Kirk Creek Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B III (v4a2 III) Raps:8-9, max ↨150ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 3mi Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Marble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 18 Jan 2025
"Had a great day at Kirk! For the approach, we stayed on the ridge as I did in June. This route has less side-hilling compared to the original tracks a |
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| Best season: | All year, except for a few weeks after rains
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36.0008, -121.4848
35.9884, -121.4941
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Introduction
A lovely canyon with beautiful flowstone formations, Kirk Creek has an initial technical section in some steep narrows and slowly shallows out to a creekwalk exit. This canyon is a nice day trip, and will be easier when Nacimiento-Fergusson is open for driving.
It was first descended in a very dry winter and ran class B. It does run class C at higher flows, but could be hazardous because a few of the rappels run through chutes. In low flow this canyon is suitable for beginners with competent leadership.
Approach
Park at the base of Nacimiento-Fergusson road. When the road reopens (sometime early 2024) most of the climb will be shuttleable, but in the meantime it’s open to hikers. Walk up the road until you see an opportunity to ascend to the ridgeline (approximate coordinates where we left the road to ascend the ridgeline: 35°59'41.0"N 121°28'50.0"W, although you could try going farther up the road and then cutting over). Follow the ridgeline until the slope is level enough to traverse, then walk along the faint deer trails until you reach a small drainage. Walk down this drainage to reach Kirk Creek.
Descent
The max rope length used was 150’, but could probably be reduced to 120’ by breaking up the rappels into more sections.
R1 is anchored off a large deadfall or a tree RDC, and leads you immediately into R2, which is anchored off a bolt LDC (installed April 2022). If the bolt gets damaged, a smooth rock solidly embedded in the streambed could be used. From this point on, live trees and lodged driftwood make for good anchors.
All raps besides R2 were fiddlesticked or double-stranded, so don’t expect any webbing pre-placed. If you can do so safely, consider using ghosting techniques to keep the canyon pristine. Some sections of the canyon contain interesting and delicate flowstone?/mud formations, so do your best to avoid damaging those as you descend.
Exit
From here it’s a mostly unobstructed creekwalk back to the highway. Once the bridge is in sight look for an overgrown road down canyon left which will take you back to the cars. If you want to enjoy the beach as well, bushwack through the creek for another 500’ until you see a trail crossing. Following the trail down canyon left will take you to the beach, and down canyon right will take you up to Kirk Creek campground.
Red tape
None. Nacimiento Ferguson Road is closed to motor vehicle traffic, but open to hikers.
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Trip reports and media
Background
First descent by Rodtel314, Epeairs, Rbowru, and Smacame. Kirk creek was the second documented technical canyon descent Big Sur.
