West Colorado, Vail, Clear Creek Caynon

[ArtStream]

Clear Creek Canyon.
Off I-70

Exit 171 if headed East
Exit 195 if headed West

Its got it all,
BLM land, almost too good to share!
Porta-potty on sight.
Trout and Bass fishing, not crowded.
Camp at streams edge.
14 day Max. No fees.
Short drive to civilization.

A delightful drive, with ample opps for gas, water and food once of on Rt 24.
Some short but very steep grades.
Some switchbacks. Not an issue for my set-up

Pass through charming Leadville and other small mining towns. Once you enter the small town of Granite, keep your eye peeled for the Clear Creek Canyon turn-off on your RIGHT! Once on CCC Road (dirt and washboarded) camping is visable on left, just after lake.

If you pass Clear Creek Canyon Road, there are plenty of U-turn areas in Buena Vista. Latter, be sure to visit Buena Vista for a soak in the natural hot springs (modest fee)!

PM me if you need more details on this site.


Thank me later.
Michael

[rfield54]

Actually, the real (or more widely known) "Clear Creek Canyon" is located between Golden and just east of Idaho Springs (Kermit's restaurant), where it meets I70. It's part of State Hiway 6, which was the original east-west road before I70 was built. With the exception of Clear Creek Canyon, hiway 6 is now mainly a frontage road of I70 through the state. Check this out: http://www.rockymountainroads.com/us-006d_co.html. I've driven Clear Creek Canyon literally about a thousand times over the years. - Roy

[Rodger with a D]

Hola Roy

I fully enjoyed your post and the following part I feel as if I should be addressing only you. On the one photo of the tunnel and the bridge with the orange barrels. I had them placed there. Soon after you took the photos, the complete route was then closed for three bridges to be repaired.

This section of US Hwy 6 is closed each night to travelers who wish to sleep there ( aka ...active ticket and tow zone ). Also this short section of US Hwy 6 has over eleven thousand ( 11,000 ) vehicles per day.

Rodger & Gabby
COS

[nymphfishin]

Originally Posted by rfield54

Actually, the real (or more widely known) "Clear Creek Canyon" is located between Golden and just east of Idaho Springs (Kermit's restaurant), where it meets I70. It's part of State Hiway 6, which was the original east-west road before I70 was built. With the exception of Clear Creek Canyon, hiway 6 is now mainly a frontage road of I70 through the state. Check this out: Colorado @ RockyMountainRoads.com - U.S. Highway 6/Clear Creek Canyon. I've driven Clear Creek Canyon literally about a thousand times over the years. - Roy

It's also a neat place to trout fish along Clear Creek, catching those little Brook Trout up to 16", from Idaho Springs up to the Empire exit.
I used to spent a lot of time there, easy 15 minute drive from Wheatridge/Arvada.
Don

[InsideOut]

My office is about a block off of Clear Creek in Golden...there is a nice little campground here in town right on the creek's banks. I've thought it would be fun to bring the trailer down for a couple of nights for a half-day camping trip...work during the day, walk over to the trailer for lunch...then back for the evenings & weekends. I could have an office party around the campfire at night...could be fun!

Shari

[Boondocker]

My kind of place! Anyone want to venture a guess how late in the year it will be before the snow melts there this year?

[InsideOut]

Depends on where you are....ther's no snow on the ground in Golden (elev. 5,700), however it could snow overnight 1/2-1". It usually melts off the next day...typical pattern until the second week of May.

As far as the Vail, Granite areas go...it's not unheard of to have snow through May and into early June in sheltered/shady areas. At elevation 12-14,000 it can snow anytime...even August.

Shari