Archer Creek

Another mediocre objective in the Coast Range. Archer might be a good choice early in the season when other creeks are flowing too high. Creek was beginner-friendly when scouted in January 2017. Don't bother with this one after March.

From Hwy 6, follow Jordan Creek Rd for 1mi, crossing a bridge just before reaching a junction. Continue straight on Jordan Creek Rd, ignoring all other turns for 2.3mi where Archer Creek flows beneath the road in a culvert. Good spot to check the creek for flow. If you are not going to do a shuttle, follow the ORV trail that leads up the ridge west of Archer Creek. Walk west along Jordan Creek Rd for 0.3mi to find the obvious bottom of the trail and follow it upwards. It a bit eroded and steep. Once you are on the ridge, stay on it the rest of the way. Hike up to about 1800' elevation and drop east into the creek. Takes about 1hr. Hiking up early in the morning may be best to avoid possibility of encountering ORVs. From the lower parking area, backtrack west on Jordan Creek Rd to the aforementioned junction near the bridge and turn right. Google Maps lies to you here and says the road doesn't go through, but it does. High clearance recommended per deep gravel. Use caution as the road is narrow, steep, and there are a number of blind corners on the road where meeting oncoming traffic could be bad. Keep following the road along the crest for about 3.5mi until you reach Archer Pond. From the pullout on the west side of the creek, locate an obvious maintained trail climbing over a log. Follow the trail downwards west of the creek (easy) and drop in about 1800ft elevation.

Just ahead: thicket of briars & devils club. Easy bypass high DCL. Several downclimbs. Several 10-15ft downclimbs in quick succession. Tributary enters from DCL. Further downclimbs below. More downclimbs follow. There are a couple 20ft drops near the bottom that can be rappelled, downclimbed, or bypassed depending on your enthusiasm.

Head downstream a few hundred feet and climb out wherever is easiest DCL. Short trail (likely created by ORV users to go look at the R11 waterfall) leads to the road and your waiting car.