Calligan Creek Canyon
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| | Raps:4, max ↨120ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:K-feldspar sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | May - October
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47.6050, -121.7035
47.5746, -121.7362
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Introduction[edit]
Calligan Creek Canyon is a short but beautiful canyon which boasts high quality in flow rappels. It can be easily done in a few hours after work and is very accessible from nearby Seattle. It can also be combined with nearby Hancock Creek for a full day adventure which has been dubbed a "Callicock".
Approach[edit]
Turn off i90 at exit 27 and proceed to where North fork Road SE branches left (do not take SE 72nd St). At this point you are on a well maintained gravel road for 3.3 miles. Park at the spur 10 gate. At this point it is highly recommended to take bikes for the remainder of the approach as it turns the 3.5 mile forest road slog into a breezy 15-20 cycle. Don't forget to get your permit from the self serve kiosk (on the right side of the road 500 feet from the gate). Cycle or walk until you cross the NF Snoqualmie river (approx 1.5 miles), then take the left hand branch of the road and follow for a further 2 miles until you cross the bridge over Calligan Creek. Park your bikes in the woods and hike straight up the clear cut section of the forest under which the pipes for the hydro electric project are housed, it's steep but pretty easy going due to the short grass under foot. When you reach the gravel road again, hike up to the 1600 contour line at which point you can suit up in the woods next to the creek.
Descent[edit]
- R1: 120 feet off a tree DCL. The opening rappel is the crux of the canyon and can be intimidating at higher flow. The first 60 feet is dry but then one must rap directly through the flow coming in hard from DCR. Be careful of foot entrapment here as there are hidden potholes in the most intense section of whitewater. Once through the flow you will end up on the DCR side of the lower drop which is around 20 feet into a beautiful round pool. This drop might be jumpable and or slideable but no depth check has been made to date.
- R2: 110 feet off of a single bolt DCR. Accessing the bolt for R2 needs care as it is exposed. Would be good to add bolts for a traverse line in future.
- R3: 60 feet off 2 unlinked bolts DCL. This rap has a wet disconnect into a deep pool so ensure rope length has been set correctly. At higher flows this pool is turbulent and has the ability to hold you in the alcove behind the giant log as you try and swim over to the ledge DCR to climb out. Consider bringing a throw rope in case a team member needs assistance.
- R4: 30 feet off of a single bolt DCR. This pool has been jumped into 7 feet of water. Always check the depth before jumping.
Exit[edit]
After R4 continue down until you see the bridge over the creek. Climb out on a faint user trail on DCR about 200 feet before the bridge. Cycle or walk back to the car (3.5 miles)
Red tape[edit]
The canyon is located in the Snoqualmie Tree Farm area which requires either a $15 non motorized day permit or a $80 non motorized annual pass. There is a box where payment can be made approx 500 feet from the parking spot at the spur 10 gate
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
The first known descent of Calligan Creek Canyon was made by Frank Mayfield, Ryan Lepine, Sean Szymanski and Vlad Shatilov on the 23rd of May 2023. Thanks to Aaron Young for the excellent beta on his website; www.aaronswaterfallworld.net