Salmon Creek (Upper)

There is an Upper and Lower section that can be done in different days or joined together in one long day. Please note none of them is very interesting at low flow, but at good flow they are said to be really nice. The flow can be visually inspected from the Checkpoint marked on the attached map, which is where the main road crosses over Salmon Creek. Salmon Creek is less stable than nearby Dry Meadow Creek (Seven Teacups), so it is difficult to catch it at good flow (not too high and not too low). For example: On October 2009 the creek was displaying high water conditions while on June 2013 it was down to a trickle. Waterflow analysis for this canyon is displayed at Salmon Creek (Lower).

You will need a shuttle to reach Upper Salmon. Leave a car at the bottom and drive up the marked black route to the Salmon Creek Falls trailhead. Some choose to do this the night before the descent, camp at Horse Meadow and start early the next day. The trail to Salmon Creek Falls takes you down to some swimming holes and eventually to the top of the upper falls, where the technical section starts. There is a trail that access the Middle Entry/Exit point, see map, that marks the exit for the Upper section and the start for the Lower section.

Measurement are approximate, beta for Lower Salmon Creek is included for reference or combining both in a single day. Upper Salmon Creek: R1-4 are the big headwall sequence, and R2-4 is the main 600 foot headwall. Recent comment on Facebook about this: The first rappel was off a 5 foot tall pine tree RDC. We removed it and built a new one by wrapping two large boulders about 15 to 20 feet higher up the wall. So the rappel is now longer, but safer. It is also now a bit closer to the watercourse allowing you to rappel the waterfall if you wish. Top 60' of rap into a pool below then traverse around the corner to R2 anchor. At the bottom of R4, you can climb the gully RDC (see pic below) following the numerous rock cairns and exit the headwall area to earthen saddle above the approach hiking trail. Access the gully near a lone small tree, or the water plant thicket with one large tree (see pic below). This exit wanders around a bit, but generally is easy hiking up steep grade with minor scrambling, minimal fall exposure and nearly zero bushwhacking. Figure 30 minutes climbing fast or 1 hour taking your dear sweet time.