Clear Creek Falls - Clear Creek Canyon

Trail: .12 miles
Water Source: Unnamed drainage that flowed into Clear Creek
Location: 4 miles west of Golden on U.S. 6

(You may click on the thumbnails to see a larger version of the photos.)

We found Clear Creek Falls in Clear Creek Canyon along U.S. 6 about 4 miles west of Golden in December 1999. We drove east on U.S. 6 from I-70 exit 244. As we entered Clear Creek Canyon, following the intersection with C-119, the Clear Creek was to out right for about 5.5 miles, and then it crossed to our left for a mile or two. When the creek crossed back to our right, there was a bridge; just before the bridge there was a parking area on the left side of the road. When we first approached the falls, we continued across the bridge and about .1 miles down the road, and we could see the falls from the road. At that time, I could see some people at the falls; it appeared they were climbing the ice.

We turned around and went back to the parking area along the road, and then took the .12 mile trail across the highway that ran between the creek and the rocks. The photos below show the trail to the falls. The first is looking back toward our car parked to the right of the road beyond the bridge, and the second one is looking toward the falls. In a few places the trail between the rocks and the creek was pretty narrow, but it wasn't too bad. Fortunately, there had been just a few people who took it before we did, so it wasn't icy. I would not have wanted to walk along the trail if it was icy. By the time we reached the falls, the climbers were no longer visible. I think they were above the portion of the falls that was visible.

Unnamed Falls - Clear Creek Canyon

When we left Clear Creek Falls, we headed back west on U.S. 6. Along the way, we found another waterfall. The falls was located about .5 miles before we came to Tunnel 5, visible from the road where there was a guardrail. Between the falls and the tunnel there was a small parking area on the right side of the road. We parked there and walked back to the falls to take a photo. (You may click on the thumbnails to see a larger version of the photos.)

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