescue techniques, and that’s just our minimum requirement! All of our full-time guides have surpassed the highest level of guide qualification recognized by the state of Colorado (level 3).
Safety
Our guides are some of the most experienced in Colorado and are skilled in Swift-Water Rescue and precision boat control. Of course, you are entering a wild and natural environment and there are risks involved, but we at Downstream Adventures take great pride in making trip safety our top priority.
Check out what our guests are saying
This was our first time rafting and we had the best time!! Our guide Jonathan was awesome!! I’m not the most adventurous person and was super nervous but this was a perfect introduction, I’m ready to do it again!!!
This was our first time rafting and the staff was really chill and made sure that safety was a top priority. Our guide was excellent and made sure we had a wonderful experience. Some friends and I were looking for whitewater rafting while on vacation in Colorado and decided to go with Downstream Adventures. This was our first time rafting and the staff was really chill and made sure that safety was a top priority. Our guide was excellent and made sure we had a wonderful experience.
I had read the reviews of others who claimed that they chose Downstream because it is smaller and you feel more connected. I couldn’t agree more. As we were getting on the creek, I could see another company getting ready to begin in about 30 minutes. They had a group of 60. I would not have liked that. I liked that Downstream ensures that you feel special and not one of a massive group. Would definitely choose them again.
