Clear Creek at Golden
Colorado · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 06719505 — CLEAR CREEK AT GOLDEN, CO · NWS forecast point GLDC2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 118 CFS, this gauge is running 48% of normal for late July — below the 246 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 51 years of record (1975–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Golden
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge GLDC2, issued by WFO BOU. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 10.5 ft
- 11.5 ft Most streets crossing Clear Creek are impassable.
- 12.3 ft This is a life threatening flood with numerous streets, homes and businesses inundated. This level represents a flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
- 18.5 ft This level represents a flood that has a 0.2-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
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Moderate flood 9.5 ft
- 9.5 ft Moderate flooding is expected along Clear Creek in Golden.
- 10.4 ft Extensive flooding impacts streets, bridges and buildings near the river. This level represents a flood that has a 2-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
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Minor flood 8.5 ft
- 8.5 ft Park areas and bike paths along the creek flood. Minor flooding of yards and other properties is expected to begin.
- 9.0 ft Water is at the base of the bridge at Kipling and 44th Avenue with flooding of homes and structures along the creek.
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Action 8.0 ft
- 8.0 ft Water is over the bike path between Kipling and Garrison Streets and into low lying areas in Golden. This level represents a flood that has a 10-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
- Right now 4.13 ft
12 months of flow at Golden
Daily values from USGS gauge 06719505. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Golden
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 7.60 ft | 2,540 CFS | Jun 12, 2015 |
| 7.25 ft | 2,030 CFS | Jun 4, 2014 |
| 7.15 ft | 1,890 CFS | Jun 12, 2016 |
| 7.08 ft | 1,510 CFS | Jun 12, 2010 |
| 6.95 ft | 1,710 CFS | Jul 8, 2011 |
| 6.92 ft | 1,390 CFS | Jul 2, 2019 |
| 6.83 ft | 1,530 CFS | Sep 13, 2013 |
| 6.75 ft | 1,420 CFS | Jun 13, 2017 |
| 6.67 ft | 1,130 CFS | Jun 1, 2009 |
| 6.66 ft | 961 CFS | Jun 4, 2008 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Clear Creek at Golden
This gauge measures Clear Creek at Golden, Colorado — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Golden Whitewater Park green/yellow/red flag system.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 246 CFS for late July, from 51 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Clear Creek at Golden — common questions
What is the current flow on Clear Creek at Golden?
As of the last reading on this page, Clear Creek at Golden was running 118 CFS at a gage height of 4.13 ft, or 48% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06719505, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 246 CFS, calculated from 51 years of record (1975–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 06719505, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge GLDC2.