Black Rock

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Black Rock

Run Length	5.5 miles	Average Gradient	114 fpm
Difficulty	Class V-	Recommended Flow	300-700 cfs
River	Clear Creek	Location	Golden, Colorado
Author	Brian Adkins	Current Level	55 cfs
Drainage	South Platte	Elevation	6760ft to 6140ft

Black Rock

www.merelyafleshwound.com

Paddler:Corey Walker Photographer:Alex Henes

The Black Rock section of Clear Creek is a very tight and technical run made up of mostly read and run class IV, with two V's and one V+.

Highway 6 provides easy access and easy scouting, however highway construction has tumbled sharp rocks in to the river adding to the difficulty and danger. It is a great after work run, but keep in mind the riverbed is entirely unnatural and general unkind to upside down or swimming boaters.

Major rapids include Black Rock (V-), Narrows (V-), and Rigamortis (V).

Video Clips:
- Rigamortis @ 400 - Eric Bryant
- Rigamortis @ 400 - Paul Hemming
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	Put-In At Green Bay Rock, mile marker 262.9, is the large dirt pullout with a house-sized spray painted rock.
	Black Rock Rapid (Mile 1.0) Class V- Thread your way through the rock garden in the top half, and avoid the undercut rock on river left at the bottom.
	Narrows Entrance (Mile 3.0) Class V- The Narrows is located on the downstream side of Tunnel #2 on Highway 6. The hardest part is the entrance, be sure to scout your line carefully.
	The Narrows (Mile 3.1) Class V- The cliff on river left is undercut at several points throughout the rapid and it's run out. The run out is possibly the most fun rapid on the river.
	Rigor Mortis (Mile 5.0) Class V The creek drops into a constricted mess of hydraulics. It is amazing the variety of carnage that can happen here. Concentrate on a clean line in the entrance to avoid the big hole at the bottom. There is a large, slightly undercut rock 50' downstream from the big hole, remember to swim right.
	Take-Out The take-out is at or above the Rigor Mortis rapid at the bridge. If want to avoid the class III stretch before Rigor Mortis, take out at the game tunnel below the narrows.

Add Rapid

	Uncharacteristically high, proceed with caution.
	Powerful, pushy and unforgiving.
	Ideal flow conditions.
	Boney with potential for boat abuse.
	Not enough water to float a boat.
	Please let us know.
	No gauge, visual required.