Three Corner Creek
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| | Raps:3, max ↨120ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Optional 4.75mi Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 29 Jun 2024
"Water is getting pretty low but its still a fun creek. More opportunities to play around in all the grooves on R2. Replaced the anchor on the low flo |
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| Best season: | June-Sept
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45.7510, -122.0178
45.7454, -122.0218
45.7544, -122.0107
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Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Three Corner Creek is a lesser tributary of Rock Creek located about 6mi northwest of Stevenson, WA. The creek is named for Three Corner Rock: a nearby landmark and former lookout site above Rock Creek Pass. Three Corner has three nice waterfalls and a beautiful upper canyon; it's a nice short adventure near Portland, and an excellent training creek.
Three Corner is visited regularly by waterfall photographers. If leaving anchors, please use natural colors or black to blend in. A bright red sling atop a waterfall is most irksome to photographers.
- Watershed: 1.65mi^2. Highest point in the watershed is ~3400ft. North-facing slopes will hold snow longer.
Approach
The standard approach is to drop a car at the bottom and shuttle up. The roads are rocky, but 2WD friendly if driven carefully. In 2023, there was a tree down on the last section of logging road, forcing groups to park early and hike the rest of the way on foot. Upon reaching the parking area at the end of the road (approximately 45.74540, -122.02184), follow the road a short distance further, then break off to hike north down the ridge directly to R1. The route passes through an older clear cut area.
- If you don't have a shuttle, there's an alternate bushwhack approach. Approach was scouted in 2023.
- Road cleared to upper shuttle parking as of 21 Apr 2024
Descent
The standard approach is to go directly to R1 - although there's an optional 6ft drop into a pool about 5min upstream.
- R1: ~120ft.
- Low water: anchor is a tree DCL. Rappel 120ft through a short slot and down into the amphitheater below. Beware sharp rocks at the edge; edge protection is tricky. This spot could benefit from a bolts or a redirect (?).
- High water: follow the rim of the canyon DCR to meet a tributary stream about 100ft away. Once at the trib, rappel from a tree DCL set about 50ft back.
The two creeks merge at the bottom. Continue downstream.
- Short step. Bypass/downclimb DCR or find an anchor to rappel.
- R2: 80ft from tree DCL. In low flow, an interesting network of channels/chutes/potholes become visible at the base of the falls. There are several miniature arches. It may be possible to rappel into the chutes.
- R3: 60ft.
- Low water: boulder near the center of the creek.
- High water: tree DCR for a line out of the water. Approach to the tree can be slippery, so use caution. Beware loose rocks.
Exit
About 5min downstream from R3, reach a confluence with another tributary entering DCL. You have two options:
- Proceed straight across the creek and exit DCL/north directly up a forested embankment. There's a bit of a user trail, likely from waterfall hunters. After 5min, enter a a clear-cut area. Continue north wherever's easiest until you intercept the logging road. Walk back downhill to your car.
- Continue 15min downstream from the confluence. Keep an eye out for a user trail DCL (might be marked with flagging tape). Quick exit up to the parking area.
Red tape
None.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
While waterfall hunters have visited the falls for many years, the first known descent was in August 2014 by Keith Campbell, Wim Aarts, Kevin Clark, and Karrin Mullendorff.
