Post
by chameleon » April 21st, 2009, 4:31 pm
Ok, ok... I explored reaching it from above on this venture. I was tempted to make a loop of it, as described on the pacific northwest canyoneering sight, but after driving the mile and a half between the dog mtn parking lot and dog creek, decided against it. There is no shoulder on one side and a train on the other. Not my idea of a safe trek to get back to my car.
So I explored most of the area between Dog mtn and Augsberger. I feel like I'm giving away hard-earned info here so...please put it to use! I don't know if vehicles are allowed in there, but if they were you could get within a half-mile of the falls by reaching the radio tower on the East side of Dog canyon and following a trail down a logged and later burned (wildfire) area down to the very top of it. Yep, there is a faint trail.
For hikers like myself, the easiest way is as follows. Park at Dog Mtn parking lot. Take the Augsberger trail, which after 3 and 1/2 miles leads to the power-line road. Follow the power-lines for a third of a mile toward Dog canyon. When you reach the canyon, the road ends. Gently scramble down to the stream directly below the power-lines overhead. Once you reach the stream, cross it. A deer path leads up the east side of the canyon into a vast burned area. This side of the canyon is very easy to travel. Simply traverse down-canyon staying within view/earshot of the stream below. You'll pass a tributary stream when you get within 1/5 of a mile from the falls. When you hit it, begin to genltly traverse down to the stream. Before you know it, you'll find yourself at the top of Elkhorn falls. At the top of the falls are cut stumps and I believe an old road lead down to it up the western drainage.
Now, to get down the falls, you can easily rappel. Or, the easiest option is to cross the stream, traverse down on a deer path on the western slope, take a chute down to the stream, and then walk upstream to the very base of the falls.
One warning - On my way in I made the mistake of trying to follow the western branch of Dog down from the saddle between Augsberger and Dog. While there does appear to have been a road down it at one time, you soon come into extremely dense foliage. It appears to have been logged fairly recently and thousands of tiny trees have sprung up, literally entangling everything! It is mind-bogglingly difficult at places, not to mention frustrating. I do not reccomend this route, though it appears the easiest way on the map.
My next adventure on Dog will be going up from the base, to Elkhorn and back. Can't wait. Anyway, Bryan and Mandrake...hope this info helps. Believe me, it was hard-earned. The falls is very simple if you go the way I describe, but very elusive and difficult if you don't!
-Zach
Last edited by
chameleon on April 21st, 2009, 5:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
