Deer Creek (MRNP)
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| Raps:3-4, max ↨80ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Condition Reports: | 28 Sep 2024
"Did a Chinook-Deer-Panther triple. Deer was short and sweet with some great features and rappels and some tempting slide like features. Only downside |
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Best season: | Summer
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Introduction
A great short roadside canyon to do if you want to splash around in some gorgeous pools with fun rappels and low commitment.
There are slides, jumps and thoughtful down-climbing that go into making this canyon worth doing. A rooster tail rappel to top it all off.
Note: this is not Shriner Falls, which is further south and road-side. Google maps has incorrectly labelled these falls as such.
Approach
From road pullout near GPS cords, walk down into the creek and start your adventure.
Descent
Being in MRNP natural anchors are necessary. However this doesn't reduce the quality of any rappel lines.
Pools can be deceptively VERY shallow. Depth check every jump.
- R1 DCL 80' Amazing rooster tail in center of flow.
- R2 DCL 60' A log resting in the middle of the falls creates a serious siphon hazard. Until it's removed stay DCL. Once it's removed the central line should form a fun rope-slide.
- R3 DCL 50', initially into a deep pothole (can be jumped) and then down 40' to the terrace where the water turns DCL to form Deer Creek Falls. (Note any spectators watching from above).
The main section of Deer Creek Falls can produce multiple hazard. The pool at the bottom of the steep falls forms a very turbulent pool in moderate-high flows. It has been rappelled in moderate conditions, however a second major hazard exists just downstream. In the narrows immediately following, the flow is forced under a large log causing a strong strainer to form. Thankfully it's easy to avoid both sections by downclimbing DCR.
Continue downstream for a few more obstacles, being weary of pool depth. Exit at the bridge just before Chinook Creek.
Exit
Follow the trail uphill for 20 mins back to your car!
Red tape
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
This canyons was first descended on 7/19/2024 by Adam Bercaw, Cole Anderson and Madeline Hwang. Conditions were moderate.