Tough Hill Branch
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| | Raps:5-8 + 1 bonus/optional rappel, max ↨90ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Spring rainy season or after heavy summer rain
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36.0886, -81.7445
36.0879, -81.7478
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Introduction
Tough Hill Branch is an excellent training ground for the budding leader wanting to take out folks that are completely new to the sport or rappelling. The boulder choked, mossy nature of the creek is worth the trip alone. Large, overhanging boulders, with at least a dozen small cascades and waterfalls, define this area's aesthetics.
Tough Hill's difficulty lies somewhere between challenging and engaging creek scrambling, with extremely easy and straightforward rappelling mixed in. Every obstacle has multiple, natural anchor options available that are easily identifiable. Because this is generally a lower flowing, wide creek, it allows ample opportunities to practice different techniques within a low consequence environment. The exit trail is never more than 0.15mi above the DCL side of the creek, allowing escape at every point of the route.
Despite being a lower volume drainage and flow, there are still several chest deep pools and consistent knee-deep wading. Tough Hill lies low in elevation (2000ft), making the water uncharacteristically warm for the mountains - no wetsuit needed.
Approach
The parking (36.08791, -81.74784) is beside a locked gate off Globe Rd, which takes 8+ miles of dirt road driving to reach. Remember to please not block the gate - there is space for about 4 vehicles off to the side. The last 0.4 miles to the gate is a little overgrown but the road is fine. You can park further up Globe Rd if you're concerned, but do not park in front of residential houses and make sure you can get your car all the way off the road.
From gate, head down the old logging grade. In a half mile, the road will reach a junction with a field of lilies and tall grass. Some maps have this listed as the "Leonard Coffey Cemetary", but I haven't found it yet. Tough Hill Branch is just ahead, however, the obvious path of least resistance is to turn left and follow the road, but that will take you away from the start. Instead, head straight through the tall grass and lily field for about 50 yards - headed towards the sound of the creek. As soon as you see it, go ahead and jump into the watercourse. This should be about here: 36.08856, -81.74448
Once in the watercourse, travel is easy and the start is just ahead.
Descent
As always, depending on your group's ability, there may be more or less rappels than listed in this beta.
Scramble and downclimb through the increasingly boulder choked creek. In about 15 minutes, you'll reach the first rappel.
R1: 90ft (27m) off trees at the head of the drop. Longest rap of the route, but very slabby and beginner friendly. Finish the rappel in an obvious, shallow pothole about 15ft or so from the very bottom of the drop. Pull rope here, then downscramble the very easy chute the rest of the way. If you want to go all the way to the bottom on rappel (120ft), you'll need another 40+ft of additional rope between the rap and pull lines.
R2: 30ft (9m) off tree DCL. Depending on your group’s abilities, this could be an optional rap. There's really only one 8ft bulge to negotiate. We ghosted this anchor.
Continue downstream, scrambling several small cascades and a couple thigh-to-hip deep mini pools. In 0.2mi you'll reach Tough Hill's canyon proper, the meat of the route.
R3: 50ft (15m) off boulder DCL. Rap under the impressive overhang. We ghosted this anchor.
Optional R4: 20ft (6m) in watercourse or easy downscramble on slab DCL. Land in a waist-to-chest deep pool and mossy amphitheater.
Scramble through an impressive mini-slot. This is my favorite section on route.
R5: 50ft (15m) off perfectly situated chockstone anchor. Duck low and rappel under the impressive overhang, through flow, and land into a mini amphitheater with another impressive overhang.
R6: 12ft (4m) off chockstone in watercourse or 5.0 downscramble on slab DCR. Although not very high, a slip would have high penalty points. Finish in the long, waist-to-chest deep pool.
R7: 30ft (9m) off downed - but still alive - tree overhanging the creek. This could potentially be scrambled, depending on your group's abilities and water levels. We ghosted this anchor.
R8: 12ft (4m) off chockstone in watercourse. Short, but pretty. We ghosted this anchor.
R9: 20ft (6m) off trees DCL. This is an optional rappel, and you'll need to bushwhack back up UCR to get on the exit trail. It's a pretty waterfall, but on the FD, we did not rap this drop due to darkness setting in on us.
Exit
At the base of R8, pack up your gear and ropes, then bushwhack uphill for about 50ft to reach an old logging road. This is the same one as the approach. Follow it up and through a couple switchbacks, around Tough Hill, and back to the field of lilies and tall grass you crossed earlier. Push your way back through that field once more, then follow the road up to the gate. The hardest part of the ascent is the initial switchbacks, but it eventually mellows out to an easy meander. This area doesn't see traffic, so there are a couple blow downs to work through, but nothing crazy.
Note: Use the GPS track on the exit. There are a couple turns you have to make at the top of the initial switchbacks. It should be obvious which way is the right way, but have it handy just in case!
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Background
First Technical Descent: Ben Wolf & Ryan Mallon June 2025