Snarky Bastard Creek

This is a southern tributary of the Nehalem River draining the western ridge of Buck Mountain. Across the river it is flanked by Bastard Creek and Snark Creek, hence Snarky Bastard Creek. This is a good option for a winter canyon when other creeks are running high. In the summer it is likely a trickle and would be difficult to navigate due to dense brush. Watershed: 0.23mi^2. Suspicious it may be spring-fed higher up.

Parking for one car at the bottom of the falls. For additional cars a large pullout is just west of the creek. Option 1: Recommended. Shuttle to the top of the creek via a nearby logging road to the west. The first descent team parked west of the creek to explore other drainages, so the area directly above the creek has not yet been explored. Option 2: Not recommended. Ascend from the road up an old overgrown road grade, then up the ridge west of the creek. Drop in above the first drop after a long, dense bushwhack.

After reaching the creek walk down stream on good bedrock through an interesting wide area of the creek before reaching the first small falls. This can be easily bypassed DCR. Rap 1: 35ft two tiered falls, however up to 150 feet of rope may be needed due to the horizontal distance. Anchor off a large tree high DCL. Rap 2: 75 ft. from an anchor on a log DCL. Two tier falls starting as a cascade then transition to vertical. There is a large log jam below Drop 2 that can be bypassed DCL. This is followed by about 10 minutes of creek walking on solid bed rock but past several blow downs. Rap 3: 30 ft. from an anchor on a root ball mid-creek. Rappel DCR to avoid several logs. Rap 4: 10ft. drop with no down climb option. Retrievable anchor of a sketchy downed tree spanning creek. Downclimb/Rap 5: 10 ft. downclimbed DCL on good holds. Alternatively this can be rappelled from a log DCR. Not far ahead is the finale: SB Falls which is rappelled in two tiers (R6 & R7): Rap 6: 80 ft. from a small but sturdy tree DCL. As you descend, move to your left over a small overhang, which puts you in heavy flow, then traverse right past a bulge then down into a large amphitheater. Continue to the left to rappel a short drop to a shallow pool above the final rappel. Rap 7: 35 ft from a single bolt DCR. Beware of a small pothole mid-falls that could be an ankle entrapment hazard.