Idiot Creek

Well-known to waterfall photographers for years, Idiot Creek sports several big waterfalls which are quite impressive during the spring spate. The beta here describes a descent of the east fork of Idiot Creek. All the drops are fairly wide with options to rappel in or out of the flow depending on water conditions. Please use unobtrusive anchors as the falls are visited by photographers with some frequency. This is a great creek to run on a rainy winter day. Otherwise, it may not be worth your time.

Follow Hwy 6 from Portland and turn off onto Larch Mountain / Drift Creek Rd. Drive down the hill, cross the bridge, continue on up the road for ~3mi. At the junction where you'd turn off to Stafford Creek (right), continue another 0.6mi to a small pullout on the left (room for about three cars). If more parking is required, continue north about 500ft to a junction. The approach starts at the front of the pullout, enter the woods, cross the mountain bike trail, and continue down an old overgrown logging grade. When it ends, bushwhack down the slopes west to Idiot Creek. Head downstream a short distance to the top of R1.

Continue downstream a short distance to a nice cascade. Downclimb DCR or rappel. Continue a bit further to: