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 intermediate white water 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

$86+ per person (prices vary based on day and time)


Difficulty

Intermediate rafting (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

mid-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 1.5 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!

Intermediate White Water Rafting Adventure Near Denver

Intermediate white water rafting on upper clear creek

Upper Clear Creek is the perfect intermediate white water rafting trip for experienced paddlers, families with children 13 years and older, and enthusiastic first-timers. Start your rafting 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! Upper 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 This Upper Clear Creek 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 BreckenridgeBoulder, 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


Check out our other Clear Creek rafting trips!


Thrilling rapids on a full day rafting trip with Downstream Adventures