Clear Creek (Colorado): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 39°49′39″N 104°56′57″W / 39.82750°N 104.94917°W / 39.82750; -104.94917
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{{Infobox river
{{Infobox river
| name = Clear Creek<ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id= 181805|name=Clear Creek|accessdate=2011-01-26}}</ref>
| name = Clear Creek<ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id= 181805|name=Clear Creek|accessdate= 2011-01-26}}</ref>
| image = ClearCrUS6.jpg
| image = ClearCrUS6.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
Line 8: Line 8:
| map_caption =
| map_caption =
| source1_location = [[Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
| source1_location = [[Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|39|40|29|N|105|55|23|W}}
| source1_lat_d = 39
| source1_lat_m = 40
| source1_lat_s = 29
| source1_lat_NS = N
| source1_long_d = 105
| source1_long_m = 55
| source1_long_s = 23
| source1_long_EW = W
| mouth_location = Confluence with [[South Platte River|South Platte]]
| mouth_location = Confluence with [[South Platte River|South Platte]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|39|49|39|N|104|56|57|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_lat_d = 39
| mouth_lat_m = 49
| mouth_lat_s = 39
| mouth_lat_NS = N
| mouth_long_d = 104
| mouth_long_m = 56
| mouth_long_s = 57
| mouth_long_EW = W
| basin_countries =
| progression = [[South Platte River|South Platte]]—[[Platte River|Platte]]—<br>[[Missouri River|Missouri]]—[[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]
| progression = [[South Platte River|South Platte]]—[[Platte River|Platte]]—<br>[[Missouri River|Missouri]]—[[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]
| length = {{convert|66|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|66|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| source1_elevation =
| source1_elevation =
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|5092|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|5092|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_location= [[Golden, Colorado]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv/?site_no=06719505&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060|title = USGS Current Conditions for USGS 06719505 CLEAR CREEK AT GOLDEN, CO}}</ref>
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_avg = 191 cu/ft. per sec.
| basin_size =
| basin_size =
| river_system =
| river_system =
Line 36: Line 22:
| tributaries_right =
| tributaries_right =
}}
}}
'''Clear Creek''' is a tributary of the [[South Platte River]], approximately {{convert|66|mi}} long,<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive |url=http://www.webcitation.org/66gupqQDM?url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-04-05 }}, accessed March 25, 2011</ref> in north central [[Colorado]] in the United States. The creek flows through '''Clear Creek Canyon''' in the [[Rocky Mountains]] directly west of [[Denver]], descending through a long gorge to emerge on the [[Colorado Eastern Plains]] where it joins the South Platte. Clear Creek is unusual in that it is a stream named "creek" fed by a stream named "river". Fall River empties into Clear Creek along I-70 west of Idaho Springs, Colorado.
'''Clear Creek''' is a [[tributary]] of the [[South Platte River]], approximately {{convert|66|mi}} long,<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630110913/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2016-06-30 }}, accessed March 25, 2011</ref> in north central [[Colorado]] in the United States. The creek flows through '''Clear Creek Canyon''' in the [[Rocky Mountains]] directly west of [[Denver]], descending through a long gorge to emerge at the town of Golden, finally ending in the [[Colorado Eastern Plains]] where it joins the South Platte. Clear Creek is unusual in that it is a stream named "creek" fed by a stream named "river"; typically "rivers" are fed by "creeks", and are larger bodies of water, although the nomenclature is ambiguous and there is no clear system. [[Fall River (Clear Creek County, Colorado)|Fall River]] empties into Clear Creek along I-70 west of [[Idaho Springs, Colorado]].


==Colorado gold rush==
==Colorado gold rush==
⚫
The creek is famous as the location of the most intense early [[mining]] activity during the [[Colorado Gold Rush]] of 1859. The creek provided the route of the [[Colorado Central Railroad]], and later for [[U.S. Route 6 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 6]] and [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|Interstate 70]] as they ascend to the [[Continental Divide]] west of Denver.
⚫
[[File:Silver ore train, by Gurnsey, B. H. (Byron H.), 1833-1880.jpg|thumb|Stereoscopic view - Silver ore train, Clear Creek Canyon - about 1868?]]

⚫
The creek is famous as the location of the most intense early [[mining]] activity during the [[Colorado Gold Rush]] of 1859. [[Mountain man]] [[Jim Baker (frontiersman)|Jim Baker]] had a cabin on the creek from 1873 until his death in 1898. The creek provided the route of the [[Colorado Central Railroad]], and later for [[U.S. Route 6 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 6]] and [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|Interstate 70]] as they ascend to the [[Continental Divide]] west of Denver.


==Geography==
==Geography==
⚫
[[Image:Clear Creek, CO, west of Golden IMG 5443.JPG|right|thumb|A view of Clear Creek cutting through jagged rocks west of Golden]]


The creek rises at the continental divide near [[Loveland Pass]] in the [[Front Range]], northwest of [[Grays Peak]] in western [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek County]]. It descends eastward through Clear Creek Canyon past the towns of [[Silver Plume, Colorado|Silver Plume]], [[Georgetown, Colorado|Georgetown]], and [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]], all of which were founded as mining camps in the 1859 gold rush. Within the canyon it receives numerous smaller tributary creeks that descend from the rugged mountains on either side.
The creek rises at the continental divide near [[Loveland Pass]] in the [[Front Range]], northwest of [[Grays Peak]] in western [[Clear Creek County, Colorado|Clear Creek County]]. It descends eastward through Clear Creek Canyon past the towns of [[Silver Plume, Colorado|Silver Plume]], [[Georgetown, Colorado|Georgetown]], and [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]], all of which were founded as mining camps in the 1859 gold rush. Within the canyon it receives numerous smaller tributary creeks that descend from the rugged mountains on either side.
⚫
[[Image:Clear Creek CO.jpg|thumb|left|Clear Creek at [[Georgetown, Colorado|Georgetown]] in 2003]]


At the mouth of the canyon, the creek passes through the town of [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]], past the [[Coors Brewing Company|Coors]] brewery. East of the foothills, it flows through the northwest part of the [[Denver Metropolitan Area]], passing through north [[Lakewood, Colorado|Lakewood]] and [[Wheat Ridge, Colorado|Wheat Ridge]], then roughly along the route of [[Interstate 76 (west)|Interstate 76]]. Along this section it is largely an ignored [[urban stream]], with an undeveloped floodplain. Part of the creek path forms a wooded park with bicycle/foot path. It passes under [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|Interstate 25]] between its junction with Interstate 70 and [[U.S. Route 36 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 36]] (the Boulder Turnpike). It joins the South Platte from the west in southeast [[Thornton, Colorado|Thornton]], near the junction of Interstate 76 and [[Colorado State Highway 224|State Highway 224]].
At the mouth of the canyon, the creek passes through the town of [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]], past the [[Coors Brewing Company|Coors]] brewery which is MolsonCoors Beverage Company but used to be MillerCoors owned by MolsonCoors. East of the foothills, it flows through the northwest part of the [[Denver Metropolitan Area]], passing through north [[Lakewood, Colorado|Lakewood]] and [[Wheat Ridge, Colorado|Wheat Ridge]], then roughly along the route of [[Interstate 76 (west)|Interstate 76]]. Along this section it is largely an ignored [[urban stream]], with an undeveloped floodplain. Part of the creek path forms a wooded park with bicycle/foot path. It passes under [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|Interstate 25]] between its junction with Interstate 70 and [[U.S. Route 36 in Colorado|U.S. Highway 36]] (the Boulder Turnpike). It joins the South Platte from the west in southeast [[Thornton, Colorado|Thornton]], near the junction of Interstate 76 and [[Colorado State Highway 224|State Highway 224]].


==History==
==History==

⚫
[[File:The forks of creek, Clear Creek, by Weitfle, Charles, 1836-1921 2.jpg|thumb|left|Stereoscopic view "Views on the line of the Colorado Central R.R. in Clear Creek Canyon." circa 1868]]

Clear Creek was originally named Cannonball Creek as early as 1820, called so by the French hunters of the expedition of Stephen H. Long, after the river rocks in its bed. In the 1830s it became known as Vasquez Fork, also Vasquez River, after the fur trader Louis Vasquez who had his fort at the mouth of the river and trapped along it. It gained its present name from the gold rushers in 1859.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}
Clear Creek was originally named Cannonball Creek as early as 1820, called so by the French hunters of the [[Long's Expedition of 1820|expedition of Stephen Harriman Long]], after the river rocks in its bed. In the 1830s it became known as Vasquez Fork, also Vasquez River, after the fur trader [[Louis Vasquez]], who had his fort at the mouth of the river and trapped along it. It gained its present name from the gold rushers in 1859.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 1850s {{!}} Jefferson County, CO |url=https://www.jeffco.us/2010/1850s |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=www.jeffco.us}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
⚫
File:Silver ore train, by Gurnsey, B. H. (Byron H.), 1833-1880.jpg|Stereoscopic view of silver ore train in Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1868
⚫
Image:Clear Creek, CO, west of Golden IMG 5443.JPG|Clear Creek west of Golden
⚫
Image:Clear Creek CO.jpg|Clear Creek at [[Georgetown, Colorado|Georgetown]], 2003
Clear Creek Golden CO with South Table Mountain and tubers.jpg|Looking east from the Washington Avenue bridge in Golden
⚫
File:The forks of creek, Clear Creek, by Weitfle, Charles, 1836-1921 2.jpg|Stereoscopic of Colorado Central Railroad in Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1868
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Colorado]]
[[Category:Canyons and gorges of Colorado]]
[[Category:Rivers of Colorado]]
[[Category:Rivers of Colorado]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 6]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 6]]
[[Category:Landforms of Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Rivers of Clear Creek County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Landforms of Jefferson County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Rivers of Jefferson County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Golden, Colorado]]
[[Category:Golden, Colorado]]
[[Category:Wheat Ridge, Colorado]]
[[Category:Wheat Ridge, Colorado]]
[[Category:Landforms of Adams County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Rivers of Adams County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Platte River]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Platte River]]

Latest revision as of 01:19, 29 August 2023

Clear Creek[1]
US 6 in Clear Creek Canyon west of Golden
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationClear Creek County, Colorado
 • coordinates39°40′29″N 105°55′23″W / 39.67472°N 105.92306°W / 39.67472; -105.92306
Mouth 
 • location
Confluence with South Platte
 • coordinates
39°49′39″N 104°56′57″W / 39.82750°N 104.94917°W / 39.82750; -104.94917
 • elevation
5,092 ft (1,552 m)
Length66 mi (106 km)
Discharge 
 • locationGolden, Colorado[2]
 • average191 cu/ft. per sec.
Basin features
ProgressionSouth Platte—Platte—
Missouri—Mississippi

Clear Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 66 miles (106 km) long,[3] in north central Colorado in the United States. The creek flows through Clear Creek Canyon in the Rocky Mountains directly west of Denver, descending through a long gorge to emerge at the town of Golden, finally ending in the Colorado Eastern Plains where it joins the South Platte. Clear Creek is unusual in that it is a stream named "creek" fed by a stream named "river"; typically "rivers" are fed by "creeks", and are larger bodies of water, although the nomenclature is ambiguous and there is no clear system. Fall River empties into Clear Creek along I-70 west of Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Colorado gold rush[edit]

The creek is famous as the location of the most intense early mining activity during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859. The creek provided the route of the Colorado Central Railroad, and later for U.S. Highway 6 and Interstate 70 as they ascend to the Continental Divide west of Denver.

Geography[edit]

The creek rises at the continental divide near Loveland Pass in the Front Range, northwest of Grays Peak in western Clear Creek County. It descends eastward through Clear Creek Canyon past the towns of Silver Plume, Georgetown, and Idaho Springs, all of which were founded as mining camps in the 1859 gold rush. Within the canyon it receives numerous smaller tributary creeks that descend from the rugged mountains on either side.

At the mouth of the canyon, the creek passes through the town of Golden, past the Coors brewery which is MolsonCoors Beverage Company but used to be MillerCoors owned by MolsonCoors. East of the foothills, it flows through the northwest part of the Denver Metropolitan Area, passing through north Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, then roughly along the route of Interstate 76. Along this section it is largely an ignored urban stream, with an undeveloped floodplain. Part of the creek path forms a wooded park with bicycle/foot path. It passes under Interstate 25 between its junction with Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 36 (the Boulder Turnpike). It joins the South Platte from the west in southeast Thornton, near the junction of Interstate 76 and State Highway 224.

History[edit]

Clear Creek was originally named Cannonball Creek as early as 1820, called so by the French hunters of the expedition of Stephen Harriman Long, after the river rocks in its bed. In the 1830s it became known as Vasquez Fork, also Vasquez River, after the fur trader Louis Vasquez, who had his fort at the mouth of the river and trapped along it. It gained its present name from the gold rushers in 1859.[4]

Gallery[edit]

  • Stereoscopic view of silver ore train in Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1868
    Stereoscopic view of silver ore train in Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1868
  • Clear Creek west of Golden
    Clear Creek west of Golden
  • Clear Creek at Georgetown, 2003
    Clear Creek at Georgetown, 2003
  • Looking east from the Washington Avenue bridge in Golden
    Looking east from the Washington Avenue bridge in Golden
  • Stereoscopic of Colorado Central Railroad in Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1868
    Stereoscopic of Colorado Central Railroad in Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1868

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clear Creek (Colorado).
  1. ^ "Clear Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  2. ^ "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 06719505 CLEAR CREEK AT GOLDEN, CO".
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2016-06-30 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 25, 2011
  4. ^ "The 1850s | Jefferson County, CO". www.jeffco.us. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
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