Prindle Creek

A small creek that drains a plateau located between Cape Horn and Archer Mountain. The plateau is locally known as the Cruzatt Rim or Prindle Mountain. There are at least five significant waterfalls on the creek. While the big falls are impressive with good water, there is a fairly long approach, making it a somewhat high pay to play. Access to the Cruzatt Rim is difficult as there's a lot of private property in the area.

From the turnaround at the end of Sneider-Barks Road (end of county road), bushwhack west / northwest about 0.3mi, gaining about 450ft to intersect the little-used Cruzatt Rim trail. Turn right and follow it up a series of switchbacks to an easily-missed junction (45.61148, -122.13830) where the trail reaches the top of the plateau. Turn left here, and follow the rim trail southwest for almost a mile. The trail passes through a couple small groves of old growth cedars (known as the "Enchanted Forest") and one nice viewpoint along the rim. The trail does not see much use and can be overgrown. At 45.60312, -122.14828, break off the trail and bushwhack southwest down the ridge to Prindle Creek, following game trails where you can. Stay on the ridge as much as possible. Don't drop in early as the creek is full of brush. Continue down the ridge a short distance (steep) to the creek just above R1 on your right.

Prindle Falls is approx. 250ft high and is done in two stages (R2 & R3). Downclimb the short drop just below R2 (or rappel from a log). It's a short walk to the next falls.

At the bottom of the falls, exit DCL and locate the trail that heads off east. It is not marked and can be difficult to find at first. Follow the trail on an old logging grade until it intersects the trail climbing to the Cruzatt Rim. At the powerline, cut directly across and follow a couple small cairns left to pick up the trail again.