Ice Climbing in Clear Creek Canyon
Overview
Ice Climbing in Clear Creek Canyon is the closest spot to Denver on the Front Range. It may not be the most dependable ice to come in every year, but there always seems to be some ice to play on! Here are a few of the more consistent areas in the canyon. Unlike Elk Creek, Blue Moon, Mayhem Gulch, or others, the areas below are generally pretty consistent on freezing every year, though some years Coors and Mickey's aren't in enough to ice climb until the end of the season.
Little Eiger Ice Climbing Areas
Coors Lite
Coors Lite is a tiered flow and is split up into a lower and upper flow, with anchors at the top of each pitch.
Getting there: Park as for Little Eiger. There are parking areas on both sides of the road - it can get super busy on weekends. Coors Lite is downstream, or East of Little Eiger by a couple hundred yards. When you arrive at the ice, you can lead up the flow, or hike around to the Upper Flow, if the Lower Flow is busy, there is probably only room for one rope on the Lower Flow.
Lower Coors WI2/3
Three separate tiers separated by ledges. The first tier is probably the most impressive, but when the ice is in on this, they all are a good time! The bolted anchor is just above the third tier on the right side of the flow. A 70-meter rope is required for this crag if you don't want to be cutting it short on the toprope of rappel.
Upper Coors WI3
The upper flow is a little steeper, with mostly vertical ice on a bigger single wall than any of the tiers at Lower Coors. You can usually fit 2-3 parties at this flow when the ice is looking good. The anchors are up and right on the ledge.
Upper, Upper Coors WI2
You can continue on through a few short sections of low-angle ice for a couple hundred more feet. This can be a fun way to finish the day!
Mickey's Big Mouth
Getting there: Park as for Little Eiger. There are parking areas on both sides of the road - it can get super busy on weekends. This flow can be found just upstream or west of Little Eiger. The flow itself is easily seen from the road, if it's in, and is about 100 feet, or less, from the highway.
Mickey's Big Mouth Lower WI2/3
Located directly off the highway, this flow is great for a quick few laps on the ice. The main anchor is located up and left of the top of the flow, and 2 more anchors can also be found over the top of the flow.
Mickey's Big Mouth Upper WI2/3
To find this flow, hike upstream and around the corner. This flow often comes in at a similar time
Secret Waterfall
Secret Waterfall/Flow aka Windy Saddle Ice Flow WI3
Getting there: Normally, you could choose to come in from below or the top, but as of 2024, you now have to hike in from the Windy Saddle due to the P2P construction crews and CDOT closing the parking at the base. If you park at the base, don't be surprised if you get a ticket or are towed. Please refer to the Mountain Project page for top-down approach directions.
Secret Waterfall WI3
This is the longest section of ice and probably the steepest ice in the canyon that consistently comes in every winter. The first portion of the ice is low angle, about WI2, and can be even easier if it's filled in with snow. The second half of the route steepens and becomes near vertical some years. There are two sets of anchors, one on the right and one further back. A 70-meter rope is required for this crag if you don't want to be cutting it short on the toprope of rappel.
