Deer Creek Falls

RATING - 42.0

VR - 6.0 (Med) HR - 6.0 SR - 6/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Fairly Difficult

LOCATION - Index Area

TYPE - Segmented

HEIGHT - 162'

WIDTH - 200'

DIRECTIONS - Drive east on Highway 2 and then turn left on Index-Galena Road towards the town of Index. Cross the bridge into town and then circle around to the left to Reiter Road. Just after the road crosses the train tracks you'll cross over the creek and a gated road will appear on the right. Park and head up the road. Take a right at the fork and follow this road steeply uphill below the power lines. As the road peters out, continue following the ridge until you can hear (and possibly see) the falls. Bushwhack upstream through the woods until you get to the falls. It's not horrible as far as bushwhacks go.

Above the falls, Deer Creek splits in two segments that each drop over massive, powerful waterfalls. The left segment is tough to get a clear view of. The creek drops at least 162' (and probably more that can't be seen above) down a massive wall in several steps, throwing rooster tails into the air on its way down. The clearest view I could find was from a small island in the middle of the creek but even that was blocked some. During lower water periods it's probably easier to find a clear spot but you want to see this waterfall when the creek is really raging to get the full effect.

The right segment of the falls appears to be similar to the left but is virtually impossible to see clearly. I was able to get right next to the bottom tier but because of the angle the falls drops, I couldn't see anything above. Views from further back are obscured by trees and brush. There is a view of the upper sections of the right side from below the power lines so keep your eyes open on your approach.