Willow Creek Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B III (v3a2 III) Raps:11, max ↨200ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Nov-Mar (avg for this region)
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36.0489, -116.6886
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Introduction[edit]
I DID WILLOW CANYON FOR THE 2ND TIME 2/19/10 WITH RICK KENT, ET AL, AND WE WANTED TO DO A HIKE-UP FROM THE BOTTOM INSTEAD OF THE 50 MILE SHUTTLE ROUTE THAT HAS BEEN THE NORMAL WAY. MY 1ST TIME TO DO WILLOW WAS THE RIDICULOUSLY LONG SHUTTLE WITH TWO TRIPS TO GET THE CARS BACK. THE MAP SHOWS THE BLUE TRACK UP WHICH GAINS 4400' OF ASCENT, AND THEN DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIDGE TO START WILLOW. WE WERE OUT OF THE CANYON BY MID AFTERNOON. FOR THE FIT HIKER, THIS IS A MUCH BETTER OPTION AND SAVES A LOT ON GAS, TIME, AND GETTING A BIG GROUP THAT CAN ARRANGE A TEDIOUS SHUTTLE. TWO OF THE HIKE-UP TRACKS SHOWN WE DID NOT DO, AND OFFER AN EVEN FASTER WAY TO GET DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THE DESCENT IS MORE SKETCHY.
Approach[edit]
If you don't want to hike up 4400ft, drop off a car at the exit and drive up to the start (aprox 2h). Because it would take you 2h+2h=4h to retrieve the upper vehicles later, it is best to leave this canyon for a day that you are going to drive out of Death Valley going south.
Descent[edit]
Waypoints in the KML map contain detailed descriptions of all the rappels (courtesy of Bluugnome.com).
Exit[edit]
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
BluuGnome.com : Willow Canyon- https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/willow-creek-canyon
- Chris Brennen's Adventure Hikes (Southwest) : Willow Creek
- Super Amazing Map : Willow Canyon
- ToddsHikingGuide.com : Willow Creek Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Canyon was already bolted when descended by Mark Duttweiler, John Perry, Bob Greer and Chris Brennen in Jan. 2004