Gauge Information
Cooper Creek
Barker Camp Rd to Bowater Parking Lot IV-V+
Huckin' Lother

Photo by Matthew Wallace
Paddler Ben Davis
Need Directions?
Click on the map below that was provided and donated by

Thank you Randy Hale for all of your hard work
Not that this will make any sense - but I've built a database of creeks. This makes it very easy to update. So if you can get
or if anyone using the website has updates - GPS Locations, Trails (like the spots on Cooper and Cain) I can place them on the map pretty easily.......
Randy
For localized map of North Chick /Cooper Creek click on the map picture to blow it up
River Description
Contrary to other websites Cooper Creek is not a High water run. When Cooper is running the North Chick Chick will be at a medium level, when it is, Cooper will be at a minimum level.
This run was first explored by Tim Williams, Tom Bowen, and Jon "Lothar" Clarady. Later Jim Little in an Open Boat later paddled the run in the video Steep Creekin" for an Open Boat first descent.
Cooper Creek although just next watershed over from Cain Creek, and actually the same put-in area. Is quite the opposite from Cain and is more creeky in this authors opinion. The hike in seems not as bad and the paddle to the good stuff seems to come quicker.
Once in the meat of the gorge you will have the feel of more snowboarding that a kayaking trip. You have more rocks to work with to boof, and as shown in the picture above, more rocks to rail grind on.
Then in the meat of it all comes one of the best drops in the country, its clean and tall.
Top view of Bedtime for Lothar

Paddler Matthew Wallace Photo by Ben Davis
Bedtime for Lothar is easy, straight forward , and is like land on pillows. The next drop is Last Temptation ,which is a cliff with water going over it, with a rock in the way. It is very photogenic , matter of fact the whole run is, and the creek goes into bedrock, so the scouting is easy and picture taking will leave you some for the wall.
As of now it has been reported that the run is choked full of trees due to the Southern Pine beetle killing so many trees in the area.

Screenshot of Jim Little from the video Steep Creekin'