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Take on Clear Creek’s Cannonball Run — a three-hour intermediate rafting trip featuring continuous Class III–IV rapids, mining-ruin scenery, and a class IV finale at Outer Limits. Expect active paddling and team commands.
Take on Clear Creek’s Cannonball Run — a three-hour intermediate rafting trip featuring continuous Class III–IV rapids, mining-ruin scenery, and a class IV finale at Outer Limits. Expect active paddling and team commands.
The raft drops into a granite-walled groove and the river seems to dare you forward — a continuous churn of foamy Class III–IV rapids that push teams to paddle hard and work together. On Clear Creek’s Cannonball Run, the current threads past old mining ruins and steep rock shelves while spruce and oak lean toward the noise of water.
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Operated by Colorado Adventure Guides · Idaho Springs, Colorado
The raft drops into a granite-walled groove and the river seems to dare you forward — a continuous churn of foamy Class III–IV rapids that push teams to paddle hard and work together. On Clear Creek’s Cannonball Run, the current threads past old mining ruins and steep rock shelves while spruce and oak lean toward the noise of water.
This stretch runs through the historic Clear Creek Valley, where 1859 gold rush towns like Idaho Springs sprang to life and miners carved roads, tunnels, and tailings into the canyon. Geologically, the river has carved through Precambrian bedrock, creating narrow drops and powerful hydraulics — the very features that make rapids like Nomad, Phoenix, and Outer Limits come alive.
Locals treat the creek as both a playground and a living cultural resource; you’ll float past relics of early Colorado industry and occasionally see anglers below quieter pools. Guides emphasize river-reading skills, swift teamwork, and respect for seasonal flows that swell with spring runoff.
Practical guidance: arrive hydrated and sun-protected, wear a well-fitting wetsuit or splash jacket in cooler months, and expect to be immersed — helmets and PFDs are mandatory. Trips run about three hours door-to-door; the actual river time is brimming with rapid sequences and short scenic floats. The run is best for paddlers who can swim, are comfortable in moving water, and want an aggressive, participatory rafting experience. Follow your guide’s commands, brace for the class IV climax at Outer Limits, and leave room afterward to warm up in Idaho Springs’ cafés and mineral springs.
challenging.
3 hours.
Good cardiovascular fitness and the ability to swim are recommended; participants should be comfortable with sustained bursts of paddling and quick body movements.
Participants must be at least 12 years old for the intermediate trip; children should be comfortable following guide commands and paddling.
Water can be very cold, especially in spring; a wetsuit or neoprene layers are recommended during cooler months and are often provided or available for rent.
Non-swimmers are discouraged; you should be comfortable in moving water and wear the provided PFD at all times.
The advertised three-hour duration typically includes logistics; expect roughly 1–2 hours on the river depending on flow and shuttle timing.
Clear Creek Valley was a focal point of Colorado’s 1859 gold rush; Idaho Springs served as an early supply and service town for prospectors and still displays mining-era remnants.
River users are encouraged to pack out trash and avoid disturbing archaeological features; commercial operators follow Leave No Trace practices to protect riparian habitat.
Colorado Adventure Guides operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The raft drops into a granite-walled groove and the river seems to dare you forward — a continuous churn of foamy Class III–IV rapids that push teams to paddle hard and work together. On Clear Creek’s Cannonball Run, the current threads past old mining ruins and steep rock shelves while spruce and oak lean toward the noise of water.
The raft drops into a granite-walled groove and the river seems to dare you forward — a continuous churn of foamy Class III–IV rapids that push teams to paddle hard and work together. On Clear Creek’s Cannonball Run, the current threads past old mining ruins and steep rock shelves while spruce and oak lean toward the noise of water.
This stretch runs through the historic Clear Creek Valley, where 1859 gold rush towns like Idaho Springs sprang to life and miners carved roads, tunnels, and tailings into the canyon. Geologically, the river has carved through Precambrian bedrock, creating narrow drops and powerful hydraulics — the very features that make rapids like Nomad, Phoenix, and Outer Limits come alive.
Locals treat the creek as both a playground and a living cultural resource; you’ll float past relics of early Colorado industry and occasionally see anglers below quieter pools. Guides emphasize river-reading skills, swift teamwork, and respect for seasonal flows that swell with spring runoff.
Practical guidance: arrive hydrated and sun-protected, wear a well-fitting wetsuit or splash jacket in cooler months, and expect to be immersed — helmets and PFDs are mandatory. Trips run about three hours door-to-door; the actual river time is brimming with rapid sequences and short scenic floats. The run is best for paddlers who can swim, are comfortable in moving water, and want an aggressive, participatory rafting experience. Follow your guide’s commands, brace for the class IV climax at Outer Limits, and leave room afterward to warm up in Idaho Springs’ cafés and mineral springs.