South Fork Canyon
| Run Length |
1.7 miles |
Average Gradient |
615 fpm |
| Difficulty |
Class V |
Recommended Flow |
100-250 cfs |
| River |
Campbell Creek |
Location |
Anchorage, Alaska |
| Author |
Tim Johnson |
Current Level |
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| Drainage |
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Elevation |
980ft to 455ft |
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Log Slide
Campbell Creek is a run right in Anchorage that thunders off the Chugach Mountains. Just over 615 feet, and it is no walk in the park. The canyon walls are around 300 ft high, making escape very difficult in most spots. The run can be manky (boney) even w/ a good bit of water, so expect to be mashed into many rocks & lose some knuckle skin if you miss your line. This creek is EXTREMELY fast and has very few & small eddies. New wood appears fairly often, so keep an eye out. The water is not too cold, about like Ship Creek. Its really pretty down there. The run has 5 major class V drops starting with Entrance Exam (the 1st 25 ft slide smashing into boulders then dropping over a 15 ft. broken ledge drop.) The other 4 V's include the infamous Rocky Mountain Oysters, Log Slide, Mandatory Pin (which is as trashy as they come), and finally Pin Cushion.
Make sure to bring elbow pads & a full face helmet wouldn't be a bad idea. The creek has a drop drop character, very small pools if any and barely enough time to roll below the worst drops. Portaging drops is not extremely easy, but can be done. Take someone with you that knows the run well, have fun, & be careful out there! Without a doubt Campbell Creek Gorge is one of the most thrilling & technically difficult runs in Alaska.
This run is eligible for the EddyFlower Vertical Challenge. Go HERE to learn more.
Disclaimer
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| | Put-In
To get there go to the Prospect Heights trail and hike your boat about 15 minutes towards the creek's intersection with the trail. Put in and paddle to your take-out at Hilltop ski area. Walk up gravel road 10 minutes to your car. | | | Take-Out
Take out at the Hill-Top Ski area (hiking your boat 10 minutes up the gravel road on river-left to your car parked at the Ski Resort. Let me say that this creek is NOT for the faint of heart. The steepest mile drops |
Add Rapid
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