Rafting Dumont or Upper Clear Creek

[saintjobe]

Anyone have any beta on Dumont in a 14 ft raft? The books don't seem to make too much of it and I know there are plenty of commercial trips on it. All I have seen on it is paddle boats too. Anyone out there oar-frame it. Seems like it would be a fun day trip. Any info is appreciated...

[BarryDingle]

If gapers in a paddleboat can do it then so can an oar frame.

And,yeah,i know of a few guys that oar it.

[raftus]

Both stretches are somewhat technical and narrow. At higher flows, like we have now, 14 ft rafts fit and the channel is often fairly deep. At lower flows 14 ft rafts are cumbersome in the small and rocky channel, especially on Dumont/Lawson. Upper Clear Creek is boatable, but very low at about 100 cfs, Lawson cuts off at more like 300.

I haven't seen oar boats on Clear Creek, but I am sure that people row it on occasion. Shorter oars would be better, and as always, watch your downstream oar. The channel is quite narrow in places - so be sure to be able to quickly ship your oars and be able to make angle adjustments with the blades right next to the tubes.

[Rich]

Have run Clear Creek many times in both a 12' & 16' Cat. Bring your shortest oars, it is tight and technical. Best put-in is at Lawson, just below the culvert bridge. Top mile is fast and narrow. Whole run can be scouted from the boat, too narrow to have many options. Would be tight and boney below 350. A great after work run.