Clear Creek (San Juan Mountains)

For other features with similar names, see Clear Creek (disambiguation)

Rating:

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Difficulty:‌3C1 III (v4a3 III)

Swift water

Raps:‌9, max ↨200ft

Metric

Overall:	7h	⟷1.5mi
Approach:	1min		↑0ft
Descent:	6.5h	⟷1.4mi	↓1831ft
Exit:	15min		↓45ft

Red Tape:‌No permit required

Shuttle:‌Required 30 min

Vehicle:4WD - High Clearance

Location:

37.8123, -107.7779

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Condition Reports:

19 Aug 2019

"Tons of logs across mid to lower clear creek drainage from avy debris. Pretty much impossible to get down top of middle down based on our observations

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Weather:

Weather forecast

Waterflow

Best season:

Jul-Oct

winter				spring				summer				fall
Dec	Jan	Feb		Mar	Apr	May		Jun	Jul	Aug		Sep	Oct	Nov

Regions:

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Introduction[edit]

An avalanche in Clear Creek during the 2018-2019 winter followed by the Ice Fire in October 2020 has rendered this descent not what it formerly was.

The Quality Star rating for this descent is unreliable as it may not reflect current post-avalanche and post-fire conditions.

Driving the 4x4 switchbacks to Clear Lake above the Upper Clear Creek waterfalls still provides unforgettable views.
Middle Clear Creek was impacted by avalanche and fire.
Lower Clear Creek was leveled.
The Confluence of Ice Lake Creek and Clear Creek still has large avalanche debris at least 5 years later

Approach[edit]

For a full descent, set up a car shuttle. Leave a car at the bottom in the busy Ice Lake Trailhead Parking Lot. Drive up the dirt high clearance 4x4 switchbacks to Clear Lake.

Clear Lake, the source of Clear Creek

R2 seen from the dirt road switchbacks

Descent[edit]

Upper Clear Creek
This part of the canyon is open and slippery. The views are the best asset.

R1: 100'
R2: 100'
R3: 50'
R4: 45'
R5: 60'

Sep2014: Starting into the narrows above R1

Sep2014: Upper Clear Creek: R3

Sep2014:Upper Clear Creek: R5

Aug2022: R5 after the avalanche, seen from the 4x4 switchback

Middle Clear Creek
This section had been the recommended section when it was free of debris and hidden in the forest. For a short day out, descending just Middle Clear Creek can be accomplished by parking at the switchback at the top, exiting at the bridge and walking the road uphill to the cars. The 4x4 switchback near the bridge is signed for No Parking.

Middle Clear Creek could be an option on a rainy day as the summer water flow and the commitment are both low.

Jul2022: Trees laid flat from avalanche and then burned in the Ice Fire at the start of Middle Clear Creek
Jul2022: Fire impact

R6: 120' (2022) Rappel into the corridor (was: rappel a full 200'/60m rope to a tree wiped out by the avalanche)
R7: downclimb through branch rubble (2022) (was: 140' from the tree mid-corridor around a bend in the stream course)
R8: 90' (2022) to the bridge (was: rappel 170' from above bridge to the bottom of the waterfall below the bridge)

Sep2014: Middle Clear Creek Corridor: R6
Jul2022: Middle Clear Creek Corridor

Sep2014: R6
Jul2022: R6

Sep2014: R8: Rappel past bridge, hikers on bridge
Jul2022: Last rappel in Middle Clear Creek to bridge.jpg

Lower Clear Creek

Jul2014: Looking South toward Rolling Mountain, Porcupine Creek in the distance, from the bridge on the trail
Jul2014: Looking South toward Rolling Mountain, Porcupine Creek in the distance, from the bridge on the trail
Aug2022: Looking South toward Rolling Mountain, Porcupine Creek in the distance

R9: unknown after avalanche (was: rappel 50' from tree in Canyon Center to the start of The Confluence)

Sep2014: Lower Clear Creek waterfall below the bridge
Aug2020: Lower Clear Creek waterfall below the bridge

Jul2014: Final Lower Clear Creek waterfall at The Confluence with Ice Lake Creek
Aug2020: Final Lower Clear Creek waterfall at The Confluence with Ice Lake Creek
Aug2020: Final Lower Clear Creek waterfall at The Confluence looking up Lower Ice Lake Creek

Confluence with Ice Lake Creek
The nature of the canyon changes with the rock band and the extra water from Ice Lake Creek. Re-assess the water volume in early season or after rains. Escape up the hillside canyon left if deemed too much. Otherwise complete the course to the road below.

Jul2014: Confluence of Ice Lake Creek and Clear Creek
earlyJul2015: Confluence in full runoff after rains
Aug2010 Confluence the summer before the avalanche
Aug2019: Confluence the summer after the avalanche

Exit[edit]

Depending on the exit, hike switchbacks, the trail system, or the road back to vehicle.

Red tape[edit]

Beta sites[edit]

Canyoning in the Colorado San Juan Mountains Book by Ira Lewis

Trip reports and media[edit]

Background[edit]

2014-09-21 exploration descent. all natural anchors. Ira Lewis, AJ Pastula, Logan DeGrand, Leanne Thompson, Steven Arhart

Credits

Information provided by automated processes. Authors are listed in chronological order.

In all habitats live animals and plants that deserve respect, please minimize impact on the environment and observe the local ethics. Canyoneering, Canyoning, Caving and other activities described in this site are inherently dangerous. Reliance on the information contained on this site is solely at your own risk. There is no warranty as to accuracy, timeliness or completeness of the information provided on this site. The site administrators and all the contributing authors expressly disclaim any and all liability for any loss or injury caused, in whole or in part, by its actions, omissions, or negligence in procuring, compiling or providing information through this site, including without limitation, liability with respect to any use of the information contained herein. If you notice any omission or mistakes, please contribute your knowledge (more information).