Kane Creek
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| | Raps:3, max ↨232ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 4 May 2025
"Im bummed that we got in here late this year and missed the higher flow. Super fun day and probably my favorite rappel in the PNW. Great day out. |
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| Best season: | Mar-May
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46.0279, -122.0260
46.0542, -122.0174
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Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
Kane Creek is a spectacular early spring canyon, ideally run shortly after the snow melts. The highlight of this route is Kane Falls, a massive waterfall formed where the creek pinches and then shoots down a 232' drop into a beautiful pool surrounded by giant house-sized boulders. It's one of those special places in this world that makes you feel small. Although a short canyon, the other rappels are fun and wet. Worth pairing with Able Creek for a fun full day of canyoning.
Approach[edit]
From Cougar, continue east on WA-503. After 18 miles, turn right onto FS-90 and shortly thereafter take your second right onto a logging road. In 0.4 miles, you will come upon a locked gate. Park here. Last year and this year the gate has been closed but unlocked. I called Rayioner 5/5/2025 and asked about driving into the property. They said the gate should be locked and not to access it with a vehicle.
Continue hiking or biking up the logging road for 5 miles and 1000' of elevation gain until you reach (46.02742, -122.02529). Stash your bikes and suit up here. Drop into the drainage to the north, hiking for about 300-400 ft to reach the first rappel (46.02792, -122.02602).
Descent[edit]
R1 - 60' from DCR tree.
R2 - 10' from DCL tree.
Approach the big drop using a 30' traverse line from DCL tree to DCR tree, crossing the flow, which will bring you to the edge of the drop.
R3 - Kane Falls - 245' off DCR tree. An absolutely glorious line at high flow. The waterfall is listed at 232' but With the current anchor location, a 70 meter rope is 15 feet too short to reach the pool. You have to get off and down climb. Be careful!!
Continue hiking a short distance until Kane Creek meets the main drainage OR climb and traverse over to Able creek.
Enter Able Creek -110' dry rappel. You are looking for a bare rock ridge point. 50 feet behind the ridge point is a tree with branches cut leaving 1 foot stubs. The anchor is 15 feet high in this tree and probably doesn't need to be this high. Caution: the rap line is chossy, you and your rope are going to dislodge rocks.
Able R5 - 45ft single bolt DCR, drop the side of the flow and land in knee deep water. A mid flow line lands in the deep pool and its a swimmer.
Able R6 - 80ft single bolt DCL near the the lip. Higher flow you might want to protect this approach, lower flow its an easy walk up.
Exit[edit]
Once you've reached the main drainage, turn upstream and then head south, finding the path of least resistance to the top and where you stashed your bikes.
Red tape[edit]
Swift South Non-Hunting – Individual recreational free permit from Rayonier Hunting & Recreation is required.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IWeHU0szwL8
Background[edit]
Several years ago, Zachariah Kane went up this creek and had a bad fall. A year later, he returned with Tim Burke, Melinda Muckenthaler, and Lisa Hewitt, and completed the hike to a beautiful double waterfall. Since then, the 232' waterfall has been nicknamed Kane Falls. The creek was first descended on 3/26/2022 by Ryan Ernst, Haruka James Clay Lipscomb, Michael Peterson, Barry Specht and Madeline Hwang.