Hager Canyon
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| | Raps:14-15 raps + 9 slides, max ↨80ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 5min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | July-Sep
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46.5850, -121.6527
46.5864, -121.6551
46.5896, -121.6640
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Waterflow
Introduction
In this canyon resides a troll named Hager. We can't wait for you to meet him. Most of the time he's a jolly and mischievous fellow that likes to dunk you into pools and tug at your feet. Be wary of his dark side though, he is a troll after all.
Hager Canyon, aka Sick Puppy canyon is a great canyon in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Packwood, WA. This canyon is a waterpark filled with slides, jumps, and beautiful scenery. However, groups should not underestimate the hydraulic hazards in this canyon and the technical ropework needed to complete the lower section. Special challenges include rigging retrievable traverse lines (with intermediate points), recirculating hydraulics that can be difficult to escape from if trapped, and rappels that require careful and confident footwork/balance. The canyon has highly carved features despite not being a very deep canyon, and the number of slides in the creek is very impressive. The canyon transitions from a water park in the upper and middle sections to technical ropework in the bottom section. All canyoneers running this canyon should be confident swimmers. Use low-impact canyon travel by staying in the watercourse, below the flood line.
Driving Directions
From Highway 12, turn onto NF-48 (46.58867, -121.68681) to access the canyon. This road is across the street from the Crest Trail Lodge and is easy to miss. (Google Maps lies and may try to route you via NF-21 further south which does not actually connect to NF-48.) Drive up NF-48 for 2.8mi and park at the second switchback (46.58631, -121.65515). If you are planning to take the lower exit, drop a shuttle car at the first switchback (46.58969, -121.66427).
Drainage area
4.22mi^2. Highest elevation point for the drainage is around ~5000 ft. Given the volume of water that pumps through year-round, it's highly likely Hager is spring-fed.
Waterflow
The gauge (USGS:14231900 Cispus River AB Yellowjacket Creek) will give a good projection of waterflow during normal season (July - October). However, during summer when heavy snow melt is occurring, it can be unreliable due to its smaller catchment and lower snow amounts compared to other gauged rivers nearby. Hager seems to be run comfortably by most groups by the beginning of August. A number of springs in the upper drainage maintain good water well into the season.
Upper Upper Section
The section of creek between Hager Lake and the main canyon was run in 2021. While scenic, it does not have the same beauty and fun factor as the lower canyon, though it does include a beautiful 80' vertical rappel.
Approach
From the parking area, head uphill into the forest and skirt the edge of the creek for several hundred feet along an obvious use trail. At about 2100' elevation, continue following the use trail and drop into the creek at S1 (46.58514, -121.65250).
Descent
DCL = down canyon left; DCR = down canyon right; S = slide; DC = down climb
Upper Section
Access the upper section from the top of feature or slide 1 while there are two small slides above this the 18’ slide is the beginning of the canyon.
Feature 1: 18' slide into a large pool. It is also possible to jump DCL from a ledge into the pool. In higher flow, this is a counter-clockwise recirculating hydraulic. It is possible to down climb/rappel from a tree on DCL to check depth and station someone at the bottom for assistance out of the pool. Please avoid going around this feature unless you need to check the depth. If the party is uncomfortable with this slide or jump the rest of the canyon will be a problem for the party.
Feature 2: 20' rappel from webbing around a log in the middle the water course. This station can be accessed by a small slide above . The rappel line is right next to the flow at the bottom it is possible to flat jump across the pool into the outflow or duck behind the veil for an easy swim. As of May 2026, the pothole is clean. It is possible to do R1 as a slide from the pool above - it is a very forceful slide with a pool depth of only 6 or 7 feet, and as of May 2026 has only been tested by a few people, some of whom touched bottom (only slightly) The slide seems to flush you immediately towards the exit of the pool, but at least until it gets more travel, teams should consider stationing a teammate at the edge of the pool with a throw rope.
Feature 3: 10' bumpy slide that you need to do with soft knees or down-climbable DCR.
Feature 4: 30' rappel DCL from webbing around a log. The pool below is extremely shallow.
Feature 5: 15' low angle bumpy slide or rappel DCR from a single bolt. As of May 2026, this is no longer a slide as it is covered in logs It is a fairly easy downclimb DCL
There is a nice open area after S4, with an easy access/egress point back to the vehicles if necessary if continuing down stream creek walk on the dcr side of the stream for easy access to the middle section without leaving the water course avoid walking through the forest on the side unless exiting.
Middle Section
Feature 6: 15’ rappel DCR from an unlinked bolt station. The rappel line here is wet and will put you Directly in the outflow to easily exit the pool. In high flow, the pool has a strong recirculation that is easy to escape for those with experience, but does require some effort. There is also a redirect bolt to avoid the brunt of the flow in higher flows.
Feature 7: 6’ rappel DCR from single bolt. This drop is also commonly down climbed. This is not a slide (parties have slid this in the past, but as of May 2026, there is now a log in the pool below, making for an easy walk after a few feet of stemming)
Feature 8: 7’ rappel from a v thread in the watercourse dcl it is also possible to simply slide down the log that is jamming this pool. To access this station stick to the watercourse. A small downclimb and a bit of walking in the flow will grant you access to this anchor it is no longer recommended to walk around in the moss beds.
Feature 9: 10’ from a v thread dcr Look for a log cave underneath the large log. Pretend you're a troll and demand a toll for continuing the canyon. Do not bypass this drop through the forest.
Do not enter or exit the creek above S5 unless there's an emergency. The trail cannot sustain group travel
Feature 10: This is a two-tier drop. Avoid the first tier as there's a hidden log in the pool. Instead, downclimb to the top of the second tier from DCR (see photo for reference). The second tier is a 12' slide. The slide terminates into a small pool and the canyon makes a sharp right turn. The slide can be bypassed by rappelling off of webbing around a fallen tree
Feature 11-13: a small 5 foot slide takes you into a deep water corridor. Directly after this there is an 8’ short slide into a shallow pool that leads directly to a steep 20' slide. To check pool depth or bypass the slide, there is a 10' traverse to a 20' rappel from a single bolt DCL.
The hydraulic at the bottom of the 20' slide can be tricky - be sure to station someone at the edge with a throw bag if you have beginners on your team. In higher flow, there is a risk of being swept over the next tier (S7), which is a slide but could contain hazards early in the season. It is best to send your strongest swimmer first. Pack management is also important here to avoid getting them stuck in the hydraulic, or getting swept over the next tier.
Feature 14: 8' slide immediately after S6. In higher flow, this pool has a clock-wise recirculating hydraulic. This slide/pool can be bypassed DCL. It is unclear if groups are sliding this in 2026. It is recommended to check the pool
Do not exit here unless there's an emergency. This social trail is heavily eroded near the creek, and is unstable as it ascends the hillside, and cannot sustain group travel.
There are some small slides and down climbs after S7.
Feature 15: slide rappel 12’ from a v thread dcr this feature goes as a slide but requires a rope to slow you down enough that you don’t hit the far wall at the bottom push off the wall to swim out. It may be advisable to have someone ready as down stream safety in higher water.
Feature 16: 15' rappel from tree DCL, or rappel from a single bolt from the boulder in the creekbed for an in flow rappel. The bottom of this pool is shallow and cannot be slid.
Exit here if you do not plan to continue on to the lower section.
Lower Section
The next three drops are a fun series of back to back slides:
Feature 17: 8' slide from the center of the pour over
Feature 18: 8' slide from the center of the pour over
Feature 19: 10'. Start your slide DCL.
The remaining section of the canyon is more technical than the upper, requiring multiple traverse lines and careful footwork to avoid fast moving flow and slippery rocks. If not continue to the lower section please exit above the triple slides. the canyon channels into a deep narrow corridor with no escape options until below R14.
From the ledge DCR, downclimb into the lower pool, or use a single bolt DCR to handline or rappel down this slippery 15' slope. In high flow, the pool is knee deep and not too pushy even though it may look like it.
Feature 20: rappel DCL 15’ from two bolts this goes as a slide rappel into the pool that has a shallow but forceful hydraulic . It is advised to send a strong member first to be at the bottom of this pool to help people out of the strong current. It is possible to short rope this rappel for A dynamic entry. (Do not wear a backpack here even though the pool is shallow the recirculation makes for a hard time standing)There is also a traverse here. To avoid this slide rappel. The traverse is 15' and the rappel is 10'. Setup the traverse line using a team belay or self-belay method to get to the anchor station at the edge. This drop has been done as a slide. It is important to note that the traverse line here has caused significant damage to the moss on the walls of this canyon and should be avoided to allow for re growth although in higher flows it might be necessary to use.
The tier directly after f20 is very shallow. Downclimb DCR and slide 5' into a pool.
Feature 21: AKA 'The Dance Floor'. 60' slide rappel DCR from an unlinked bolts. The rappel is relatively low-angle, curves DCL. There is an obvious constriction in the rock about half way through this slide rap And it is possible to set the rope short to here and continue through the rest of the drop as a slide. This drop has been slid from the top but be advised people have been slightly injured here on occasion due to one piece of rock that sticks out of the slide near the bottom. The next bolt anchor is located DCR immediately at the end of the rappel where the canyon makes a sharp right turn. It is placed fairly high on the canyon wall. It is best for a strong climber and/or swimmer to go first. Hager, the troll, resides at the bottom of this rappel.
Feature 22 + redirect: 80' DCR from an unlinked bolt station . This rappel requires careful footing and balance on potentially slippery rock. Rappel 30' and step over the flow access the redirect/deviation on the DCL wall. The walls here have multiple hand holds to carefully reach the redirect. (Redirects are permanent anchors, please do not remove them.) Continue rappelling down the sloping rock edge away from the water. The rappel ends in an area where 3-4 people can stand and the single bolt for R13 traverse.it is also possible to avoid the redirects all together most of the time by rappels g directly in the water and near where the drop rooster tails simply stepping out of the flow towards dcl
Traverse: From the single bolt DCL, rig a traverse line 15' to an unlinked bolted anchor DCL. The first person will may need to swim through the boiling pool and climb out to set the traverse line for the rest of the group. Use this if you like but simply getting in the pool and standing up is also easy to do.
Feature 23: 15' rappel dcl unlinked or a slide from canyon center. Swim 20' through the final corridor. (In higher flow there is a risk of being swept over the final tier. It is best to send your strongest swimmer/climber first to climb out of the pool and assist teammates safely out of the pool.)
Feature 24: 30' DCL from unlinked bolts. This rappel is out of the flow there is now a large strainer at the bottom of this drop be careful and try not to step into it.
Feature 25: 50ft from log DCR down into a short slot-like section. (Too narrow at the bottom to be a good slide.)
Exit
After exiting the lower technical section, keep going downstream.
Below R15, the creek opens up again. Look for a cairn atop a log DCL which marks an easy exit on a game trail up out of the drainage. This route out is a better long-term solution per combating erosion. The route out was well-marked in 2023. Once out of the drainage, contour left/west to pick up the obvious trail. Follow it downhill to a minor saddle at approx. 46.59072, -121.66043. From here, traverse west back over to the road through open forest. Hopefully, you left a shuttle car here. Exit takes ~10min.
Red tape
None.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
This canyon was first fully opened on June 26-27 by Ryan Ernst, Michael Peterson, Andrew Humphreys, Jake Huddleston, Barry Specht, Kevin Steffa, Haruka Lipscomb, and Tiffanie Lin. The canyon took multiple trips and attempts to complete the entirety of the main route due to early season high flows and hydraulic hazards. This canyon has been described as "cute and cuddly, with teeth" due to its very fun and seemingly innocuous nature. Just when you start getting comfortable, the teeth come out.