Wallanding Creek

Wallanding Creek features an impressive short slot canyon that has several in-the-flow rappels, three jumps up to 20 feet and one potential 15 foot waterslide. On one rappel, you'll experience a towering chockstone with a cave, draping ferns, and mirrored waterfalls which converge in a three feet wide crack. The crux rappel is another narrow crack with overhead water. Short and convenient to combine with other short canyons in the area for a double header. Watch for dirt bikes on the road.

Park your vehicle(s) at a pullout where an overgrown logging road crosses FR 73 at 46.62573, -122.37376. Hike up FR 73 for 0.5 miles and locate a good spot to drop into the forest on your right. You will be leaving the road at roughly 2,450’ elevation. Hike down following a faint use trail through open forest. A small gulch will be on your left. About halfway down, cross over the gulch. Work your way down staying about 100 - 200 feet to the north of the gulch. It is steep and has a deep loose leaf floor that makes it slippery. About 150 feet to the north of the gulch and you will find a walk-in to a wide patio with room for the whole group to suit up. It is steep it is hard to see the walk in, but it becomes apparent as you get closer.

DCR = Down Canyon Right; DCL = Down Canyon Left. Be sure to scout all jumps first. Just because it was a great jump last year... Head downstream a short distance to a giant logjam. Climb down under the logjam DCR to find R1. On the way to the exit here are a few more short downclimbs that can be bypassed on one side or the other.

Continue downcanyon a short distance to approximately 46.62809, -122.36902 where it’s possible to scramble out of the creek DCR. Look for the "stone stairs" DCR. Exit was flagged in June 2023. Go up the stairs and hike directly uphill following the use trail gaining about 500ft in largely open forest. The going is steep at first, but straightforward. When the terrain mellows out, bear left south to pick up an overgrown logging grade - follow the grade southwest about 0.2mi on a gentle traverse back to your vehicle(s); alternatively, continue directly up to the approach road for a clean road entry and hike down about 500 feet to the vehicles.