Ladder Creek
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| | Raps:9-12, max ↨100ft
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| Condition Reports: | 23 Oct 2022
"Snuck in the last descent of the season before flows increased. An absolutely amazing and very challenging canyon. Added a traverse line bolt to the R |
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| Best season: | Late Summer/Early Fall
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48.6751, -121.2421
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Introduction
Ladder Creek is an aesthetic slot canyon located behind the Gorge Powerhouse in Newhalem, WA. The very short trail crosses a suspension bridge over the Skagit River and provides several good viewpoints into the water levels of Ladder Creek. At one time, there used to be large lights that were used to illuminate the lower sections at night for visitors, however, the Goodell Creek Fire of 2015 that nearly destroyed Newhalem itself burned the area around Ladder Creek and disabled the high voltage lighting system. Much of the debris still remains visible.
Ladder Creek often rages much of the year with only a very narrow window (if it presents itself at all) in the fall before the rains in which it's droppable. The closest USGS Gauge that may or may not correlate is nearby Newhalem Creek. At the time of the first full descent the gauge readings were as follows for Newhalem Creek: Discharge ~ 18cfs, Height: just under 2.2ft. The 2006 exploration of the Upper Narrows was considerably higher.
CAUTION: This canyon has the propensity to have dangerous hydraulics, mandatory exposure to high/extreme flow. Proceed with caution, only with highly experienced groups, and only when flow conditions permit. Ladder Creek can be a very dangerous place even under the right circumstances, but certainly under the wrong ones.
Approach
The lower part of Ladder Creek is accessed through a very short, 5 minute, touristic trail that can be quite popular. From there, the approach is through the burned out forest to a plateau where the creek obviously opens. Signs of an old, abandoned graded trail are evident on the North side of the Creek. The final 200 feet or so involve bushwacking through thick new growth. Scramble in.
Descent
The Upper Narrows were explored in 2006. The first Full Descent was 16 years later in 2022.
Descent
- All rope lengths are highly estimated and back synthesized from pictures**
R1: ~10' from an anchor RDC that survived from the 2006 exploration. Standing dismount
R2: ~30' from a log jam. Exposure to significant flow at this rappel is nearly unavoidable and was quite pushy in 2022. The dismount was standing and it was possible to walk around the back of the falls into a semi-comfortable swim down canyon.
R3: ~40' from anchor LDC. Low angle ramp with turbulent water leading to the final ~7' pushy rappel. Slippery ledges LDC were used tp traverse the first stage of the ramp. Dismount in 2022 was standing neck deep in a turbulent washing machine and showed substantial propensity for hydraulics at higher flow rates.
R4: 110' from anchor RDC accessed by short traverse line. Starting highly vertical (wall rappel) and far removed from the water, the canyon turns and canyoneers land on a ramp with water raging down into a shallow pool. In 2022, exposure to substantial flow was encountered. No immediate consequences are found below this rappel. It is potentially possible to scramble up and over a rock fin at the beginning of the ramp to avoid flow exposure in higher flows.
Long, friendly, relatively open corridor.
Remnants of an old diversion dam of some sorts. Big timbers in a V pattern noted embedded in creek w/ steel fixtures.
R5: ~25' from a log with light exposure to flow into a deep cauldron. Swimming dismount. Has been jumped - always check depth. Potential for hydraulics at higher flow rates.
R6: ~ 35' from a log jam. The entire flow of the canyon briefly pinches down to 18" before pouring off in a deep cauldron. In 2022 a log on the RDC below the pouroff was used. Dismount was standing.
R7: ~50' from a log jumble. 10' to a little ledge and then 40' to a large room. Standing dismount.
VERY narrow slot, only 3-4ft wide with the full force of the water bearing down. This is one of the most scenic sections of the canyon. In 2022 it was possible to jump into the narrow slot or to shimmy/stem 5 horizontal feet over a small hydraulic that was formed from a 3-4' drop and then swim the corridor to a 5' jump into a pothole. In 2023 a large log now blocks the slot, causing a powerful siphon underneath - approach the constriction with immense caution.
Jump: ~10' into a deep cauldron that leads into the "tourist section". This cauldron appears to have the propensity to develop a serious hydraulic at higher flows. In 2022 it was possible to jump into the pool beside the whitewater. Note: this lead almost directly to a pouroff into the final rappels. Caution required to not be swept over R8. There is a semi-comfortable, semi protectable ramp that leads to the anchor for R8 on the LDC side. In 2022 partner assistance was used to safely execute this move. At higher flow rates this could be spicier.
Two old, disheveled bridges span the canyon above.
R8: ~40' from an anchor LDC. The first half of the rappel is dry while the second half ramps down with fairly little exposure to direct flow. Dry dismount on a little ledge, then entry into a swiftwater cooridor that will require caution not to be swept off the next drop which is around 50' horizontally down canyon. In 2022, the flows were relatively comfortable to swim this without being on rope.
R9: ~35' from an anchor RDC on a ledge. It is possible to almost entirely avoid the flow at this rappel if desired. Standing dismount.
R10: ~35' from an anchor LDC. This anchor may require a belay to reach in times of higher flow, however, in 2022 was safely reachable independently. R10 is entirely out of flow into a deep cauldron with the largest, entirely avoidable hydraulic.
Beautiful exit slot/ corridor swim.
Exit
Creek walk for 2 minutes to the footbridge overhead. Exit the creek at the footbridge and return via the established trail. Walk 5 minutes to the parking area.
Red tape
Ladder Creek is within the boundaries of Ross Lake National Recreation Area.
Beta sites
-
CanyoneeringNorthwest.com (archive.org) : Canyon Prospects in the North Cascades - Trip Advisor
- Washington Trails
Trip reports and media
From R5 down in 2022 https://youtu.be/vbw_f2eUfEk
Background
Upper narrows descended by R.Cobb and J.Bugden August 2006.
"Entered somewhere below the 1400 contour and exited somewhere around the big bend. Heavy water flow, unavoidable hydraulics, waterfalls up to 20m (approx). Sarcastically dubbed "No Worries Canyon" because it was a little bit scary down in there.
In the upper narrows we encountered 2 smallish drops (bolts placed at the time <2006>) and several interesting downclimbs into freezing, swirling, crazy water. Which brought us to one of the most magnificent corridors I have ever seen in a canyon. Long straight narrows, ultra smooth water polished rock dropping approx 20m over a 60m distance. Lots of water hazards to cross/ swim scramble around and very, very intimidating. After establishing an anchor, Rob enquired if I (Joe) would like to go first.. I am pretty sure the fear on my face gave my answer. Rob sorted his gear, got on rope, looks at me and says "IF I die, don't go this way.".. like i'd have a choice... "no worries" i says.
After this corridor was an even scarier 20m water fall ending in a 90deg bend with a stupid amount of water blasting through a tiny gap.
The canyon then flattens right out for several 100m meters. The canyon walls disappear and you find yourself walking down a pleasant (but still cold) little mountain creek.. butterfly's, bird songs and flowers.. how sweet.
Then you reach the "tourist section".. amazing place. Hats off to those who tackle this beast. "
The first full descent took place on October 6, 2022 by Joe Cruikshank, Andrew Humphreys, and Erik Bernhoft.
An unusually dry and prolonged summer of 2022 lead to universally low water levels across Washington. Ladder Creek was at one of the lowest water discharges that had been noted in many years. At this discharge, the water was pushy (likely A4) but the unavoidable hydraulics and terrifying obstacles described in the 2006 exploration of the upper narrows were not encountered. Anchors were placed in a manner that have a reasonable chance of survival despite the violent nature of this canyon at peak discharged. On Oct 6, 2022 Nearby Newhalem Creek was discharging roughly 18cfs and the gauge height was just under 2.2ft. Interestingly, over 16 years later, at least 1 anchor from the 2006 creek had survived entirely in tact.
