Incognito Canyon
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| | Raps:9-10, max ↨130ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 2 miles dirt Vehicle:High Clearance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 19 Jun 2025
"Early season high flow incognito run, conditions were v5a4. Top-down shuttle approach worked well, the road is no problem for a medium-clearance vehic |
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| Best season: | July-Sept
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47.3999, -121.2308
47.4193, -121.2259
47.4176, -121.2379
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Introduction[edit]
Please see notes regarding 2024 changes to the trailhead on the Mineral Creek page.
Incognito Canyon is a beautiful series of falls on No Name Creek off of Little Kachess Lake in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The canyon features around 10 back to back rappels (some into swims), beautiful scenery, and lake views on the approach. This route requires a shuttle.
Incognito can be combined with nearby Mineral Creek for a full weekend of canyoning (an efficient team can do both in one day).
Approach[edit]
Directions to Mineral Creek trailhead
This is the lower shuttle point. No recreation passes are required at the trailhead. There are also no toilets available.
- Exit I-90 for the town of Roslyn (From west: exit 80, from the east: exit 84).
- From Roslyn follow SR-903, then Salmon La Sac Road, 14 miles along the east shore of Cle Elum Lake.
- Note: SR-903 is your last location for cell signal.
- Turn left onto Forest Road 46, crossing the Salmon La Sac River.
- Drive 9.4 miles over Cooper Pass to the Mineral Creek Trailhead.
Upper Shuttle Route[edit]
This is the "original" route. You approach by dropping down from the East. The road progressively gets worse as you near the shuttle parking. If you don't have a high clearance vehicle it may be advised to look for a pull out along the way.
Drive
- From the Mineral Creek trailhead, drive back up FR 4600 for 2.4 miles.
- Take a right at the large junction onto FR 4617 which you passed earlier.
- After 1 mile keep right at a junction to remain on FR 4617.
- Drive 2.4 miles on deteriorating road until FR 120 joins as a sharp right downhill turning.
- Depending on vegetation you may be able to continue 0.6 miles further down FR 120 to a clearing. If not, park at the junction and hike down FR 120.
Hike
- At the end of FR 120 (having either driven or walked it), walk in the mostly open forest.
- Stay as close as you can to the top of the knoll where it is flat.
- The knoll eventually drops away and loses elevation rapidly. If you descend too close to the creek you may find yourself cliffed out.
- Find the path of least resistance down through the forest (long pants and sturdy footwear recommended). Use caution, some sections are quite steep. There's also evidence of bears in the area.
- Begin traversing towards the canyon when possible. Drop into the creek at the 3,000’ elevation. This will put you in just above the main technical section.
Lower Shuttle Route[edit]
This is the "new" route. You approach by contouring in from the North. The hike is about 1.75 miles but is slow going and will take 1.5hrs+. It however makes a no-shuttle option possible.
Drive
- From the Mineral Creek Trailhead, drive back up FR 4600 for 0.75 miles, to a hairpin right turn onto an unmaintained dirt road.
- Follow this dirt road FR 124, for 1.25 miles to a washout berm which blocks the road. (Vegetation pruning may be needed to get this far).
Hike
- From the berm, hike across a rivulet and continue on the abandoned FR 129 for 1.5 miles.
- The route switches multiple times between annoying bushwhack and easy open walking. Keep right at a fork in the road.
- From the end of FR 129, cross the drainage and pick up a surprisingly well established trail for a few hundred feet distance.
- Start contouring right along the 3,000' elevation level, following intermittent game trails.
Descent[edit]
DCR = Down Canyon Right
DCL = Down Canyon Left
Commitment Factor: Low. There are multiple escape points in this canyon, though the surrounding hillside can be quite steep.
The Canyon
R1: DCL - 90' from a bolt station on left
R2: DCR - 130' from tree. There is a potential escape on DCL after R2. AMAZING SLIDE RAPPEL
R3: DCR - 70' from a bolt station. Continue through the pool and rappel the 2nd stage from this anchor.
R4: DCR - 35' from a bolt station up on a ledge. This station is easily missed as you must climb up on a ledge to access it. There is a potential escape on DCR after R4.
R5: DCL - 45' from a bolt station. SUBLIME OVERHANG BEHIND THE VEIL
R6: DCL - 60' from a bolt station. This rappel wraps around the corner to the right. There are several abrasion points here, so rope abrasion management is a must. This anchor is best for moderate flows or lower. There are potential natural anchor options on canyon right for high flow.
R7: DCL - 8' from a single bolt. This drop could potentially be downclimbed. This bolt could also be used as a redirect for the previous rappel.
R8: DCR - 140' from a bolt station. This is a multi-stage rappel to the bottom pool with a large boulder visible. The anchor is not visible from the bottom, take care to not get your rope stuck/twisted. There is an escape at the base of this rappel. There is also a sketchy escape at the anchor for this rappel (if you need to retrieve your stuck rope).
R9: DCR - 60' from a tree.
R10: 100' from a tree in the center of the creek. Can be downclimbed DCR, taking you straight into a campsite by the lake shore.
Exit[edit]
It is an easy walk to the lake from the last waterfall. There is a quaint campground at the end of this creek, where you may meet some kayakers or canoeists. Please be respectful, as they may not expect to see people coming from above their camp. Swim and wade your way to the opposite side of Kachess Lake (west) by going around the north end of the lake, though certain times of the year you may be able to walk across on dry land. The Little Kachess Trail is just up the west bank of the river. Proceed north for 0.8 miles until you reach a T junction with the Mineral Creek trail (this junction is easy to miss). Take a right at the junction and follow the trail down to the Kachess River. Cross on an obviously placed log that is anchored on both sides of the river. It is a short walk back to the parking area.
In low flow (or no flow) times of the year, it's also possible to just walk up the Kachess river drainage back to the forest road, as there is a bulldozer track you can follow. There may be some deadfall to climb over.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
FB photo album of the first descent on 7.25.20
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
This canyon was first descended on 7/25/20 by Jake Huddleston, Barry Specht, Ryan Ernst, Kevin Steffa, Haruka-James Clay Lipscomb, and Tiffanie Lin. The canyon was almost written off as a possible prospect, and was not expected to have much potential. The canyon was so nice the group decided it deserved a better name than "No Name Creek". Many ideas were discussed, with "Incognito" canyon ultimately winning the vote. "Incognito: having one's identity concealed, as under an assumed name."