Reeds Creek

Put-In

The put-in for Reeds Creek is one mile (25 minutes with a boat) up the Reed Lakes trail. To reach trailhead, turn off the Glenn Highway north of Palmer at milepost 49.5 onto the Palmer - Fishhook Road. Follow the Palmer Fishhook Road to Hatcher Pass Road, and head north toward the Pass. Pass the Motherlode Lodge and continue about 2 miles up the road to the Archangel Road turnoff. Follow the rough Archangel Road for about 5 miles to the Reed Lakes trailhead parking.

Take-Out

Take out near the beaver pond just across from the Reed Lakes trailhead parking. Alternately, continue down Archangel Creek.

Description

Reeds Creek is a tiny stream, more rock than water. Granite boulders with cold, crystalline waters coursing over them make for a beautiful scene, but the steepness and brushiness of the banks will keep you too busy to really notice.

From the put-in at the end of the shallow tarn, the river heads into the brush, and the channel splits into several small channels. As the gradient steepens, the channels join, and the creek bed becomes clogged with boulders. Brush hangs from the sides, often blocking the only clear channels, so bring a saw. There are no pools, but there are usually plenty of places to grab a tree and stop. Scouting is tough, and recommended on a few drops, but all of the drops have been run cleanly, if not neatly.

If you're looking for more of the same, check out the following Talkeetna Mountain creeks, from easiest to hardest:

• Moose Creek

• Granite Creek

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