Big Creek

SEASON: November to May after heavy rainfall.

ACCESS: From Highway 12 milepost 11 take the Devonshire Rd. exit and head north on Wynoochee River Rd. The pavement on this roller coaster of a road ends at mile 17. Continue on another 17 miles where FR 22 makes a hard turn to the left at the junction with FR 23. Take the turn to continue on FR 22 and in 2.0 miles you'll cross the Wynoochee River at the Fish Hatchery Dam. It's another 0.5 miles west on FR 22 to the bridge across Big Creek. This is one potential take-out although you can also paddle down the Wynoochee where you'll enter just downstream from the fish collection dam. To reach the put-in take FR 2294 which runs along river left for 1.3 miles to the bridge across the creek. You can also access this run from Highway 101 mile 112.6 (approximately 4 miles north of the bridge across the Humptulips). Look for the sign to Wynoochee Lake Recreation Area of Highway 101, and take Donkey Creek Road (FR 22) east about 20 miles toward the Wynoochee River. For current information on roads check the Olympic National Forest web site (check rec reports for Hood Canal District - South) or call (360) 877-5254.

DESCRIPTION:

This creek can be run by itself or paddlers can continue on down the Wynoochee. The run starts out in a broad forested river valley and then cuts through a short narrow gorge section. There are some big and impressive cedar trees along the canyon.

In recent years, the start of the canyon is impassable due to a large log jam. Portaging are river level is dangerous if not impossible. If you want to run the short gorge section, you can rappel in on river left to a platform that makes a fun seal launch.

lat/long approximated by Tiger map server

for additional information see

• Korb, G. 1997. A paddlers guide to the Olympic Peninsula.

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