Pin Creek

Another nice tributary along the Lewis River containing a beautiful section of narrows, pools, and waterfalls concluding with Pin Creek Falls (35ft). Access is easy and straightforward. A short outing, but all-around fun. Expect much jumping. Destined to be another classic in the Lewis River area.

Stash a shuttle car at the exit where Pin Creek crosses under FR 90. This is also a good place to check the flow. Drive up FR 9085 to the first switchback and find a place to park; there's room for several cars. From the parking area, hike roughly northwest through open forest for ~5min until dropping into Pin Creek. Head downstream. Reach the top of the technical section in 5-10min.

For such a short section of creek, Lower Pin is surprisingly action-packed. It retains enough water to be fun into September. Be aware: jumps are a leading cause of canyon injuries (broken ankles & legs). Always send someone down to check the depth first & check for submerged obstacles. Please do not leave webbing on unlinked bolts. This is a common technique in aquatic canyons. Continue downstream a short distance. Upon turning the next corner: The Punchbowl is a terrific place to practice jumps at many different heights. The pool has been measured at ~20ft deep at its center in 2022. For the action seekers, climb up onto a huge old-growth log just over the pool (aka the Diving Board) and jump 25ft (measured 2025/9/7) into the pool. Awesome!

Head downstream 5min from the last falls to reach the bridge. To avoid bank erosion, pass under the bridge and find an easy exit immediately DCL.