Crescent Creek (Sequoia National Park)

Given all the class C river canyons in Sequoia NP, this "canyon" is a vastly different experience. It more like a mix of a Utah slot canyon and SoCal's Monkeyface, or at least through the extensive chimney system at the top of the technical route. Although the FD was in very low water flow, in May or June (even July on a wet year) the water flow could easily be class C and make for a wild ride down the chimney system, even dangerous consider its narrow width and numerous chock-stones and shallow pools. If the flow is too high, the chimney system can be bypassed since there are hugely wide slabs on right side. If you enjoy chimney climbing, much of the chimney is perfect width for butt to feet stemming, and or wide leg stemming and thus can be down-climbed easily in the dry spots, and carefully where wet. Although there is no brush issue in the technical section (except one rappel through a bush), the approach once you leave the trail has quite a bit of brush (no poison oak though), and the exit has a ton of brush, and lots of poison oak. I will say that if you stay in the Moro Creek exit water course, you will avoid most all the poison oak, and get to do many short down-climbs and wade through pools, some chest deep.

Park the lower shuttle vehicle at the trailhead beyond Buckeye Flat campground, or if the gate is locked at Hospital Rock parking lot. Drive the other shuttle vehicle to Crescent Meadow parking, East of Moro Rock. From Crescent Meadow parking head South West 0.5 miles on Sugar Pine Trial, then go cross country when the trail diverges from the creek bed. Following the Crescent Creek bed for another 0.5 miles through brush and trees, down slabs and a few short downclimbs you will reach the top of the descent with a spectacular view.

Start by down-climbing into the top of the lengthy "slot canyon" Chimney System until you get to small pool and where down-climbing below is obviously wet. Below which you will want to rappel, unless it's totally dry as the chimney is super slippery any places that is wet. On the FD we used: You may want to break up the longer rappels in the chimney, because the pulled rope can easily catch on the various chock-stones and rocks. On the FD, we got our rope stuck in one spot, and had to chimney climb back up to free it. There is one pool in the chimney that is surprisingly chest deep, so plan accordingly for gear and clothing will get soaking wet! This is the end of Chimney System and a good place for Lunch. Below this location, all the rappels are down the head-wall slabs and shallow troughs in and out of the water flow. Once in the creek bottom, do not got down the water course. The brush is insanely thick and there is a steep V trough with chock-stones below. Instead, climb up out of the creek bottom DCL onto a narrow shelf that traverses out to 2 trees, one dead, one alive Below this it's easy enough to down-climb DCR over a big boulder and to much easier terrain below.