Willow Creek, NF

A group of us visited Willow creek when it was running at 187 CFS. We hiked up to Angels Falls and checked out the last 4 drops. At this flow, I would rate the river at 5++. It may be boatable, but the margin for error is zero. I think the max flow for this run should be lowered. 200 cfs may not be possible for this creek.

This is the Sieve on Toilet Gorge that is deadly. A large majority of the creeks flow pours into this hole. When the creek is flowing, this sieve is not obvious, but it is there. Better just to skip this portion of Willow Creek.

Dan Hogg reports:

Well Paddlers,

Another great Adventure with Evan and Daniel. No injuries, not counting sore thumb from previous weekend that I hit on a rock again, good paddling, good rapids, and great company capable of rescues. Evan says there were no swims on the lower run, but he's not counting the hike up-creek to run the final drop of upper run. He didn't swim, again, but I did. And since bad things run in series of three's, I should be done( at least for a while; final score...Dan-0, Willow creek-3).

The writeup is correct. There is less 'junk' on this run and the rapids we ran were beautiful with some technical & tight lines. We had approx. 4 portages due to logs, and 4 due to potential bodily damage from gravity vs. rocks. Once we reached the 'Devils Slide' area. Recongnizable by ; nudists, fence on river-left side w/easy trail, horizon line with only tree tops in the distance(biggest hint), continuous granite slide/rapids to last pool, with an eddy and view of Bass lake. Unfortunately, we didn't get to paddle too much after that. Each time we made it to the creek, we didn't get far w/o having another portage. Plus time/fatigue (at least for me) was becoming a factor. After Devil's Slide, there were two more big drops/slides. We scouted the first and after seeing logs/rocks in the last drop of three(once you did first drop, you were committed to run all three) we easily portaged. Once on the trail down( we knew from hikers that we were close to the road) we basically didn't stop till we reached the road, took a swim, and just I hiked down the rest of the way w/o kayak to save time/energy to get the car.

Without a doubt, the gem of this run is a 200-300 yard granite gorge with 25ft slide into and 8-9 more drops before smooth narrow deep chanel ending with our 2nd portage of the day due to big drop/slide with rocks, and tigers and bears, OH MY! Well, actually it was about a 40-50ft slide with drops mixed in for good measure! Evan and I were really thinking about this one, but you know what they say about 'the longer you look at a rapid, the more time you'll spend in it when you run it'. The deciding factor was lack of rescue points, which were about nil. So we hiked.

The scenery on this run is awesome. In a few tranquil areas, you felt like you were hours from civilization. The lightning and thunder as we were leaving for home was incredible as well.

As with most of my recent trips, I will be sore for a few more days and ready for more adventure real soon. Thanks again to Evan and Daniel for making this another successful run. Without them, my kayak would still be bobbing around behind the waterfall of Chilkoot Falls at the end of the upper run. What a way to start your day, a swim and tough boat rescue on the first drop!
Happy paddling all!
Dan
June 25,2006

If you like going really fast, Devil's slide is for you. Drop in and hang on tight.
This is the last of a 5 drop series that comprises Devil's Slide. Gene seal launched into the slide from river left. The entire series may be run, but a perfect line and a bit of luck is required.
This is the top portion of the slide.
Not really sure if this rapid has a name. It comprises a slide that enters a short flume. The flume quickly opens up and puts you into a 8-10' drop that lands into a powerful hole. Although the hole looks bad, our experience is that it flushes without too much effort.
Gene is heading for the pit, but fear not, it's not as bad as it looks.
This is the last drop of Lower Willow Creek if you take out at the parking lot. It's a flume slide that takes shoots you from left, to right, to middle.

Dan looking at the falls.
Hiked up stream a little from the put-in, need to run this fall on river left, river right is sticky at the bottom.
Evan running the rapid.
Evan and Dan scout the gem of this river, a beautiful granite gorge, made the run worth it.

Where did the river go?
Looking down river on one of the rapids.
The hike from the campground to the river takes just a few minutes, and goes along some huge trees. Dan in the lead, followed by Evan then me.
Pulling Dan's kayak out from the falls. This fall was sticky on river right, and pushes you into the corner, very difficult to get out once you were in there.
Taking a break, the river splits, stay to the right. (Evan and Dan)
Big rock caught by a tree. This is right were we took our break. Very interesting...
Evan at the end of the gouge run.
Some of the flat water we ran into. A nice break.
Evan running the first fall that is on this run.
Evan running one of the smaller drops on the run.
Dan's turn to run one of the smaller drops on the run.
Dan's run on the opening section of the Granite Gorge.
Dan runs the first falls a little too far right and gets stuck, poor guy; it's his first drop of the day.
Dan paddling down.
Dan's great paddling skill.
Dan again
Dan running the last two drops of the gorge section.
Evan running the last two drops of the Granite Gorge.

A waterfall right below the Granite Gorge we walked around.

Low winter flows at the 'Devil's Slide' just upstream of the highway at Bass lake.
View of moderate section of the Devil's Slides at Bass Lakee. Winter and minimal flow.
Winter low flows in NF Willow creek at Bass Lake, CA.
View of moderate section of the Devil's Slides at Bass Lakee. Winter minimal flow.