Parker Creek

The beauty of this canyon stems from its accessibility and distance from the city of Corvallis. It's highly noncommittal: if you forget something or an incident occurs, it's relatively easy to exit on either side. (This may not be present for portions of the lower canyon.) How many rappels you do will depend on your comfort level, experience of your team, and how much you want to stay in the water. All but one rappel can be easily downclimbed. For a fun variation, consider running this canyon in reverse! This is a good creek for beginners. This canyon may hold water quite well, allowing descents year-round. It is likely spring-fed. The canyon has been run in wintertime (February) and in low-light conditions (dusk/night). In winter, the gate may be closed at Conner's Corner, so you'll have a longer approach/exit. During the summer, you may not need a wetsuit. There are two options: This canyon is over-bolted. Please do not add any more. There's a wealth of natural anchors to choose from.

Drive up towards Mary's Peak to Connor's Corner (aka Mary's Peak East Ridge trailhead). If the road is closed, the gate is just above Connor's Corner on the main road. From the parking area, make your way through the campground, trending southwesterly. The upper area of the creek is a bit brushy, so it may be helpful to stay on the DCR right side and traverse along the base of an open meadowed slope, dropping into the creek when it plunges off the top of the plateau. Distance is about 0.15mi.

Please do not attach webbing to unlinked bolts. DCL = Down Canyon Left, DCR = Down Canyon Right For the upper section, 2x 200ft ropes are preferable but with a little creativity (or a pull cord) one rope would be possible. Continue downstream a short distance until a small tributary enters DCL. Huzzah! You made it to the midpoint. Option to exit here. There may be spectators watching you. You could probably get away with a single 50ft rope on this section. Beware leaving fixed anchors in the lower canyon (e.g. R8 on) as it seems this section of the creek is visited frequently by locals in the summer. It's recommended to use the super-secret bolts, downclimb, or use retrievables. The creek is a bit of a mess of rocks, debris, and brush below the road. Bushwhack 20-30 minutes downstream (or perhaps bypass most of it left on steep slopes down through the trees). The creek eventually opens up and you'll pass some beautiful old growth trees missed by the loggers. Walk for another 15-20min. Walk downstream 200 yards. Creek narrows up just ahead. There are a few more downclimbs, but nothing too serious. Note a decent user trail on one side of the creek or the other which will eventually bring you to the lower parking area. Declare victory.