Catherine Creek (Upper)
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Difficulty:2B II (v1a2 II) Raps:0-2, max ↨20ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | May-Jul
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_Banner.jpg)
45.7328, -121.3859
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
This creek is not a serious canyoneering objective. There are certainly much better options in the area. Do not visit after about mid-summer as the creek, despite its size, runs completely dry. This might be an interesting one to visit when other creeks are running high. All drops / slides on upper Catherine Creek can be bypassed. A rope might be required in higher flow.
- See also: Catherine Creek Slots.
Approach[edit]
From the Catherine Creek trailhead, pass through the gate and follow the obvious track northeast into the Catherine Creek drainage. Just before the creek, go left / uphill for 1.25mi. At about 1200' elevation, watch for a junction where you'll turn right. Follow this old road grade northward on a gentle traverse. It eventually descends into the upper creek drainage. Beware poison oak. Continue north for 0.6mi to a second Y-jct (not obvious; keep an eye out). Bear right again for a few hundred feet and watch for a loose talus slope leading downwards into the drainage. Drop in and head downstream.
Descent[edit]
The creek drops into a shallow, somewhat overgrown trench and remains that way for a significant period of time. Continue downstream perhaps 0.5mi with some minor downclimbs. Occasional nice stretches of bedrock.
- Downclimb: 5-6ft ramp into a pool. Bypass DCR.
- Downclimb: 6ft ramp. Beware some barbed wire into the creek just before the drop. Bypass DCL.
- Downclimb: 8ft ramp into pool with a boulder in the middle. Below is a short drop into a waist-deep pool.
Below the last downclimb is a large brushy thicket. The creek then slots up very briefly.
- R1: Minor drop followed by 18ft low-angle ramp into a pool. This is the biggest drop on Catherine Creek. Bypass DCR. Ahead it's a little brushy, then reach a nice area of bedrock.
- R2: 15ft ramp. Bypass DCL.
Below this point the creek becomes overgrown, so it's probably best to exit the drainage. Ascend slopes DCL onto Tracy Hill to about 1000ft elevation and head south from there.
Exit[edit]
Eventually intersect the powerline. On the far side, pick up a track which leads south past the Catherine Creek Arch. Follow it back to the trailhead.
Red tape[edit]
NW Forest Pass to park at the trailhead.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Lower Catherine Creek[edit]
Canyoneering Northwest identifies a few other features of interest between the road and Hwy 14 on Catherine Creek.
From the parking area, go through the signed gate south of the road. Immediately break off left/east and continue a few hundred years to drop into the lower drainage. Head downstream.
- Low angle ramp: 8ft.
- R1: 15ft.
Downstream the creek passes through a shallow narrows. A few hundred yards downstream, look DCR for a way to scramble back out. Ahead the creek passes under Hwy 14 via a culvert, so it's best to exit here. Rejoin trail and return to car.
