Devils Creek Canyon

Devils Creek Canyon Canyoneering Canyoning Caving

Also known as: Devil's Creek; Boulder Cave.

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‌	Difficulty:‌3C I (v3a4 I) Swift water Raps:‌2-3, max ↨100ft Metric Overall: 2-3h No Red Tape:‌ Shuttle:‌None
Location:	46.9571, -121.1054
Condition Reports:	7 Jul 2017 "extracts from Facebook posts, click link for full details (privacy restrictions may apply). "Devils Creek Canyon (Washington) - 7 Jul 2017 :" [htt
Weather:
Best season:	Spring winter spring summer fall Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regions:	North America Pacific Northwest  United States Washington South Cascades

https://web.archive.org/web/20210527212206/www.canyoneeringnorthwest.com/DevilsCreek/Devils_Creek.php,http://ropewiki.com/User:Super_Amazing_Map?id=Devils_Creek_Canyon_-_Washington

46.9571, -121.1054https://ropewiki.com/images/0/01/Devils_Creek_Canyon.kmltopo

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Reference photos

7 Jul 2017: Moderate-Low. A bit low, still fun but not very challenging (class C1- = a4-). Picture by Luca Chiarabini

These reference pictures are used in the Waterflow analysis to predict current conditions. More reference pictures will produce a more reliable prediction.

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Welcome! Canyons in the Pacific Northwest can be different from those you might be used to. Be ready for unlinked bolts, retrievable traverse lines, and challenging aquatic environments. For more on local practices, and the best way to get started in the region, check out the WCC Safety page. Unlinked Bolts - groups should be comfortable rigging unlinked bolts, either temporarily linking them for all but the last person, or using a passive redundancy method. Most importantly, if you find two bolts side by side that are unlinked, do not add webbing to them. Linking bolts designed to be unlinked will likely cause damage during seasonal floods. Traverse Lines - many canyons are rigged to allow traverse line access to an exposed anchor station. This should be done using self-belay or team belay techniques. Do not leave fixed lines in the canyons. Challenging Environments - the highly aquatic nature of PNW canyons can surprise many. Cold temperatures, slippery rocks, loud waterfalls, and strong currents all lead to unexpected problems. Do not underestimate the need for strong team work and technical proficiency. Belays are frequently not possible. Unattended gear will sink or float away. Sliding and jumping is the cause of most major injuries, so it's critical to effectively communicating water depth & submerged hazards.

Introduction

An interesting canyon with a scenic mini-gorge. Short and sweet, there are only 2-3 rappels. This canyon is best done in the spring when others in the area are running high. The lower part of the gorge contains a short tourist trail with a geological anomaly known as the Boulder Cave. In aeons past, a large section of the overhanging cliff wall fractured off and bridged the creek, creating a 300ft long cave you can hike through.

• Devil's Creek is easily combined with West Quartz Creek; another short creek located a mere 15min away.
• Devil's Creek is not to be confused with the nearby Devils Canyon.

Approach

A well-maintained trail leads about 0.5mi from the parking area to the upper cave entrance. The upper section is accessed by hiking 0.5mile further upstream bushwacking through game trails. It may not be worth it. If you plan to do the whole canyon, it might be better to shuttle up to the top. This approach has not been explored.

Descent

Upper Section

• R1: 15ft anchored on a large tree.
• R2: Devils Creek Falls - 100ft from two bolts DCL. The falls goes through a pinch to a small pool, then drops free into a second pool. There is one sharp edge, so creep the rope. Since there is no anchor at the last waterfall, you'll need 2 x 200ft ropes to be able to rappel to the very end. (??)

The rappel drops into a beautiful little grotto. Continue downstream ~50 yards to the lower section to where the hiking trail enters.

Lower Section

Enter the Boulder Cave. There's a good trail / walkway, but a headlamp might be a good idea. There are no drops or technical difficulties in the cave.

Upon exiting the cave, you can either take the wooden steps back up to the trail, or continue downtream. The canyon is scenic with overhanging walls and a short slot. It's an easy/popular hike with wading in a small stream.

Exit

When the canyon ends, bear left and take the trail back to the parking lot.

Beta sites

• CanyoneeringNorthwest.com (archive.org)  : Devil's Creek
• Super Amazing Map  : Devils Creek Canyon