Jack Creek v. Sugar Creek

[Josh Sanford]

I ran Jack Creek in October and then again also last Tuesday. I thought it was really, really fun and we liked the super short shuttle that we did by bicycle both times.

I am interested to know opinions about how Jack compares with Sugar in terms of frequency of fun rapids. I am of the opinion that Jack starts out fun but then just gets better and better and then the last mile of it is fantastic.

Can anyone compare their experiences on those two creeks? What is the minimum level for super fun on Sugar? Is there a super fun level on Sugar?

[Don Harwood]

We usually run Jack when Sugar is too high to run shuttle. The water will run over the Knoppers Ford bridge to the point that you cannot cross it.
There is a hand painted gauge on the north side of the bridge at the Jack Creek Campground. You can take out of Sugar at this bridge or you can paddle on down to the rock steps a few hundred yards or so past the bridge on the left.
The bridge gauge is located on the pylon so you have to get out of your vehicle to see it.
With 1 foot on the gauge Sugar is low but probably doable. 2 feet and it's good to go. 3 feet and it's a hoot. Although at 3 feet you may have a hard time crossing the Knoppers Ford bridge depending on whether the water is going up or down.
At higher levels Sugar is a different creek than when it is low and that is a good time to paddle it with someone who knows the creek well!
If the water is about to get over the gauge bridge at Jack Creek Campground, then that is a good time to go run Jack.
We use an alternate put in on Jack that is along the shuttle road where the creek is parallel to the road and only about 10 yards from it. This eliminates the willows to a large degree and you get right to the "meat" of the lower gorge.
Both creeks are much different at higher levels than when low!
Anyway, by the time you go run Jack then Sugar has usually dropped down to a level that you can get across the bridges to the put in and you can go run Sugar!
It all hinges on whether it is still raining or not, water is going up or down, and where all the rain fell on the watersheds.
From my experience, I would suggest that you have not seen either creek when it was high just by when you said you ran Jack.
Sugar has a much longer shuttle and is also a much longer run.
Both are fantastic creeks in their own right at the right levels and both have some very good rapids.
Sugar has more bang for the buck is my opinion but there may be some who feel differently.

[Josh Sanford]

For the October trip down Jack the bridge gauge was at 1.6 at both the beginning and the end of the run. Last week, the gauge read 1.5 at the beginning and 1.3 at the end. It was a little bony last week.

Would I be shocked if I got on Jack at 2.5 after seeing the creek the way I have seen it?

[Don Harwood]

It's possible, at those levels Jack is normally fairly low.
But, it depends on where the rain fell and also how much rain fell.
Sugar will hold better than Jack as it is larger and has a larger watershed with more tributaries.
Sometimes a visual on Jack is the best way to tell.
Most of the time you can run Jack if it's there, then run Sugar because the level will hold better.
There are times when Jack is too low and Sugar is optimal.
The only way to tell for sure is to get a visual on the bridge gauge and Jack Creek.
With a little experience, you can tell if Jack has enough water by walking through the Jack Creek Campground a little way downstream of the bridge and finding the confluence with Jack and getting a visual. Jack comes in just down from the bridge on river right. Or you just go toward the put in for Jack and stop any place you can see the creek good enough.
Once you have seen the creek with lots of water on it you can tell by looking.

[panicman]

I have to say that lower water runs down jacks is still a hoot. There is actually more nice spin holes than at higher water and there are a few rapids that in my opinion might be more fun at a little lower water because they are not washed out and have more drop to them.

If you run sugar at a beefy level or really any level be sure and know here the portage is around the bridge of death on the upper part. It is on the right and you can't see the bridge until it is to late.

[Fish]

Both of these creeks are very different at high water than with low to medium flows. Both are fun at lower water too though. I'd say a strong class 2-3 boater could handle them both at 1 to 2 feet. 2.0 and up and you'll see some very fast class 3+ going down Sugar, with plenty of trees and bridge hazards. At above 2.5, Jack is rocking big time too, and there are some holes that are impressive looking as you drop into them. :shock: If I remember right, great class 3 surfing on Jack in the last mile when it gets high, if you can stop long enough to catch the waves.

As noted, a lot depends on how the rain fell and when. Your mileage may vary. Just know that once Sugar and Jack reach critical mass somewhere around 2 to 2.5 feet on the gauge, most of the slow spots are gone, holes get fluffy and frequent, trees try to take your head off, the current moves like a freight train from hell, and you're not in Kansas anymore!

- Fish