| Deep Creek | |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Colorado |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Deep Creek in Colorado |
| Source1 Location: | northwest of Carbonate, Colorado |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 38.7658°N -101.3564°W |
| Mouth Location: | Confluence with the Colorado |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 39.6689°N -107.0673°W |
| Progression: | Colorado |
| Source1 Elevation: | 10900abbr=offNaNabbr=off |
| Mouth Elevation: | 6161abbr=offNaNabbr=off |
| Tributaries Left: | Upper Short Creek, Jack Creek |
| Tributaries Right: | White Owl Creek |
Deep Creek is a tributary of the Colorado River in Garfield and Eagle counties, Colorado, U.S. It is notable for Deep Creek Canyon, a remote, rugged, and deep canyon.
Deep Creek rises high in Colorado's White River Plateau in the White River National Forest northeast of the town of Carbonate, Colorado and west of Bison Lake. From there, it flows east and is impounded by Heart Lake Reservoir. Leaving the reservoir, it passes through Deep Lake and then flows generally southeast. It turns southernly through Deep Creek Canyon and then turns east and then southeast until its confluence with the Colorado River along Colorado River Road north of Dotsero.[1]
The creek passes through a deep and picturesque canyon called Deep Creek Canyon. The creek descends nearly 4300feet from Deep Lake to its confluence with the Colorado River, a drop that forms a deep canyon with vertical cliffs and slopes that make up the canyon walls. The most common way to observe the canyon, given its inaccessibility, is from the Deep Creek Overlook, located 2300feet above the floor of the canyon along Coffee Pos Road. A 2015 report found that the portion of the creek that flows through the canyon is "suitable for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System."[2] However, the creek canyon has not gained any new official recognition. However, advocacy groups, such as American Rivers, continue to draw attention to Deep Creek Canyon, hoping that Congress will declare it a Wild and Scenic River.[3]
Most of the creek lies within the White River National Forest, but the section of the creek between Deep Creek canyon and the creek's mouth is owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The agency manages a day use area that offers fishing, wildlife viewing, and camping.[4]