Shiver Slot
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Raps:10, max ↨185ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | 31 May 2026
"Second descent. All anchors survived their first winter well, and have now been doubled-up.. A sunny day and gorgeous views made the experience so |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | May-July
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48.0275, -121.5047
48.0248, -121.4779
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Shiver Slot is a beautiful and remote canyon in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. While the approach to this canyon is more challenging and time consuming than most, canyoneers willing to make the trek will be rewarded with stunning views of the South Fork Stillaguamish River valley, a spectacular 300'+ multi-pitch "funnel" rappel into a narrow section, and a unique final free hanging rappel into a narrow slot.
This canyon is located in the upper valley of an unnamed creek with no trail access. Groups attempting this route should be prepared for a a long approach and exit, and expect some exposed scrambling on the upper approach.
The catchment for this canyon is relatively small, making the route best run in early to mid summer before the majority of the snowfields above have melted and flows become a mere trickle.
Rockfall appears to be common in this canyon, so groups should be prepared with a bolt kit to add additional anchors if the originals are damaged, particularly the first group of the season.
The water in this canyon is almost entirely fresh snow melt, so be prepared for icy cold water.
Approach
Getting There
From Granite Falls, WA take the Mountain Loop Highway 28 miles and take a right at NF-4065 road (48.044536, -121.464571). There is no signage for this road so it is easy to miss. Drive 2.2 miles and park at the Sunrise Mine Trailhead (48.02527, -121.47777). The road is gravel and as of 2025 a high clearance vehicle is not required.
Approach Summary
The approach is all off-trail. On the first descent in 2025, we took a different approach up to the canyon than the one we took back down. We found the route back down to be preferable, so that is the route listed in this beta. However, there may be better approaches if groups are willing to try other routes.
One thing to note about the creek: the lower foresty sections are slippery and frustrating on tired legs, however the upper sub-alpine sections are superbly grippy.
Part 1: Climb from the Valley
From the Sunrise Mine trailhead (48.02527, -121.47777), find a spot to enter the open forest and descend 200' until the ground flattens out. Bushwhack across the valley until you reach the confluence of the Shiver Slot creek with the SF Stillaguamish River (48.02676, -121.48322). Follow the creek bed from here. The creek bed makes navigation easy, but group preference may dictate if you stay in it the whole way up and/or down, or deviate into the forest alongside the creek. There are a handful of short waterfalls in the lower creek that will require bypassing through the forest. We found the boulder field next to the creek which starts at 48.02551, -121.48914 to be quite easy to ascend.
Once you reach 48.02529, -121.49702, the valley begins to open up and you should see the Shiver Slot looking up the valley to your right. Follow the boulder field to the entrance of the final slot for a flow check (48.02658, -121.50079).
Part 2: Climb Alongside the Canyon
From the end of the canyon, the approach climbs the south rim of the south slot, weaving its way up undergrowth and cliff bands for about 600 vertical feet. You'll have to choose your own route / path of least resistance, however on the first descent we didn't struggle much to find a way up despite intimidating slope-angle shading on the map. There may be some exposed scrambling. If you get off course to either the north or south of the ridge you can end up at cliffs which may be tricky to ascend unprotected.
Your target is a point (48.02649, -121.50473) which allows you to very easily cross to the other side of the slot, just below some open rock outcrops on the other side. Traverse/contour for a couple hundred yards around the bottom of the open rock slabs visible above, then climb north in the trees again (arguably the worst section of slide alders) until you reach the wide open slabs / creek bed (48.02748, -121.50469). You can gear-up here, and it's a short DCL scramble to the R1 tree.
Descent
Multi-Pitch #1: the canyon starts off with a 345' (105m) multi-pitch rappel (R1-R3) that funnels you into the upper slot and ultimately to a beautiful infinity pool at the bottom.
- R1 - 60' (18m) From DCL tree (looking for black webbing).
Rappel down steppy slabs trending slight DCL as you pass the final trees to R2.
- R2 - 120' (24m) from unlinked bolts on downstream side of large step with good standing space, not visible from above.
Rappel the fall line of the slab to R3.
- R3 - 185' (56m) from unlinked bolts placed on the downstream side of a rock step, about 30' (10m) up from edge that begins dropping you down into the slot.
After going over the edge there is no line of sight from the anchor. The watercourse begins to narrow and flow is more concentrated here. At higher flow the rappeller is fully engulfed in spray and visibility is limited. This is the crux of the canyon.
End Multi-Pitch #1
- R4 - 70' (21m) from unlinked bolts DCL on spacious platform in the slot.
- R5 - 50' (15m) from unlinked bolts DCL.
Down-climb to the infinity pool (surprisingly deep enough for a small jump as of 2025).
- R6 - 50' (15m) DCR from unlinked bolts
- R7 - 30'(9m) Optional rap from unlinked bolts or downclimb DCR in the flow on good steppy rock.
- R8 - 20' (6m) DCR from a unlinked bolts (possible downclimb DCL).
As the canyon opens-up, a dry bail option is possible by continuing straight ahead (rap anchors, count & length unknown). However the fun takes a hard right and drops into the neighboring slot.
- R9 - Traverse 25' (8m) from a unlinked bolts DCR along ledge to unlinked bolts. Rappel 60' (18m) into the adjacent slot.
Multi-Pitch #2
- R10 - 20' (6m) DCR rappel from unlinked bolts to access the R10 anchor on the large chockstone.
- R11 - 100' (30m) DCL from unlinked bolts on downstream face of large central chockstone. This is the grande finale rappel into the slot that you saw on the approach. Much of this rappel is free hanging out of the flow, rejoining the flow towards the bottom.
Exit
Return the way you came.
Red tape
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
Route first identified by Brian Forrest who coined the overall name "Valley of Lost Falls". Later scouted by Jake Huddleston & Kevin Steffa. First descent by Jake, Joe Cruikshank, Haruka Lipscomb, and Hereward Cooper on June 14th, 2025.
The creek is itself is unnamed and descends from an unnamed peak. Ultimately the name "Shiver Slot" was chosen due to the unexpectedly frigid water and overall conditions during the initial exploration. The day was cold enough that we stopped and put on our wetsuits on our approach climb, a very unusual occurance.