North Beaver Creek Canyon aka Paradise Valley  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  2,803. Good page?    Administrator:  Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Trevor Bowman on Dec 2, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Looking down the top of N. Beaver Creek Falls at E...

Description 

This narrow granite gorge is locally renowned for its scenery, but is infrequently visited due to its relative remoteness. The main attraction is a series of pools and cascades in North Beaver Creek which draw the occasional hiker. There are granite walls lining both sides of the canyon, some up to 500' tall. The faces are heavily banded, and of mixed quality depending on the layer; the pink quartz bands are very friable while the gray/gold shields hold sound rock. Very little activity has occurred in the canyon, largely due to the variable rock. However, it is a uniquely beautiful setting and the ambiance certainly makes for a memorable experience!
A few ice climbs have also been explored, although winter access presents the greatest difficulty to such endeavors. Highway 14a is closed seasonally; I'm unsure if there is a set closure date in the fall or if it is dependent upon snowfall. However, once the highway is close for the winter, access is limited to snowmachine only (unless you wanted to ski in and camp).

Getting There 

Follow Highway 14a toward Lovell from Burgess Junction. Once you crest over the pass, continue descending for a couple of miles. Keep your eyes peeled to the left of the highway; the tops of the granite walls of the canyon are visible. There will be a two-track dirt road descending to the left of the highway (it is before Bald Mountain and across the highway from Little Bald Mountain) which dead-ends after about 1/2 mile in a small gravel pit area with some granite boulders. Park here. There is decent car camping here, although without shade.

From the end of the road, hike (west) out a point with many small boulders and drop down toward the main creek drainage where you should locate a good hiker's trail following the left side of the creek. Follow this until the creek spills through a tight slot with several pools and the N. Beaver Creek Falls. The trail fades out at the cascades, but it's easy to descend the steep open hillside around the skier's left side of the falls. The Eager Beaver Falls and a series of four main towers form the left side of the canyon as the creek bends and then plunges down and west toward the valley below. It's about 1/2 hour hike.

The Classics

Featured Route For North Beaver Creek Canyon aka Paradise Valley

Eager Beaver WI3+  WY : North Beaver Creek Canyon a...

A highly aesthetic cascade tucked into a cleft on the left side of the canyon a short distance downstream from the falls in the creek. It makes for a long single pitch with short steps interspersed with benches. In early season, the right side of the first step will be the thickest. Top out on the left side of the upper curtain with some root-hooking to belay trees....[more]   Browse More Classics in WY

Photos of North Beaver Creek Canyon aka Paradise Valley Slideshow

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Eager Beaver Falls in early summer runoff.