Star Creek
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Raps:6-9, max ↨190ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 30min Vehicle:High Clearance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shuttle: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | 9 May 2026
"While the flow wasnt impressive, Star Creek gets extra points for amazing scenery and gorgeous snow-clad mountain views. Definitely takes home the pr |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Spring
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45.7526, -122.2361
45.7726, -122.2445
45.7850, -122.2142
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Star Creek has to be, hands-down, one of the most scenic/beautiful creeks near Portland. On a sunny day, expect views of snow-clad mountains, dramatic rock formations, soaring cliffs, and lovely bedrock. While the area is not that high in elevation, it has a very alpine feel. With spectacular scenery, big rappels and rampant wildflowers, what's not to love? Okay, well, a little more water might be nice. Hit Star Creek early in the season (probably March or April is best?) to get some flow while the snow is melting in the upper basin. Unfortunately, trailhead access might be difficult when the creek is "in." Possibly it's a better creek to run in the fall after the rains have returned. This creek likely reduces to a trickle heading into summer and, otherwise, may not be worth your time.
- Watershed: 0.32mi^2. Creek may be spring-fed?
- Unfortunately, the creek has no real checkpoint on water levels.
Driving
The dirt roads around Silver Star have a bad reputation, but, as of 2026, they're actually in decent shape. Expect some potholes and berms. Bring high clearance vehicles and you'll be fine.
- Starway Traihead: Arguably, the worst section of road that we encountered in 2026 is the single lane road dropping down to the Starway Trailhead, but if a Prius can make it, you can too. Room for about 2-3 cars at the bridge. Possibly more room at an adjacent campsite if it's not occupied. Arrive early for parking as this trailhead can be surprisingly busy. Alternatively, just park up at the top by the old gate. Con: Need to hike up the hill at the end of the day.
- Silver Star North Trailhead: there was one not-so-great berm on the shuttle up to the top. A 2WD vehicle can make it to the upper trailhead if driven carefully. Fairly large parking area. This is a popular trailhead.
Recommend leaving nothing of value (or anything that looks like it could be valuable) visible in your car.
Approach
From the upper parking area, follow Ed's Trail upward about 1.8mi. The trail passes through a natural arch, but there are a couple of scrambly sections along the way. (You can skip the scrambly bits by cutting over to the old road grade part way up.) Break off the trail around 45.75135, -122.24169, and drop into the basin below. The going is easy at first through open forest, but soon becomes a maze of swampy ground, creeks, Devils Club, and salmonberry thickets. Make your way through wherever is easiest until you reach the rim where two side-by-side creeks launch off the cliff into the valley below. R1 is located on the left tributary (looking north) on the DCR side. Look for a nice rock-slab area created by a fallen tree just before the first drop. This is a good place to suit up.
Descent
Rope length value for the rappels are approximate and should be confirmed by future teams.
- R1: Shooting Star Falls: ~200ft of rope from a large tree DCL about 30ft back from the lip and up the slope. It might be possible to land on a bench 3/4ths of the ay down and downclimb the remainder. The full pitch is about 145ft, but more rope is needed per the horizontal distnance.
Downclimb, following the watercourse.
- Reach an 8ft step, bypass DCL.
- Reach a 10ft step. Downclimb or bypass high DCR around a big boulder.
- Make your way carefully down a long ramp. Might be a rappel in higher flow.
- R2: 20ft nuisance rappel from small tree DCL. (Or bypass by climbing around.)
- R3: Reach an long extended ramp of multiple tiers with a final 25ft vertical at the bottom. In 2026, we were able to climb down a couple tiers, then rapelled from a clump of vine maple DCL. About 170ft of rope to the bottom. May need to use alternate anchors and/or multiple rappels in higher flow.
- R4: 70ft from vine maple clump DCL right at the edge. Two-tier. At the bottom, a minor tributary enters through a mini-slot DCR.
- R5: 110ft from vine maple clump DCL set back from the edge. (Our doubled 65m rope did not reach.)
There's a short walk to the next rappel down a delightful bedrock sidewalk.
- R6: Silver Star Falls 185ft from two small trees DCR just above the watercourse into a cool bedrock amphitheater. Might be a good candidate for bolting.
It is possible to escape DCL below R6 via a bypass trail (unexplored), or downclimb 10ft to stay in the watercourse which swings right/starboard dropping through a short narrows.
- R7: Starboard Falls: 90ft from a rock pinch DCR. Blocky awkward rappel to a pool at the bottom. Good candidate for bolting. It might be possible to go under a chockstone at the bottom (?).
Exit
From the bottom of R7, continue downstream a short distance further. Detour around some annoying brush on rock ledges DCR. Reach an area of bedrock slabs above a final cascade into a nice-looking pool. This is a good place to declare victory and de-suit. Climb up the rock slabs DCR to find the trail cut through the vine maple. It's a bit faint in places, but gets better the farther you descend. Follow it back to the Starway Trailhead.
Red tape
None.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
The original descent team is unknown. First documented descent in May 2026 by Kevin Clark, Trey Schutrumpf, and David Konkol.
Further Exploration
Lidar shows a short interesting chasm just east of R1. Might be worth taking a peek at.