Big Devil's Creek
Rating: Classification III, IV+ (V)
Location:
Newton County, USGS-Moore Quad.Go South, downhill from Iceledo Gap to Hill Cemetery (4WD required). Drag downhill (trail) about 0.1 mile to put-in. Creek looks too small at put in; do it anyway. Take out at Richland Creek Campground.
Gradient:
About 190 ft/mile to Richland Creek.Length:
2.4 miles to Richland creek, then 1.5 miles to campground.Season:
Local FLOOD (Fall through Spring)Gauge:
Gage at Richland Campground needs to be above 6 or headed that way.Look for 1.5" or more rain at the Deer and Ben Hur rain gages, as posted on the
Hazards:
Undercut ledges and rocks, overhanging branches, strainers, waterfalls.First waterfall 13'-15' must be run right of center, and launch well into pool to clear hidden underwater rock. Second waterfall at Twin Falls is 18' to 20'.
Description:
First known descent was April 11, 1995.By Cowper Chadbourn, Charles Chevaillier, Andy Hicks, Nathan Kline, and Joe Warren (of Galveston, TX), except for Big Devil's Waterfall (one of the Twin Falls) which was first run by Nathan Kline on April 29, 1995. First Known OC-1 descent by Lance Jones and Dale Barton on May 8, 1995. Only one "piton" has occurred on Big Devil's Falls dispite the shelf rock at the base of the drop. Keep your speed up and try to launch well into the pool by running left of center.
This run begins as a creek so tiny that you will think you have made a mistake, but quickly builds in intensity. Lots of ledge drops and slides and several undercuts. The "Sphinkter" is visually impressive. Remember that a deep undercut lurks under the river right wall! The run of Twin Falls is the highlight of the trip. Depending on water level, you may either run the Big Devil's side, or access and run the Long Devil's side via a short carry. Be prepared for a "big water" creek run through some of Richland's most difficult rapids after the junction (IV+ at these levels). All rapids have been run, although the boulder jumble just below the first waterfall has been marginal for water levels encountered to date.
Like other micro-volume creeks, meaningful ratings are difficult to establish on the accepted International scale. At lower levels, the creek will seem like a very technical Class III, with much rock bashing, scraping, and some portages. At higher levels, two or more rapids are expected to become solid Class V.
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