Homestake CreekHighway 24 roadside access to 1/4 mile above the Eagle River confluence

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

• Named whitewater corridorHomestake Creek near Eagle River confluence; approximately 0.51 miles; Class V; 480 fpm average gradient

  American Whitewater names the reach, length, Class V difficulty, steep-creek character, and highway-access logistics. RiverBrain independently describes the run as a short Class V steep-creek section used by expert boaters.

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• Direct live gauge and flow gateUSGS 09064000; 60–200 cfs planning bounds; 80–150 cfs inferred preferred window

  USGS provides direct discharge and gage-height telemetry for Homestake Creek at Gold Park. American Whitewater associates this reach with a 60 cfs low-runnable and 200 cfs high-runnable correlation; RiverBrain reports a broader 40–400 cfs recommendation. This route uses the narrower AWA band conservatively, and the preferred window is explicitly an inference.

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• Endpoint access and coordinatesPut-in 39.5069999694824,-106.378997802734; take-out 39.5009994506836,-106.375999450684

  American Whitewater publishes both endpoint coordinates and describes Highway 24 roadside access along the run plus a dirt road to the confluence. Treat the coordinates as planning references and verify safe legal roadside access on the day of travel.

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• Lawful access and camping contextHighway 24 public-road corridor with nearby White River National Forest Gold Park designated campground

  American Whitewater supplies the roadside route logistics. The Forest Service identifies Gold Park Campground along Homestake Creek with 12 sites, restrooms, no potable water, and nearby wilderness restrictions; camping is treated as a nearby basecamp rather than riverbank access.

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• Safety boundaryExpert Class V only; current scouting, cold-water/rescue readiness, and mandatory exit before Gilman Gorge

  American Whitewater and RiverBrain describe sharp rock, steep continuous and pool-drop sections, limited recovery, and serious consequences. Keep this route separate from the downstream Eagle River/Gilman Gorge reach.

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• Camping and logisticsNearby Gold Park Campground basecamp; no on-route or riverbank camping assumed

  The Forest Service campground page documents 12 sites, restrooms, no potable water, food-storage requirements, and Highway 24/Homestake Road access. Confirm current availability and restrictions separately from the river decision.

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• Duplicate separationDistinct Homestake Creek tributary steep-creek run, separate from Eagle River Camp Hale–Red Cliff and Gilman Gorge routes

  This route uses Homestake Creek’s own Class V corridor and direct Gold Park gauge, with AWA endpoints above the Eagle River confluence. It is not a duplicate of the Eagle River mainstem route or the separate Gilman Gorge continuation.

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Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

• American Whitewater Homestake Creek reach 3415
• RiverBrain Homestake Creek run
• USGS 09064000 monitoring location
• USGS 09064000 current conditions
• USGS 09064000 station report
• White River National Forest Gold Park Campground
• Forest Service Gold Park campground map
• Wikimedia Commons public-domain Camp Hale context image