If you know, you know. This Clear Creek (not to be confused with the equally awesome but totally different
Clear Creek out of Whiskeytown Reservoir) is one of those unforgettable Class II canyons where every turn feels special. Intermediate boaters don't come here for the rapids – you come for the turquoise water and micro-waterfalls cascading over the mossy cliffs onto your boat.
Put in at the signed Slippery View River Access on the Clear Creek Road (15N32). The trail to the river is steep and sometimes loose but even rafts can be carried down. The 4.4 miles from here to the Klamath River are stunning.
Rapids are generally class II with a couple easy class III drops. Tributaries cascade in left and right as the creek winds thorugh a Port Orford cedar, tan oak, live oak, and madrone forest.
The road parallels the creek on river left but is far above the water and hiking out would be very difficult and long. Take out at the Klamath River Highway on river left, almost beneath the bridge or continue downriver on the Klamath to a river access point in about a half mile.
This is a winter/spring run dependent on rains and snowmelt.
More info
As with the rest of this part of Northern California, the best guidebook is The New School Guide to Northern California Whitewater by Dan Menten (2016). See pages 45-47.
Helmet-cam footage of Lower Clear Creek at 570 cfs on the gauge.
Darin McQuoid's
Jefferson State Creeking