Information on Haw Creek
Rating: II+-III *
TDCR: 4450
Location: Put in below Bowman creek or anywhere along road. Bowman
creek comes into Haw creek about 2.5 miles from Haw creek
campground. It enters on river right. You can see Bowman
creek on the left as you drive up highway 123. Take out-
Haw creek campground crossing, or any spot along the creek.
Topo Quad(s): Rosetta, Ft. Douglas
Gradient: 48 fpm
Length: 2.5 mi.
Season: FLOOD
Gauge: Piney, Richland, Hailstone, little piney should all be in
flood. There should be over 3 inches of rain at Deer in the
past 48 hrs for a good run. At the campground, the crossing
marks should have water one ft from the top for an optimal
run. Above that, the creek will get pushier, faster and
less room for error exists. You can see if there’s enough
water by just looking at the creek.
Hazards: log jams, blind drops, ledges and holes to avoid
Description: This run would be good for boaters comfortable on Falling
Water Cr. or Lower Richland. It is a small creek with
good water volume, good ferrying, eddying hopping, and
water reading skills are a must. When all the creeks are
in flood, Haw Cr. is a good choice for intermediate
boaters. It is short, close to the road, and can be
scouted easily. Normally a class II+ to III run, if
the creek is really pumping, then all bets are off.
Across the road from Bowman creek, you can brush crash
to a nice little ledge to put in. The creek could be run
father up, but it gets tighter and bonier. Below the
put-in are a couple of ledges that should be run to
the right. Most of the rapids are best run far right or
far left. There are a number of ledges with holes below
them. Soon you'll find a double ledge that should be
run to the left over the first and then ferried right
over the second. Below this, there is a sharp ledge
across the entire creek. Run it to the far right. You
will see a shale rock sticking up on to a tree in the
water below the ledge. We ran to the right of it.
There is another hole below that can be skirted on far
right or left. Left seems to have less brush. By now the
road will be rising to river right with a noticeable
cliff face. There is a waterfall on the right off of
the shale bluff. Enter the rapid here to the left and work
down. After the water fall, there is a class II+ drop that
should be scouted. The creek is split by a tree with a
ledge. Run to the left, follow the tongue, and move right
to avoid the flat rock below. There is some more good stuff
below, but eventually you’ll get to a flat spot where the
creek splits into two channels. You should also see the
road again. Take the right channel, work down and go under
the bridge to the right. There is another ledge and hole below
the bridge - it can be run to the far right. The channel squeezes
in again here and there’s willows, so be on your toes.
A significant double drop/hole known as "Small Juju"
can be run to the far right. Go right before the boulder
in the middle of the channel and hug the right bank. Or
run left into the holes if you dare! From this
point, it’s about 50 yds to the confluence of Gee Creek.
Gee creek should double the volume of the water. From here
on out, it rocks and rolls! A few yards below Gee creek,
there’s a good wave series with a hole at the bottom. Run
to the left to avoid the hole. You should see the
campground crossing soon below. Below the campground crossing
there’s a long rapid that looks like a flume. You
should see the campground to your right below this. Haw
Creek Falls is next. At an optimal level, the drops can be
run to the right to avoid the second drop. At higher
levels, who knows? Once you come around the left bend,
you will be entering "Big Juju" (IV? V?). This rapid is a
sight to behold! There’s a sharp diagonal ledge
at the top, immediately followed by a mushroom rock below
it. The most obvious route looks like river left but
there is a tree with a root stob sticking out in the middle
of that line. Far right looks better, but any line is iffy!
You can scout this rapid from the road as there is
a campsite with a pulloff next to it. Above Big Juju,
there are few eddies, but you can recognize it
when the current picks up, the channel straightens and
constricts, and you pass a triangular rock in the middle
of the creek. Good Luck! Below this, the creek follows
the road and then ducks below a bridge before entering
the Piney. Beware of the bridge! Thanks to T. Yamashita
for information on this run!
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