Young Creek
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| | Raps:7, max ↨115ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 23 Apr 2025
"The approach is pretty easy and only takes 15 mins, there is a trail all the way up. There are a few sticker vines and poison oak, but not bad. Wear l |
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| Best season: | Dec-Jul
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45.5456, -122.1963
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Introduction[edit]
Be aware: Young Creek was hit by a spot-burn from the Eagle Creek wildfire in Sept 2017 and was closed for a significant period of time. Caution is recommended when approaching and descending the creek.
Young Creek is located just west of Bridal Veil Creek in the Columbia River Gorge. The Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) crosses the creek on a beautiful high bridge built in 1915. Signs denote this as “Shepperds Dell". A very short paved trail with a neat stone walkway leads down to the top of one of the waterfalls (R6). However, there are four more falls just upstream and another waterfall under the bridge. The bridge is conveniently located for assessing the flow rate on the creek prior to committing to the canyon. The canyon sees substantially higher flow in winter and spring.
- Beware poison oak, briars, and rockfall on the approach and exit.
- Use caution when walking along the road; it's narrow and there's little to no shoulder. This may be the most dangerous part of the canyon.
- Watershed: ~2.0mi^2.
Approach[edit]
Directions[edit]
Take I-84 to exit 28 (Bridal Veil). Turn right on the Old Columbia River Hwy and continue 1.7mi to a signed pullout for Shepperds Dell just before the bridge across Young Creek.
Hike In[edit]
- Original Approach
From the pullout, walk across the bridge and continue west along the road a hundred yards to the next obvious drainage gully on the south side. Leave the road here and thrash upwards about 200ft wherever is easiest. It’s steep, but goes relatively quickly. It's a good idea to wear a helmet on the approach as this area has become rather unstable post-fire; beware knocking loose rocks on one another. Head for an obvious notch above, avoiding thickets of briars and poison oak. Once through the notch, the terrain abruptly flattens out. Follow the bench left (east) until you reach the creek, now deeply entrenched below. Looking down, you should be able to spot the top of R2 where the creek plunges into a narrow slot.
- Shuttle Approach (unexplored)
It may be possible to shuttle up Alex Barr Road and hike/bushwhack north from the obvious switchback, staying on public land. Eventually, meet the original route and follow it to the creek. It's about 0.3mi, losing some 600ft of elevation.
Descent[edit]
Like much of the Columbia Gorge, the rock quality in Youngs is poor. Inspect all bolts carefully before use.
- R1: 30ft approach rappel from DCL tree to enter the drainage. This rappel drops you right on top of R2.
- R2: 115ft from two bolts connected with a Y-anchor high along the DCL wall. (Station can be overgrown with moss; the bolts are almost underneath the tree anchor for R1.) Option to be in or out of the flow.
- Below the pool is a mossy V-slot with three short drops (3-5ft in quick succession). Can be downclimbed in low water - or follow shelf DCR to 40ft rappel from tree anchor (R3).
- R4: traverse (15ft) + rappel (95ft). Rappel (or traverse) from two-bolt anchor to second unlinked bolt station at the brink. This rappel is the crux. At high flow, be prepared to stem over the torrent and use a narrow unseen ledge DCR. Forces will be very pushy as you enter the flow; must be confident in your high water skills. The anchor manager will not be able to see rappellers.
- Downclimb or rappel 30ft from rock pinch DCR (R5).
Downclimb to railed pedestrian walkway atop R5. Escape is possible via the trail.
- R6: 60ft from concrete post at the end of the walkway. It's recommended to set a temporary anchor, then just go back and remove it after finishing the canyon.
- R7: 20ft from a large rock DCR.
A short downclimb exits the narrows. Make your way downstream to the railroad tracks.
Exit[edit]
Walking along the railroad line is trespassing (not to mention trains come barreling through here at 60mph with little to no warning), so stay off the tracks. Keep back in the woods and head west until you reach the next gulley. Climb upwards wherever is easiest (avoiding thickets of bramble, briars, and poison oak) until you reach the wall below the old highway about 100ft above. If you come up in the right spot there’s a nice person-sized opening in the stone guardrail (seemingly designed for canyoneers). Walk back east along the road to your car. Declare victory.
Red tape[edit]
- Please stay on public land during the approach and exit.
- Canyoneers will be in full view from the bridge and pedestrian walkway on the last two rappels. Canyoning is still not a well known activity in the Columbia Gorge, and it's good not to linger or overstay your welcome. Please help us be good stewards, and pack out any trash you find under the bridge. This helps keep us in the good graces of Oregon state park officials.
- Land managers have requested that no more bolts be added to the creek, but we have permission to replace the current anchors when the time comes.
- Please do not leave anchors in publicly accessible areas to keep the inexperienced / curious from attempting to follow you.
Beta sites[edit]
Shepperd's Dell State Natural Area
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Young Creek was first descended by Portland locals in October 2015.