Conditions:Brush Corral Canyon (Hellsgate Wilderness)-20250317150903

Latest:	16 Mar 2025 (1 month ago)

Reported by:	RFontaine (254 reports)
Quality:	Great
Waterflow:	Low
Wetsuit:	Thin wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time:	10 hours

Team: 4 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: A rugged backcountry oasis! Second known descent!!!

After a previous scouting trip, we found an adjacent 4x4 trail that we were able to drive leading over to the main trail, bypassing the worst of the road in the very beginning.

We were able to drive the 4mile 4x4 trail that the FD team had hiked, all the way up to the canyon loop. The road is rocky and rutted but doable with our lifted Frontier and 4runner and careful driving. It took us 38mins from Hwy 260 to get to the exit where we left our shuttle vehicle and continued driving an additional 13mins to the approach, parking at “Neal’s Cabin” as labeled on the map. (The cabin is long gone)

Approach from here was 1.5 miles following faint game trails and a trickling stream. It took us 1.5hrs to get to drop in, at a leisurely pace.

Canyon was flowing a bit after subsequent storms this week. All drops very slippery. The route features very interesting geometrically cut basalt rock rock with cracks everywhere that easily catches and entraps a fiddlestick!

We didnt put on our wetsuits until middle of the canyon where the deep swimming pools presented themselves. We were all very comfy in 4/3s.

We all agreed, the best part of the canyon was the last 2 rappels, a really gorgeous sequence separated by a deep swimming pool surrounded by sculpted basalt rock. This alone brought what would have been a 3 star canyon up to 4 stars.

We had to rebuild all but 2 anchors and the descent took us 5 hours at a very leisurely pace.

Exit out has lots of loose scree and boulders to scramble up to gain the ridge. The ridge line views are incredible! Once on the ridge, more rolling hills of loose rock presnt themselves. Exit took us nearly 3hrs at a very leisurely pace.

Over all this is an interesting and rugged route with neat features throughout. Although definitely not worth doing without a 4x4 to drive up the trail and another for the short shuttle, in my opinion.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
16 Mar 2025	Great	Low	Thin wetsuit		10 hours	4 people	RFontaine (254 reports)
Comment: A rugged backcountry oasis! Second known descent!!! After a previous scouting trip, we found an adjacent 4x4 trail that we were able to drive leading over to the main trail, bypassing the worst of the road in the very beginning. We were able to drive the 4mile 4x4 trail that the FD team had hiked, all the way up to the canyon loop. The road is rocky and rutted but doable with our lifted Frontier and 4runner and careful driving. It took us 38mins from Hwy 260 to get to the exit where we left our shuttle vehicle and continued driving an additional 13mins to the approach, parking at “Neal’s Cabin” as labeled on the map. (The cabin is long gone) Approach from here was 1.5 miles following faint game trails and a trickling stream. It took us 1.5hrs to get to drop in, at a leisurely pace. Canyon was flowing a bit after subsequent storms this week. All drops very slippery. The route features very interesting geometrically cut basalt rock rock with cracks everywhere that easily catches and entraps a fiddlestick! We didnt put on our wetsuits until middle of the canyon where the deep swimming pools presented themselves. We were all very comfy in 4/3s. We all agreed, the best part of the canyon was the last 2 rappels, a really gorgeous sequence separated by a deep swimming pool surrounded by sculpted basalt rock. This alone brought what would have been a 3 star canyon up to 4 stars. We had to rebuild all but 2 anchors and the descent took us 5 hours at a very leisurely pace. Exit out has lots of loose scree and boulders to scramble up to gain the ridge. The ridge line views are incredible! Once on the ridge, more rolling hills of loose rock presnt themselves. Exit took us nearly 3hrs at a very leisurely pace. Over all this is an interesting and rugged route with neat features throughout. Although definitely not worth doing without a 4x4 to drive up the trail and another for the short shuttle, in my opinion.
16 Mar 2025					10 hours	4 people Advanced	EMoorcroft (448 reports)
Comment: A little flow throughout the canyon made it worth doing. Due to the cracks near the edge and poor rock quality, double rope rappels might work best for retrieval. We did the last rappel as an 80' and 100' when it can likely be done as one rappel with a 220' rope. Definitely a good find and perhaps 4 stars to some, in the right conditions. We got it in good conditions and I still dont think I'de repeat it, so 3 stars for me..
28 Sep 2019	Amazing	Low	None	Normal	12 hours		Erek (206 reports)
Comment: First descent by Jay Wisocki and Erek Burek. Some minor flow in the canyon on first two rappels, with a little more flow accumulating for the last five rappels. Lower section had three swimmer pools with little sun exposure, wetsuit not needed but non-cotton layers was nice to have. Most rappels were very slippery. Good anchors on all rappels. R3 be mindful of rope placement, but low chance of rope pull issues overall.