Setrock Creek
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Difficulty:3B II (v2a2 II) Raps:11, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Quartzite and Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Any. This is a low flow drainage, go after some rain.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
35.7538, -82.2377
35.7511, -82.2201
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Nestled at the foot of The Black Mountain Crest lies Setrock Creek, a casual route marked by lots of fun downscrambling, high elevation views, and extremely laid back rappels. The easy nature of this route makes it a perfect option for brand new folks with no rappelling experience or the budding leader looking to gain more practice with anchor building, rigging, or even ghosting techniques. On that note, experienced canyoners will almost certainly find this route underwhelming.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene triggered a major debris flow through the watercourse, stripping it down to the bedrock for the bottom half of the route. Seeing the raw power and destruction that the storm brought to the area can, itself, make the trip worthwhile.
This is a low flow drainage year round - no cold water protection is needed for all but the coldest months, or perhaps after heavy rains when the water is up. I did not get wet past my ankles during the exploratory run.
Approach
Park at the Mount Mitchell Trailhead / South Toe Trailhead Parking, just outside the (closed) Black Mountain Campground - 35.75102, -82.22005
Cross the street and bridge, then head left through the campground, which is indefinitely closed due to Hurricane Helene essentially leveling the entire place. 0.3mi from the parking, pick up the blazed and signed Mount Mitchell Trail on your right. Head up the mountain for 1.5 miles to the Higgins Bald Trail junction. Continue on the Higgins Bald Trail for another 0.65mi until it crosses Setrock Creek. Gear up here before heading downstream.
Descent
This beta is from drought conditions. You may have more or less rappels than what is listed here, based on your conditions and group abilities. There are a plethora of anchor options at each rappel, and some of them can be downclimbed too. Because of the low flow nature of this drainage, using ghosting techniques would be acceptable here, and is a good place to practice them. This is a great run for folks to practice their technical rope skills, or try new techniques, in a very forgiving place.
R1: 50ft (17m)
R2: 100-120ft (33-40m) depending on where you choose to anchor. I fiddlesticked off a boulder.
R3: 100ft (33m) off a slung, massive tree root.
R4: 85-100ft (28-33m) depending on where you anchor. I fiddlesticked off a downed log.
R5: 50ft (17m). I fiddlesticked off a Rhodo.
R6 or Downclimb 1: 40ft (13m). Downclimb DCL
R7 or Downclimb 2: 40ft (13m). Downclimb DCR
R8: 35ft (12m) depending on where you anchor. I used an equivocation hitch off a Poplar.
R9: 35-50ft (12-17m) depending on where you anchor. I fiddlesticked off a Poplar.
R10: 80ft (27m) Setrock Creek Falls proper and end of the route. I broke this up into two rappels (R10 & R11) during the first technical descent, extending a fiddlestick anchor off a Rhodo, because I was solo and unsure if I'd have enough rope left for the pull. It's possible to combine R11 into this rappel, which would require about 110-115ft of rope.
R11: 30ft (10m) off a Poplar DCR just to get you to the bottom of the falls. I used an equivocation hitch here.
Exit
After rappelling Setrock Creek Falls, pack up the ropes and shoulder the bags. Clamor over the impressive log jam from the debris flow and follow the Setrock Creek Falls Trail back to the campground, then to your car - 0.5 mi from the falls.