⊗ Freeman Creek

November 3, 2018 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → ⊗ Freeman Creek

⊗ Technical Route ⊗

Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Sequoia National Forest, California

Distance: 3 miles total, 0.4 miles technical (if you have a shuttle vehicle, you can cut 1 mile off of the approach 0r exit)

Elevation Ascent/Descent: 950 feet/950 feet (using a shuttle vehicle will eliminate 500 feet of elevation loss – you still have to come all the way back up)

Time Required: 4-8 hours

Rappels: 2-6, lengths up to 150 feet; mandatory rappels up to 60 feet

Red Tape/Notes: No permit required. High flow can complicate the descent, but this canyon is less prone to flow-related complications and is a good option when other canyons in the area can’t be run due to high flow. This canyon is very enjoyable due to optional slides and is less popular than the nearby Seven Teacups. Good beta can be found online on ropewiki.

What’s Nearby?: Seven Teacups, Silver City Ghost Town

Freeman Creek is a highly scenic and fun canyon in the Sequoia National Forest area – it’s also much less visited than the nearby Seven Teacups, increasing its appeal (to us, anyway). The ropewiki beta is slightly misleading, since it says this canyon is “just up the road” from the Seven Teacups; it’s actually a 30 minute drive from the Teacups, which is fine if you’re expecting it, but seems interminable if you think it’s five or ten minutes away. The drive itself is very pleasant, however, since it offers beautiful views of the Needles. Having a shuttle vehicle is a nice option, since it cuts off a mile of rather boring road hiking; if you don’t have a shuttle, I’d recommend parking at the location further south and doing the road hike on the approach rather than the exit. The exit involves nearly 1000 feet of elevation gain in 0.7 miles, and it’s nice to reach the road and be done. Once you leave the the road, the approach is an easy off-trail meander heading consistently downhill with beautiful views and pleasant mountain scenery. Once you reach the creek, you’ll spend most of your time at least partially wet, since traveling in the water is the easiest way through, and you’ll have various options for fun slides amidst the creek walking, easy downclimbs, and optional rappels. Both of the mandatory rappels are very pretty; the first one is particularly scenic, going over a nice waterfall at the start of a canyon. The second rappel is immediately before the end of the technical section, and drops over a waterfall into a deep, cold pool. It’s a great place to cool off before starting your exit hike. The bugs on the hike out are annoying at best (and voracious at worst), so bring bug spray if the weather is warm.