White Water Paddling in Denver, Colorado

When the Rocky Mountains begin to melt in the spring, whitewater paddlers rejoice. Clear Creek in Golden not only features some of the craziest, best paddling in Colorado, there's also a whitewater park right in downtown Golden. South Boulder Creek in Boulder is more gnarly but skilled paddlers can work around the rocks for some spectacular lines. Boulder also has a modest whitewater park right in town at Settler's Park. Denver's own South Platte River is relatively calm through town but during high runoff periods, can provide a local thrill. The South Platte is more engaging around Bailey (about 45 minutes from Denver) where paddlers can find a mix of fast moving water and calm stretches of scenic forests.