Soldier Camp Creek (Hellsgate Wilderness)
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| | Raps:2-5, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 29 Oct 2022
"Did not wear wetsuits, which was a big mistake. This canyon has unavoidable pools and long swims all the time, as well as Tonto Creek. Would definitel |
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| Best season: | Spring Fall
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34.1301, -111.2195
34.1231, -111.2701
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Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
The canyon itself I wouldnt be worried about as far as a swift water descent unless one wanted to shoot for high flow snow melt or rains. The exit down Tonto might be more of a concern in high flow. I would recommend a full wetsuit specially in the spring. An amazing overnight adventure with one of the best canyons to date in the Hellsgate Wilderness area (a side from Brush Corral Canyon) and the coolest exit down Tonto Creek back to your vehicle.
Approach[edit]
From the car park follow the double track to where it crosses the creek and proceed to wade across and pick back up the double track and follow it up the mountain to the saddle on the north side of Neil Mountain. Take the drainage left if you want to skip the upper section or follow the track right if you want to hike, swim and down climb through a sweet narrow section of SCC.
Descent[edit]
A very scenic descent through some gorgeous pools, rappels and down climbs to the confluence of SCC and Tonto Creek where you will be floored by the sheer beauty of this section of Tonto as you exit out of thick cattails into Tonto Creek. You may end up camping somewhere along the technical section as we did. When we ran the canyon the Tonto Creek above Gun Creek CFS gauge was at 65. We could have easily hiked and swam the exit at a higher CFS but not sure what the max would be to keep safe.
R1: 100' boulder pinch RDC.
R2: 25' boulder pinch.
Exit[edit]
Hike, swim and scramble down Tonto Creek to your vehicle.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
First Descent by Jay Wisocki and Jef Funch
