Red Creek Canyon

Crossing the Creek

This April crossing was very cold and more treacherous than expected. Sandals and a walking stick are usually required to cross Red Creek here at the intersection of Red Creek Trail (TR 514) and Fisher Spring Run Trail (TR 510) or anywhere else downstream (south).

On this trip, Norm (pictured) walked across first and then threw his Teva sandals back across the creek so that the rest of us could use them for our crossing. Along Red Creek, don't plan on trying to bushwack up the stream bank to find easier crossings. The undergrowth is very thick with dense pine, large boulders, fallen trees, and Rhododendron.

This area has changed alot in the last few years. In the spring flooding of 1996 trees were uprooted all up and down Red Creek. Even in April of 1997, the river looked like a disaster area. I guess Mother Nature shapes the land in mysterious ways. There was one seven foot tall boulder that had been moved to a new location since our trips prior to the flooding. I can't imagine moving a boulder like that with any type of modern machinery.

Summer Lows

In summer, Red Creek can be much lower. Notice that the creek doesn't have much growing in it. It contains too many minerals to support vegetation. I have only occassionally seen minows in the stream.