Clear Creek Canyon / Mayhem Gulch

5,500–8,500 ft · CO🚗 Directions

Front Range gateway zone. Mixed ponderosa and spruce-fir above 7,500 ft. Accessible from I-70. First Front Range zone to flush after moisture events.

Trees:Ponderosa Pine Douglas Fir Engelmann Spruce

Permit Info →

Updated Apr 13, 6:36 PM

Foraging Potential10/100

❌Moisture

❌Soil Temp

❌No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

0.05"

Precip 14d

0.80"

Soil Temp

33°F

SWE

Snow Water Equivalent — how much water is in the snowpack vs. normal. Declining SWE means snowmelt is adding moisture to the soil.

11%

Drought

None

Snowmelt

steady

Limiting Factors

Insufficient moistureSoil too coldOutside season windowHard freeze in 48h

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Nearby Camping

Indian Springs Campsites

developed

~0.9 mi from center

Clear Creek Dispersed

dispersed

USFS7,500 ft~2 mi from centerFree/night

Multiple pulloffs along FR 275. No services. Pack in/pack out.

fire ring

Open May–Nov

Denver West/Central City KOA

developed

~2.8 mi from center

Reserve →

Pickle Gulch Group

developed

USFS8,200 ft~3 mi from center$75-125/night

3 sites

Group campground off I-70, good for foray groups.

vault toiletfire ringgroup sites

Open May–OctReserve →

Columbine Campground

developed

USFS~4.7 mi from centerFee required/night

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG

Reserve →

Site 9

developed

~4.8 mi from center

Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

developed

USFS~5.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Pickle Gulch Group Campground

developed

USFS~6.3 mi from centerFee required/night

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG

Reserve →

Cold Springs Campground

developed

USFS~6.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG

Reserve →

Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon

developed

~6.5 mi from center

West Chicago Creek

developed

USFS9,600 ft~8 mi from center$22/night

12 sites

Closest developed camp to Clear Creek foraging. Spruce-fir zone.

vault toiletfire ringpicnic table

Open May–OctReserve →

Rim Meadow Campground

backcountry

State~8.2 mi from center

Greenfield Meadow Campground

backcountry

State~8.3 mi from center

Frazer Meadow Campground

backcountry

State~8.4 mi from center

Gennessee ropes camp spot

developed

~11 mi from center

Chief Hosa Campground

developed

~11.3 mi from center

Sawmill Campground

backcountry

Jefferson County Open Space~13 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Sourdough Springs Campground

developed

Jefferson County Open Space~13.4 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Clear Creek RV Park

developed

~15.3 mi from center

Bear Creek Lake City Park

developed

BOR~21 mi from center

Idylease Campground

developed

~25.5 mi from center

Chatfield State Park

developed

BOR~27.5 mi from center

Group Campground

developed

~28.5 mi from center

Chief Ouray Group Site

developed

~36.6 mi from center

Cherokee Group Site

developed

~36.6 mi from center

Cherry Creek State Park

developed

BOR~36.7 mi from center

Arapahoe Group Site

developed

~36.8 mi from center

Cherry Creek State Park Campground

developed

Colorado Parks & Wildlife~36.9 mi from centerFee required/night

Reserve →

Williams Famcamp

developed

US Air Force~40.7 mi from center

watershower

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.