Clear Creek runs through the center of Idaho Springs on its way down from the Continental Divide, and the section through town and the canyon below it is one of the more accessible stretches of whitewater in Colorado. The creek drops steeply through a narrow granite canyon carved over millennia, and the resulting rapids range from Class II beginner sections to Class IV technical runs that require experience and proper equipment.
The best flows are in late spring and early summer — typically May through July — when snowmelt from the high peaks keeps the creek running fast and full. By late summer the volume drops and some sections become too shallow for rafts, though kayakers can usually find lines year-round. Several outfitters in Idaho Springs and the surrounding area rent rafts and kayaks and offer guided half-day and full-day trips through the canyon. The guided trips are well suited to visitors with limited whitewater experience; the guides manage the technical reading of water while passengers handle the paddling.
The town has put in a small whitewater park along the creek with artificial features designed for kayakers, and the riverside paths give good viewing angles of the action in summer. Tubing is also popular on the calmer sections, particularly with families and teenagers from Denver looking for a weekend activity within easy reach of the city.