Soda Creek (Jervis Inlet)
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| | Raps:11 rappels + 6 slides, max ↨49ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Watercraft:Yes Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 1 Sep 2025
"Short, sweet, big bang for the buck, beautiful sculpted falls and swims. Ocean views near the end and high quality rappels make this a top notch route |
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| Best season: | Aug-Sep
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49.9955, -123.9463
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Introduction[edit]
Soda Creek dazzles visitors to Jervis Inlet with a stunning waterfall that cuts through moss-covered granite and tumbles into the ocean alongside a wall of ivory barnacles and purple sea stars. From the water, the eagle-eyed will catch a glimpse of the narrow, dark slot above, enticing eager canyoners to come and take a closer look.
After a scenic meander through the forest, Soda Creek greets canyoners with a shallow slot that turns into a deep slot and ends with a final rappel that drops straight into the ocean. The final rappel is likely one of the most unique features of any canyon in the PNW.
Accessing Soda Creek is a multi-sport adventure requiring watercraft and overnight camping gear along with canyoning gear. Combining Soda along with nearby canyons Seshal Creek and Osgood Creek makes for a fantastic long weekend of canyoning.
Traveling to Jervis Inlet[edit]
Traveling to Soda Creek requires travel by vehicle, ferry, water taxi, and personal watercraft. Drive to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in Vancouver, British Columbia. From here, board a ferry to the Sunshine Coast (Langdale Ferry Terminal). The ferry crossing takes 40 minutes — keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales! It’s recommended to book a reservation ahead of time. Upon unloading from the ferry, take the Sunshine Coast Highway/BC-101N for 85km to the Egmont Boat Dock, a 1.5 hour drive. Catch a water taxi (reservations required) to travel 37km up Jervis Inlet to the campsite next to Seshal Creek at 50.02560, -123.92651. A personal watercraft is needed to reach Soda Creek from camp.
Camping at Seshal Creek[edit]
There is dispersed camping located where Seshal Creek meets the ocean at 50.02560, -123.92651. This spot used to be an access route for logging operations, so there is a rocky ramp for access and a large flattened area that is excellent for camping. The views from the campsite are stunning. On a clear evening, you’ll enjoy the alpenglow over mountain peaks and then a dark sky full of stars. There’s fantastic snorkeling just along the coastline and a cliff jumping spot a short paddle southwest of camp. A night swim or night paddle is highly recommended to marvel at the bioluminescence created by your movement in the ocean.
Things to note:
- There's roughly a 4m difference in water levels between high tide and low tide.
- There's a faint social trail located on canyon left that leads to a big pool for gathering fresh water.
- There is significant evidence of bear activity here — disciplined and secure food storage is a must.
Approach[edit]
Reaching Soda Creek requires paddling across Jervis Inlet. From the campsite, paddle or boat southwest across the inlet to Soda Creek. You can spot the last waterfall from camp. The crossing is between 3-4km depending on if you paddle as the crow flies or cross the inlet directly and then paddle along the shore, and takes about an hour in packrafts. Remember that this is the ocean. Jervis Inlet around Soda Creek has been known to have high winds and 1m+ waves, even on nice sunny days. If the winds and tides pick up, this can be a serious water crossing and should be treated as such.
When you reach the mouth of Soda Creek, disembark on a small landing zone on a rocky slab on paddler’s left (canyon right). Be sure to stow packrafts well above the high tide line. There is a social trail DCR to scramble to the top of the last waterfall and glimpse into the slot canyon above.
Once your watercraft is safely stowed, begin heading uphill on the canyon right side of Soda Creek. Follow a social trail that starts off great and then peters out as you near the halfway point of the approach. Travel is relatively easy through moss-covered forest with only minimal bushwhacking. Find a friendly slope to drop into the creek around 49.99549, -123.94620.
Descent[edit]
From the drop-in, it’s a short creek walk to the first slide.
S1 - 4m low angle slide.
R1 - 6m rappel from high DCL tree.
R2 - 9m rappel from single bolt DCL.
R3 - 6m rappel from single bolt DCR.
S2 - 6m slide.
R4 - 12m rappel from single bolt DCL.
S3/J1 - 3m slide or jump.
S4 - 4m slide on dry slab DCL of the flow into a pool.
R5 - 10m rappel or controlled slide from single bolt DCR.
S5 - 4m slide.
R6 - 12m rappel from single bolt DCR.
R7 - 12m rappel from single bolt DCR.
S6 - 6m slide.
R8 - 10m rappel from single bolt DCL. This is a multi-stage rappel traversing through a small pothole.
R9 - 15m rappel from single bolt DCR. There’s not much room to gather at the far end of the pool, so sequence well.
R10 - 7m rappel from single bolt DCL. The slot opens and you are greeted with beautiful views of the ocean.
R11 - Soda Creek Falls - 15m rappel into the ocean! from single bolt DCL.
Exit[edit]
Swim 10m from the bottom of the last rappel to the rock landing where you stowed your watercraft.
Red tape[edit]
None
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
With such a gorgeous waterfall pouring into Jervis Inlet, we were not at all surprised to discover that Soda Creek had previously been descended. The first descent team is unknown. On June 21, 2024, Kevin Steffa and Sara Fleetwood first scouted Soda Creek, sailing up the inlet from Egmont on a 16’ XCat with sails, a rowing setup, and an electric motor that could charge off of a solar panel. Later that summer, September 2, 2024, the canyon was documented and anchors improved by Andrew Humphreys, Erik Bernhoft, Joe Cruikshank, Jon Obst, Kevin Steffa, Michael Hensen, Sara Fleetwood and Madeline Hwang.