Not Miller Creek
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Raps:9-11, max ↨75ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | 6 Apr 2025
"No anchors were encountered, so likely a first descent. Surprised to see a patch of fire-damage forest on the approach, but the creek was not affected |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Jan-Mar
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
46.0538, -121.9884
46.0599, -121.9898
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Minor seasonal tributary of the Lewis River near Northwoods, WA. This creek is likely best visited in winter or early spring for decent water - or on a massive rainy day when everything else in the neighborhood is running too high to contemplate. Don't waste your time the rest of the year as flow reduces to a trickle. Would be a three star creek if it had more water. On the plus side: the creek is fairly action-packed with one rappel right after the next. Some pretty waterfalls and swept bedrock. Would rate it as beginner-friendly. Other than a steep initial climb, access is pretty easy.
- Watershed: 0.2mi^2. The checkpoint is where the creek runs under Lewis River Road.
- Creek derives its name from proximity to Miller Creek. It is near Miller, but it is not Miller.
Approach
Ascend steep slopes to get on the ridge climber's left of the creek. Once on the ridge, the terrain eases. Follow elk trails past an old burn site to a mini plateau at about 1800ft elevation. From here, contour on a bench back over to the creek. Nice open area above the creek makes a good spot to suit up.
Descent
- R1: 8ft from tree high DRT.
- R2: 35ft from tree way back DCL (need ~55ft of rope per the horizontal distance).
- R3: 55ft from tree high DCR (need 75ft of rope).
- Short low-angle ramp.
- R4: 25ft steep ramp. Used tree high DCR atop the previous low-angle ramp.
- R5: 30ft from log DCL.
- R6: 15ft.
- R7: 20ft twin falls from log spanning creek.
- R8: 50ft two-tier falls (need 70ft of rope).
- R9: 30ft overhang from boulder pinch DCL.
- R10: 10ft from log DCL. The creek becomes a woody, brushy mess below this point.
- R11: 20ft nuisance rappel from log.
Exit
After the last rappel, head downstream a couple hundred feet and exit via an obvious user trail DCL. Climb up onto a bench and bushwhack down to the road.
Red tape
None.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
First descended in April 2025 by Wade Hewitt, Kevin Clark, Ashley Driscoll, and Trey Schutrumpf.
