The rushing waters of Cherry Creek below Cherry Creek Lake whisper secrets. They tell tales of a bygone era a time when this very creek was at the heart of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush.
Cherry Creek below Cherry Creek Lake is more than just a waterway. It’s a living history book. Its waters have witnessed the boom and bust of gold prospectors. It has felt the destructive force of the Castlewood Dam’s collapse in 1933. That catastrophic event sent a fifteen-foot wall of water surging towards Denver. Thankfully warnings allowed for evacuations. The remnants of that dam still stand as a stark reminder in Castlewood Canyon State Park.
Imagine the scene. Dust swirls in the air. Prospectors frantically sift through the gravel hoping to strike it rich. Their dreams are mirrored in the creek’s reflections. The glittering gold they sought is long gone now. Only history remains.
But the creek still offers treasures. Look closely. You might spot crayfish scuttling along the bottom. The creek is also home to a variety of fish. Small fish are plentiful. Larger fish like rainbow trout and walleye are less common. They arrive when the Cherry Creek Dam’s floodgates open. The water then brings them downstream.
The Cherry Creek’s ecosystem has faced challenges. A drought in the early 2000s damaged the plant life along its banks. This in turn decreased the water’s oxygen levels. Pollutants further threatened the delicate balance. Thankfully the creek has since recovered its health.
Nature thrives here. Garter snakes and other reptiles sun themselves on warm rocks. Native amphibians like the plains leopard frog call this place home. Unfortunately non-native bullfrogs threaten their survival. Look closely you might even see a deer or a coyote.
Even the seemingly ordinary holds wonders. Petrified wood often appears. It’s washed down from ancient petrified forests upstream. Fossil mammal bones have also been discovered. This creek holds not only living creatures but whispers of ancient life as well.
Before the Cherry Creek Dam’s construction the creek’s water levels fluctuated naturally. Now the dam’s operators regulate the flow keeping the water level nearly constant. Except when the floodgates are opened. Then the creek rises dramatically sometimes by as much as two feet in an hour.
Cherry Creek below Cherry Creek Lake isn’t just a body of water. It’s a testament to Colorado’s history. It’s a vibrant ecosystem. It’s a reminder of nature’s resilience. And it’s a place where the past present and future intertwine in the rush of its current.