Spruce Creek

Spruce Creek is a good introductory aquatic canyon within a day trip from the Denver area. The narrows are not deep or committing. Exits and anchor options are abundant. Many of the rappels have small steps and tiers, which make for good practice negotiating edges in flowing water. This could be a good low-commitment canyon to practice new techniques and get out with new partners. Spruce Creek is not a destination canyon, but some fun can be had in the right water levels. The final rappel is Continental Falls, a short falls which is a popular hiking destination for Breckenridge hikers/tourists. Old mining equipment can still be found in parts of the canyon hikers can't access or see from the rim.

Driving: Head South on Highway 9 from Breckenridge, Colorado. Drive nearly 2 miles to Spruce Creek Road on the right. Turn left at the next T intersection, immediately after the turn off from Hwy 9. On foot from the upper trailhead: Pick up the trail and pass at the old dam. When crossing the creek, assess the water level of Spruce Creek. Hiking: When the trail reaches the Continental Falls Trail, go left to continue uphill to Lower Mohawk Lake. Once at the lake, suit up and head down the pour off carefully negotiating the willows.

R1: 80' First Narrows from rock pinches on either Canyon Right or Canyon Left R2: 70' from a rock stack in Canyon Center R3: 120' from a tree on Canyon Right R4: 100' from a rock pinch in Canyon Center R5: 120' Second Narrows from a tree on Canyon Left R6: 80' rope for 20' Continental Falls and following short falls/ Third Narrows from a tree on Canyon Right