Parking Citations Hwy 6 Clear Creek

I was climbing last Friday at Creekside (doing Playin' Hooky) and got an $87.50 ticket. We parked on the south side, on the road because the tiny lot was full even on a Friday. I just called the Clear Creek Cunty Sheriff's Office and they said the parking lot is the only legal parking there. She said that one car had impeded an emergency vehicle and now they're enforcing all the time. Also, she said it's too crowded there and the ticketing is also meant to manage number of climbers in the area. The tickets are more severe $300-$500 if your wheels are touching pavement. Anyone else got beta on the situation? 

So you parked in a No Parking  zone and got a ticket?  Thanks for the heads up. 

Greg D wrote:

So you parked in a No Parking  zone and got a ticket?  Thanks for the heads up. 

There is no legal parking there other than the small lot (maybe 8 spaces?) so all roadside parking is illegal.

Is it posted no parking? If not, given the long history of parking along that shoulder (which is extremely wide, easily wide enough to get all tires off the pavement), it seems like a cash grab from the sheriff's office to quietly begin handing out big tickets (on what basis would you know that parking is not allowed?). It also seems weird to restrict parking there given the enormous volume of climbing options in close proximity.

MattH wrote:

Is it posted no parking? If not, given the long history of parking along that shoulder (which is extremely wide, easily wide enough to get all tires off the pavement), it seems like a cash grab from the sheriff's office to quietly begin handing out big tickets (on what basis would you know that parking is not allowed?). It also seems weird to restrict parking there given the enormous volume of climbing options in close proximity.

It is 100% a cash grab. A couple years ago, a TON of people got tickets for parking in various spots along the road to Grays/Torreys. Guess what that road was missing? "No parking" signs. That road is also in Clear Creek County.

Ben B wrote:

It is 100% a cash grab. A couple years ago, a TON of people got tickets for parking in various spots along the road to Grays/Torreys. Guess what that road was missing? "No parking" signs. That road is also in Clear Creek County.

How many of those people were parked on the stretch where the road goes through private property? How many were blocking part of the roadway?

Ben B wrote:

It is 100% a cash grab. A couple years ago, a TON of people got tickets for parking in various spots along the road to Grays/Torreys. Guess what that road was missing? "No parking" signs. That road is also in Clear Creek County.

That road was a shit show and people deserved to be ticketed. They constantly parked on private property and blocked the road. 

MattH wrote:

(on what basis would you know that parking is not allowed?)

umm.  the no parking signs?   just a guess.  I've parked in that area before.  the signs are there.  

. It also seems weird to restrict parking there given the enormous volume of climbing options in close proximity.

Your rock climbing has shit to do with highway safety on one of the busiest canyon highways near Denver.  People parking near the white line, under frequent rock fall zone, U turns in the middle of fast on coming cars.  You get the point.  Maybe.

curt86iroc wrote:

That road was a shit show and people deserved to be ticketed. They constantly parked on private property and blocked the road. 

This was during spring ski season and it was a lot less crowded. Nobody was blocking anything 

Greg D wrote:

umm.  the no parking signs?   just a guess.  I've parked in that area before.  the signs are there.  

Your rock climbing has shit to do with highway safety on one of the busiest canyon highways near Denver. 

Got a pic? Last I climbed in that area there was absolutely not a sign, and google maps confirms there wasn’t one as of late ‘23.

Also, sure it does. Otherwise why would Jeffco allow it? Usability vs safety is a constant trade off. Even adding parking lots introduces the risk of a collision with cars turning into the highway, and yet they’re built even in the clear creek county section of the road.

Makes me wonder what the market looks like for running a shuttle business/service between the gateway trailhead big parking lots (which, to be fair, are often also full, as well) and the shuttle ridership's desired crags.

I'm not sure I'd be happy to park at Canal Zone parking and pay $5 to $10 to uber/lyft/shuttle into my crag of choice, but if the crowds keep growing, it feels like it'll either end up that kind of dynamic, where cragside parking is a battleground and shuttles from big lots are the easier bet, or places like CCC (Tunnel 5 area in particular but also T2 and the whole canyon) will just be too popular/crowded to even want to make an attempt.

Thanks, Honnlove. Thanks, Instagram. Thanks, people like you and me and everyone we know, stoked on the magic, eating up parking spaces. Too many crowds! Sheesh!

Bummer on your ticket, Michelle. Thanks for the heads-up. Hope Clear Creek Conty puts up better signage that clarifies rules and regs more clearly/explicitly.

Here’s a question for Greg D (or anyone who knows)-

Didn’t the ban on roadside right of way parking in  Clear Creek County start back during Covid, when the county was overwhelmed by front range day trippers?

Kind of hard to see the ban going away unless tourist businesses are affected. Or an effective climbing group gets involved. Even then, might be an uphill battle since Highway 6 is so busy.

Definitely a big loss to local climbers 

Just spoke to Officer Morgan with the Clear Creek Sheriff’s office. He said allowable parking is **outside** of the street lights by the parking lot (for now) due to legally enforceable line-of-sight-to-sign. Michelle, the person you spoke to was incorrect and he said he was able to achieve alignment with them today and they should be on the same page moving forwards.

Parking still **must** be in line with flow of traffic (I.e. right side of the road), and all of your car must not be on or overhanging the white lines on the road.

He said they’ve spoken with CDOT about changing the signage around there which *may* affect the parking allowances - but that exact timeline isn’t known - so if you get there and the signs contradict what I’m saying right now, obey the signs.

All of this applies for the Mill Creek/Dumont area crags as well - everyone please tighten up over there this weekend was an absolute embarrassment from the parking side of things by climbers.

Tal M, thank you for talking to Officer Morgan. I was very confused when I talked to the County person. She apparently gave me wrong information! I am going to call her back to make sure she doesn't perpetuate misinformation. 

Just to clarify “outside” of the stoplights, this is what I’m talking about. If your car is parked somewhere in this X’d area, you are likely to be ticketed 

Another thing I'll say again: If and when you arrive at the parking area for your destination crag, and the parking area is full, go climb somewhere else or go use your Movement membership. It's easy to make a backup plan for your day of single pitch sport cragging. Don't "squeeze in", get a ticket, and then complain on MP Forums or Denver Social Climb later, not a good look. Get up earlier next time, or even get out later next time, once the early birds are headed out.

Tal, can you please give me Officer Morgan's number? I just spoke to Stephanie from the county and she talked to him yesterday but is still saying parking is illegal on the road.

Tal M wrote:

Just to clarify “outside” of the stoplights, this is what I’m talking about. If your car is parked somewhere in this X’d area, you are likely to be ticketed