Clear Creek Welch Ditch

Walk a restored 19th-century wooden flume clinging to the cliffs of Clear Creek Canyon, minutes from Golden.

About Clear Creek Welch Ditch

The Welch Ditch Trail follows a restored stretch of historic wooden flume along the south side of Clear Creek, at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon just west of Golden. It is part of Jefferson County's Clear Creek Canyon Park and connects to the paved Clear Creek Trail (formerly Peaks to Plains) by a pedestrian suspension bridge near Tunnel 1 on US 6.

The restored flume section runs about half a mile along a rock cliff above the creek, making it a short, easy, hiker-only outing with great canyon scenery. Start from the Gateway or Tunnel 1 trailheads, which together have well over 150 parking spaces, restrooms and water.

It pairs nicely with a longer walk on the paved Clear Creek Trail up-canyon or down into Golden.

An aqueduct-fed ice flow just before Tunnel 1 in Clear Creek Canyon, visible on the south side of the road across the creek. The ice only forms reliably in certain conditions given the low elevation, but when it does, it's a solid local ice-climbing and photography spot — climb only when the creek beneath is well-frozen, and a telephoto from across the canyon keeps you well clear of the ice itself.

History

The Welch Ditch was first built in the 1870s to carry Clear Creek water to farmland in Jefferson County, and is associated with Charles C. Welch; it helped settle the Golden and Lakewood areas. Wooden flume sections were rebuilt by hand in the 1930s, hanging above the creek near Tunnel 1. The Golden Historic Preservation Board listed it among the area's most endangered sites in 2003 and 2006, and much of the ditch path was closed in 2013 due to hazardous conditions. Jeffco Open Space restored the flume as part of the Gateway Segment of the Peaks to Plains (now Clear Creek) Trail, which opened in 2021.

Photographing Clear Creek Welch Ditch

Best light: The canyon is narrow and steep, so direct light comes late in the morning and leaves early; soft overcast days or the hour after sunrise give the most even light on the flume and canyon walls. Fall brings golden cottonwoods along the creek, and spring runoff makes the water dramatic.

Shots to look for

The wooden flume as a leading line along the cliff, shot low with a 16-35mm
The suspension bridge spanning Clear Creek with the canyon walls behind
Slow-shutter rapids of Clear Creek below the flume (ND filter, tripod)
Tunnel 1 portal and the winding canyon road from trail viewpoints

Photo tips

Lots are gated outside posted hours, so plan sunrise and sunset shoots carefully
Weekend afternoons are busy with hikers, cyclists and anglers
Keep tripods tight to the railing so others can pass on the narrow flume path
Stay off the creek's slick banks during high spring runoff

Know before you go

The flume trail is hiker-only; bikes stay on the paved Clear Creek Trail
US 6 has periodic lane closures for construction; check CDOT and Jeffco updates
Parking areas close overnight with electronic gates
Check Jeffco Open Space for any closures before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is the Welch Ditch trail open?

The restored flume reopened with the Gateway Segment in 2021. Check Jefferson County Open Space for current conditions or closures.

Where do you park for the Welch Ditch?

Use the Gateway or Tunnel 1 trailheads on US 6 at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, then cross the suspension bridge near Tunnel 1.

Can you bike the Welch Ditch trail?

No. The flume section is hiker-only, but the adjacent paved Clear Creek Trail is open to bikes.

Combine it with

Golden · Clear Creek Trail · Mayhem Gulch · North Table Mountain

More Colorado spots

Old Dillon Reservoir Trail · Cascade Creek Trail · South Table Mountain Park

Sources & further reading: jeffco.us · visitgolden.com · coyotegulch.blog. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.