Quillan Creek Loop - Questions

[elbowman]

Hello All,

I plan on attempting the Quillan Creek Loop for my first time this weekend. I plan to follow the route map that Jaybird posted in Jackalope Quillan thread:

http://www.alatrails.com/...58.msg12085.html#msg12085

Question to all that has made this route:

How is the bushwhacking? Is it a hard 4 mile loop? Any spots that I need to be careful at?

Looking at the pictures, the Amphitheater Canyon looks clogged with dead fall. What is the route out of the canyon? Do you push thru the deadfall and follow the water upstream or back track out and around the ridge?

Any info on conditions that I can expect will be appreciated.

Also, I am camping at Borden trailhead again, if your in the area, I will be on the right hand side of the road by the Borden Creek. You will see a large maroon suburban. Stop by and say hello.

Eric

[montysano]

Well, I'm 55 years old and feeling my age, so take that into account, but: for me, that loop would be a butt-kicker.  Are you going to do it in one day, or multiple days?

I've been up Quillan from Riddle to the lower cascades.  If I recall, I was able to stay down in the creekbed the whole way, but sometimes had to climb to the base of the bluffs to proceed.  I believe that I hiked the whole time on the northern side of Quillan.

I've been down Quillan from the Arnold Motorway to the upper cascades (one of the most beautiful places in the Sipsey IMHO).  For this stretch, stay on the south side of Quillan.  It's not bad at all, but below this cascade is a steep walled canyon that you'll have to go up and around.  This may be what jaybird referred to as Amphitheater Canyon.  I've not hiked the area in between the cascades.

This map shows the location of the cascades: http://www.briartech.com/sipseyonepagea.pdf

The other consideration is that Riddle Creek, which used to be one of our favorite places, has become clogged with blowdown since the hurricanes.  We dayhiked Riddle down to Quillan a couple of years ago and it was tough going.

But the campsite where the Arnold crosses Quillan is the Hilton Hotel of Sipsey campsites.  Very nice.

[JustADude]

Eric, some here know more than me but I can tell you this.

I have hiked down Riddle Creek to Quillan and then went up Quillan 3 times. Twice I backtracked and went back the way I came. Once I went up Qiullan to the next stream coming from the north and tired to go up it. At the first waterfall I had to climb out of the canyon and proceeded north bushwacking across the hills all the way back to the NW Road. It was a terrible trip. The brush was thick, there was no good scenery and I ran out of water. So you see why I went back up Riddle Creek the other times.

I have also gone down Riddle to the big waterfall (the third waterfall going downstream) and returned the way I came three or four times. That used to be a great hike. Now there are so many blowdowns it is difficult. Riddle Creek is real pretty and Quillan Creek is real pretty. They are not for the meek and not for beginners.

Probably one day I will try the old Arnold Motorway to see the creek in that area, but right now I can't tell you anything about it.

Rocky

[montysano]

Once I went up Qiullan to the next stream coming from the north and tired to go up it. At the first waterfall I had to climb out of the canyon and proceeded north bushwacking across the hills all the way back to the NW Road. It was a terrible trip. The brush was thick.

Been there.  Done that.  Don't recommend it. 

[JC785]

Ive been thinking about  that same loop, Elbowman if you do it let me know how it was.

[Pully]

The Quillan/Riddle Loop is doable in roughly 6-7 hours. I've done it a few times. I've only used part of Arnold Motorway to head out though. I've always gone to the first drainage upstream of the motorway crossing and follow it for a while and then find Arnold Motorway to go back to the road, which is more difficult than following Arnold Motorway, according to my dad. The log jam is easily passable unless it rains a couple inches. That's the only time I've ever had to find a way out of the canyon to continue the loop. The Riddle drainage isn't that bad but there is quite a bit of blowdown; just stay along the creek and keep an eye open for the Hands-Up Tree. I've also bushwhacked back to the road after climbing up the Big Cascades, which is also an option if time is an issue.

[Jackalope]

I don't think this loop is all THAT tough. It is a little longer than 4 miles though and I would allow 5 to 6 hours to complete it.

I like to start where the Arnold Motorway intersects Northwest Road and walk from there to the switchback to start off down into the Riddle Creek drainage. It lets my legs get warmed up before working my way down the hill and at the end of the hike when I'm tired, I don't have to walk down a gravel road.

The worst part of this hike is going from the parking area at the switchback down the drainage to Riddle Creek. There is much blowdown and deadfall to contend with. There is flagging tape marking the way down but it is easier sometimes to make your own way. The goal here is to get to the bottom of the drainage the easiest way you can.

That may be the toughest part, however, the trickiest part, if you have never been there before, is being able to identify where the Arnold Motorway crosses Quillan Creek to finish the hike. There ain't no road sign there and the old roadbed isn't really that obvious. One thing to look for is a tree across Quillan Creek that people have been walking across at a spot that looks like it could be a ford. There is also a feeder that enters Quillan from the south at that spot making sort of a Y intersection. Just up that branch but visible from the intersection is a small but pretty waterfall. Standing at that intersection, if you face down stream and look on the north side of Quillan you can see where the old roadbed heads up the hill.

To me, the key to loops like this is to resign yourself to wet feet. There will be many places where you will either have to wade across the creek or climb up the banks which can be cluttered and slippery and sometimes dangerous. You can expend an awful lot of energy and waist an awful lot of time just trying to keep your feet dry. My solution is to find the first place the water is deep enough to overtop your boots and wade in. It makes it so much easier in the long run. You can always carry extra socks to change into when you are ready for the walk out.

If you are willing to get your feet (and possibly legs up to your waist) wet, you can make the whole trip up Quillan without having to go up the banks.

[Jackalope]

The log jam is easily passable unless it rains a couple inches. . . .  keep an eye open for the Hands-Up Tree.

Hey Pully,

I think much of the log jam might have washed away. When I was there a couple of weeks ago I don't even remember seeing it. Maybe I just got in the zone and wasn't paying attention or just didn't notice.

Also, where is the hands up tree? I've looked for it where I thought it was around the upper Riddle falls and from the lower falls to the Quillan intersection and have not been able to locate it.

[montysano]

The log jam is easily passable unless it rains a couple inches. That's the only time I've ever had to find a way out of the canyon to continue the loop.

You were able to stay in the canyon below the upper cascades?  Maybe I'm remembering it wrong.

Or you guys are just tough......   

[McDowra]

Last time we went the log jam was about gone. The easiest way to do this that I have found is go in Riddle creek come out Arnold motorway. Go in at the switch back and head south about 100 yards or so and then pretty much east to get down in the gully, follow it south to the creek.  Lot of dead fall here so this can be like step aerobics till you get in the gully. As soon as you hit the creek start looking for a still site you will see it  and the tree will be next to it. It is before you hit any waterfalls. Follow the creek down to Quillan Creek then head up stream to Arnold Motorway.  Arnold is a much easier walk out than trying to go up Riddle Creek. I would allow a lot of time to do this, not so much because of the difficulty, but because there is so much to see if you will take the time to look.

[Jackalope]

You were able to stay in the canyon below the upper cascades?  Maybe I'm remembering it wrong.

Or you guys are just tough......   

Not tough, just willing to get my feet wet. 

I too am north of 50 and have had four ortho surgeries. That's left knee, right hip and both shoulders so I am not exactly the most nimble animal in the woods.

Seriously though, you can stay in the canyon the whole way from Riddle to Arnold if you wade in the creek in places. The pool below the waterfall that is at the end of the Quillan Cascades is probably the deepest. We were there 3 weeks ago after several days of rain and that pool was nearly up to my waist.

[Jackalope]

The easiest way to do this that I have found is go in Riddle creek come out Arnold motorway.

I agree completely. What a drag that would be to have to come back up that gully at the end of the day!

As soon as you hit the creek start looking for a still site you will see it  and the tree will be next to it.

I see. I've always thought it was down below the first waterfall. Maybe I'll find it next time. Thanks!

[montysano]

Last time we went the log jam was about gone. The easiest way to do this that I have found is go in Riddle creek come out Arnold motorway. Go in at the switch back and head south about 100 yards or so and then pretty much east to get down in the gully, follow it south to the creek.  Lot of dead fall here so this can be like step aerobics till you get in the gully.

There's a logging road on the ridge above Riddle to the west; when you leave the parking lot, stay up high instead of falling off to the left.  But we never take it; Riddle Creek is too pretty to miss.  The lower falls and the canyon below it are amazing.

[Uncle Wayne]

Hello All,

I plan on attempting the Quillan Creek Loop for my first time this weekend.

If you follow Riddle to where it joins with Quillan, look across that intersection at the bluff.  On top of that bluff is my great, great granddaddy's homeplace, or where it was I should say.  The land is described on the deed in this way: John Wilson Henry Hood owns the piece of land that holds the world together between Quillan and Hubbard creek.

He was the first postmaster at the Kinlock post office and is buried in the Johnson cemetery.

This is a beautiful loop hike.  Quillan is one of my favorite places to go in the forest.  When you get to where Arnold motorway crosses Quillan, go upstream for maybe a half a mile, not for sure, until you find a waterfall.  It's the first on upstream from the crossing. Along side this waterfall you'll see some old parts left from the time when there was a grist mill across Quillan waterfall.  When i was a boy there was still some of the old supports standing which helped support the water wheel as it spanned the creek.  Almost any drainage you turn up through here will carry you back to FS road 208.

Look at the Beech trees through this area. Several old dates and a couple of arborgylphs besides the John A. Riddle hands up tree.
It is a beautiful time to visit this area.

[elbowman]

Many thanks for all the replies. I have read thru them multiple times!

Myself, Tim (from work) and his girlfriend are going to do the loop on Saturday. Should be perfect weather.

I will let you all know how it turns out.

Eric

[JC785]

Yall make the loop elbowman?