N2300 Rd to Vermilion River (0.5-1.5 miles) (Bailey Falls)Class I-II(IV)
1.5 Miles
Avg Gradient 23 fpm
Max Gradient 80 fpm
Bailey Falls
Bailey Falls Photo of Dave Bennett by Phil Roxworthy Gauge Information
Bailey Creek
River DescriptionBailey Creek is a tributary of the Vermilion. It enters about a quarter mile downstream of Wildcat Rapid, on river left. There is a gravel beach just past the mouth of the creek. The section above the falls is nothing but strainers with knee deep mud portages (I know from experience.)The hike up is about a half mile of decent trail. This land is on Lonestar Cement Company property. They generally don't mind non-motorized use of their land, but please be respectful of it. From the beach, go up the hill about fifty feet, and you will see a dirt road. Turn right, away from the creek, and go about a hundred yards to a small path to the left. Bear left at the end of this path, onto another dirt road. Hike a quarter mile and turn right at the fork. Follow this to the falls. There is about a hundred yards of whitewater leading up to the falls. Unless the creek is high, I wouldn't bother with it, it's just too scrapy. Bailey Falls drops about twenty feet total, in a horse shoe waterfall. It is not quite vertical, perhaps 70 degrees or so. Before running it, take a good look at the landing zone. It is inches deep at best. Running it means trusting a small roostertail to cushion your impact. DO NOT pencil in on this one. A small, steep trail leads back to the top on river right. From the pool below the falls, there is a few hundred yards of ducking sweepers before the next hazard, the culvert. Portage the culvert and its ugly log jam on river right. No good eddy exists, so please be careful. Put in below the culvert. At some flows there is a nice play hole in its outflow. Several hundred yards of easy riffles lead to Pickup Rapid. There is a narrow channel between a river right rock and a rusted, jagged old vehicle laying in the creek bed. Stay as far right as possible, or portage this one. This drop leads into the Vermilion River, where you can continue down stream. StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2006-11-30 16:40:34
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