Baron Creek Trip Report

[Zen B.]

May 6, 2009

Today Greg Allen and I paddled a Class III-IV tributary to the Mulberry known as Baron (or Barron’s) Creek. It flows approximately five miles from the top of Barnes Mountain and empties on the Mulberry’s south side across from Redding. We parked on the national forest at the spot where the watershed crosses Barnes Road, and proceeded dragging our kayaks downhill until the creek gained enough water to jump in.

Immediately we encountered an 8-foot waterfall that’s runnable river wide. Greg and I hauled our boats back up and ran the drop several times. For fun we named it Red Baron Falls (as Baron Creek was first scouted via aircraft) and it could have been run in an inner tube at today’s level. However, with another foot of water the pour-over would become sticky, so we figure it’s Class III.

Next up was a quarter-mile rock slab serving as one accelerated Class II+ warm up with no eddies. After an exciting ride we got a break for a few minutes as the creek meandered through some trees and picked up a little more water from side drainages.

Another long slab section appeared and we were treated again to fast-paced decision making with no real way of putting on the brakes. For hundreds of yards Greg and I bumbled over various high-speed slots and diagonal 6-footers without any opportunity for scouting (next time we’ll pull over and scout the whole section before getting suckered). In the middle of this slabby paradise is a small gorge with considerable elevation loss and a table saw wave slicing through the center. Sticking with our Red Baron theme we called this Prop Wash and the largest drops above were titled Dogfight and Gun Barrel. The entire section was III-IV and would be more serious with another foot or two.

Again the river relaxes and gains additional side drainages. We traveled a mile or so through non-stop class II waves with no major hazards other than occasional downed trees. Various colorful plants are in bloom and interesting sandstone bluffs loom over the creek on both sides.

Eventually a rectangular boulder appears and the gradient drops out of sight between the walls of a tight gorge. We pulled over and scouted this one, with the boulder providing the perfect eddy on river right and a nearby cliff offering a great survey spot. The rapid consists of three back-to-back Class III ledges, with a final Class III-IV drop slipping into the gorge. Walled in at the bottom, a picturesque 40-foot waterfall rumbles off the left-side wall onto ledges. The spot is literally gorgeous and we didn’t know what to name it.

The final section of Baron Creek winds down with continuous Class II+ waves and holes before joining the swollen Mulberry on the river left side. A quick paddle over to Redding offers a convenient place to meet up with a take-out vehicle.

All in all Baron Creek is scenic and a lot of fun. The rapids are continuous with little opportunity for scouting once a section has been entered. There are some dangerous sieves to watch for in the slabs, and high water runs would be unstoppably fast and furious in some of the long sections. Downed trees would become particularly hazardous during high water, and many of the holes may become greedy. The run reminds me of the best sections of Spirits Creek and Little Mill Creek on the Lower Mulberry.

[shelbyjohnson]

Nice work! Thanks for the report!

[GN YAKN]

Nice report. Does the creek enter the Mulberry upstream of Redding or downstream? I'm having trouble picturing the confluence.

You have got to get Snoopie worked into the naming. Maybe Snoopie's Lair for the canyon?

Dave

[tomcat]

You have got to get Snoopie worked into the naming. Maybe Snoopie's Lair for the canyon?

Dave

"Hang on Snoopie, hang on." by The McCoys. 1960's pop rock

[A Savage spanke]

Wow that sounds awesome. I might have kept that one to myself!

I thought it was "hang on stupid" I mean the person did fall off something

[panicman]

This sounds like the creek that runs along the backside of the mountain where the mulberry mountian music is held. That trail goes down to that creek with the waterfall. I bet that is it.

[GN YAKN]

Panicman,

I think the creek coming off of Spirit Mtn (aka Mulberry Mtn) is Mountain Creek. It comes into the Mulberry on river right below Redding and is the creek you cross before you come to Jesse's cabin where the old "copper mines" are. I think the crik Zen is referring to comes in on river left since it comes off of Barnes Mtn which is to the South.

Davo

[Tmuse]

Nice to see the 1st D, never stop exploering our fine Ozark creeks.

[RandyJ]

Thanks, Zen. Sounds like a good find. I'll bet most of us wish we had a rig like yours to fly around and air-scout new runs! Just think if we could use one for shuttle.... :)

[Zen B.]

"Hang on Snoopy" sounds perfect for the little gorge. Thanks for the enthusiasm and ideas!

Greg and I are on a mission to paddle the Mulberry's tributaries. It ain't Newton County, but so far the voyages have been rewarding. Would love additional company if any of you are looking for something, uh, "different" to paddle. So far these are the Mulberry's side drainages we know have been run:

1. Upper Upper Mulberry (late 1990s; how about Upper Upper Upper?)
2. Panther Creek (1980s?)
3. Washita Creek (???)
4. Estep Creek (2008)
5. Upper Little Mulberry (1980s?)
6. Lynn Hollow (2008?)
7. Lick Branch (???)
8. Clear Creek (2007?)
9. Indian Creek (1980s?)
10. William's Branch (2009)
11. Herrod's Creek (1980s?)
12. Baron Creek (2009)
13. Mountain Creek (?Fish)
14. Fane Creek (1980s?)
15. John Turner Creek (?Nick)
16. Rock Creek (2009)
17. Spirits Creek (1980s?)
18. Salt Fork (?)
19. Hurricane Creek (?)
20. Little Mill Creek (1990s)
21. Mill Creek (?)

Feel free to add to the list.

Edit: added John Turner Creek to the list...

[prophet]

how many are still unclaimed?

[paddledog]

Great report on a new run.
Let's get some vid next time.
Give me a call.

Minor technicality.
The song is "Hang on Sloopy" by the McCoys
I'll over look the deviation if you will......

[shelbyjohnson]

"Hang on Snoopy" sounds perfect for the little gorge. Thanks for the enthusiasm and ideas!

Greg and I are on a mission to paddle the Mulberry's tributaries. It ain't Newton County, but so far the voyages have been rewarding. Would love additional company if any of you are looking for something, uh, "different" to paddle. So far these are the Mulberry's side drainages we know have been run:

1. Upper Upper Mulberry (late 1990s; how about Upper Upper Upper?)
Feel free to add to the list.

Zen - I don't have the date but Jeff Green, Jeff Nulph and I ran the upper from just above where Johnson County Rd 5440 crosses the upper-upper. It was like 1992 or 1993 I think. One of those day when everything else was just too big to even consider getting on.

[RichardL]

Zen,

We went to lick branch during canoe school. We did not run it as it had wood in the wrong place. But, did meet the landowner, he said it has been run multiple times. I forget his name, but he is very boater friendly, he just wants to watch.

[GN YAKN]

I didn't see John Turner Creek on your list. I would love to be on that first descent trip!!!

Surely Hunter Hobbs has paddled the campground section! I know his model boats have made numerous runs with major carnage!

Dave R