Rock Creek (Tsolo Scramble)
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| | Raps:0-1, max ↨30ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 5min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 23 Jul 2017
"Exploratory outing into this part of Rock Creek. Wished wed brought wetsuits to rappel the falls. Plunge-pools below Tsolo look like a fun place to |
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| Best season: | Jul-Sept
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45.7300, -121.9496
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Introduction[edit]
Not a major objective, but a cool stream-walk with optional rappel through a classic Pacific NW canyon. This might be a good one for half-day or a rest day between more significant outings. This section of Rock Creek is particularly nice with several short sections of narrows, beautiful bedrock for hiking, and, the highlight: Tsolo Falls. A surprisingly nice little gem. This section is run by whitewater kayakers in early season.
Tsolo looks like it'd be fun to rappel, but bringing ropes, gear & wetsuit into the canyon for a single 30ft drop (easily bypassed) might not be worth it. Looks like great swimming in a number of the pools. Use caution close to the falls as hydraulics were present in late July 2017.
Be prepared to crisscross the creek numerous times and waist-deep wading. Rock creek can see seriously high water in the early season, so evaluate flow carefully before committing to this adventure.
Approach[edit]
Lower Parking[edit]
From Bridge of the Gods, turn right on Hwy 14 and go 1.5mi. Turn left onto SW Rock Creek Dr for 0.3mi before turning left again onto Foster Creek Rd. Follow Foster Creek Rd (becomes Ryan-Allen Rd) for 0.9mi before turning off left onto Red Bluff Rd. Follow Red Bluff Rd down to cross a creek; it become gravel on the far side. At 0.7mi reach a Y-jct: bear right to stay on Red Bluff Rd. Follow Red Bluff Rd for 1.8mi further before turning off right on an unsigned road that switchbacks down 0.2mi to a large bridge crossing Rock Creek. There are several pullouts before the bridge which make good parking and room for several vehicles. Under the bridge is a popular swimming hole.
- Be aware: a bunch of broken glass was found at the lower trailhead. Try not to leave anything of value in your car.
- It appears that idiots with no respect for the environment often frequent the area around and under the bridge. Please help keep the area clean by packing out any trash you might find.
Upper Parking[edit]
Either drive or hike back up to Red Bluffs Rd and turn right. Go another 1.3mi. There's no sign, but just a small pullout on the north side of the road big enough for two vehicles. A GPS may be handy here.
Bushwhack In[edit]
Walk along the road to find a culvert. Drop down and thrash your way into the forest. You want to bear generally north / northwest. Head along wherever is easiest and make your way down into the drainage of Rock Creek (0.1mi; 5min). There are a couple of steep-ish slopes, but nothing too hard. If you get cliffed out, you are in the wrong place. Drop into the creek and go downstream.
Descent[edit]
Head downstream about 5-10min, crisscrossing the creek as needed, to the top of Tsolo Falls.
Tsolo Falls (aka Three Swim Falls)[edit]
An impressive 30ft drop on Rock Creek. The creek has carved its way down through the bedrock, resulting in numerous interesting rock formations and water-worn potholes. The entire falls can be easily bypassed via a level "sidewalk" formation DCL. Climb down a narrow gully under the spray of waterfall coming off an unnamed tributary DCL.
It is not known if Tsolo Falls has been rappelled previously. Beware hydraulics. Here's the specs:
- R1: 30ft. Flow can be high on Rock Creek, so choose your anchor appropriately. There appears to be an interesting cave-like space underneath a giant car-sized chockstone wedged at the top of the waterfall. The rappel finishes in a deep beautiful pool.
- The creek exits the pool by flowing over a 3-4ft step into a pothole hydraulic. To be on the safe side, exit to the pool to a ledge DCL -- and jump past the hydraulic into the next pool downstream.
To the Bridge[edit]
Continue downstream. Expect to crisscross the creek numerous times and you will need to wade in other places. Pass through numerous small sections of narrows, cool rock formations, beautiful sculpted bedrock, and swimming holes. In July 2017 we were able to largely stick to the south / DCR side of the creek. Often the water is shallow and there are nice areas of flat bedrock for easy walking / shallow wading. Keep going downstream until you reach the road-bridge across Rock Creek. Expect the hike to take around 2hrs.
Exit[edit]
Under the bridge, look DCR for a trail that switchbacks up the road. This is probably the easiest means of exit.
Red tape[edit]
None.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
- The hiking route to Tsolo Falls is described in the latest edition of Curious Gorge - a hiking guidebook by Scott Cook.
Background[edit]
The USGS map shows a hot spring downstream of the bridge, but it's defunct / non-existent and not worth your time.
Extra Bonus: Steep Creek Falls[edit]
Continuing a mile or so past the upper parking area will reach another bridge over Rock Creek. Look to your left crossing the bridge to see Steep Creek Falls. There's a pullout just before the bridge. If you're looking for a quick & easy rappel, follow a steep user trail upwards on the east side of the bridge. The trail climbs a short bluff, then drops steeply back in right above the falls. (While you're here, it's worth a quick walk upstream on beautiful bedrock slabs to see a short 10ft drop about 100yrds upstream. Beyond the creek appears to become choked with boulders.)
R1: 60ft. Anchored off a tree DCL. Drop straight down with a short free hang at the bottom to the edge of Rock Creek. Wetsuits were not necessary in late July 2017.
Walk downstream under the bridge and keep going until you find a small user trail DCR leading back up to the road.
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