Willow Creek, Oct 2023 - Elev 3,573

[Rivergoer]

First off, a big thanks to @Tiff Mapel for the Lake Powell Magazine write up about Willow Creek.

While our attempt to reach Broken Bow Arch was unsuccessful, the time in Willow Creek was well worth it. What a beautiful place. Blue sky, light wind and temps in 80’s made for perfect Fall hiking conditions. NOTE: Good water shoes or hiking boots, long sleeves and pants recommended (shorts and flip flops only get one so far).

At this lake level, there are ample sandy beaches to park a boat/pwc/kayak and the 1st mile or so is an easy walk up stream.




First feature is a large alcove on the left just a short walk from the beach.


About a mile in we encountered this cool little waterfall. Enjoyed a nice lunch here on the way back.


At about a mile and a half, the willows and thickets of razor grass began to close in. Following previous paths in and out of the stream bed through ever-increasing heavy growth eventually proved taxing on our exposed ankles.


Flora and Fauna along the way


Tiff, the mushrooms are still there


A very industrious beaver set up shop around mile 2


A short distance beyond this point (about 3 miles from beach) very thick growth and shortening daylight forced us to abandon our Broken Bow Arch quest. Can’t help but think we were ALMOST there! Oh well, perhaps next year after a big El Niño and another 100 feet of lake elevation

 

[JFRCalifornia]

That’s an awesome write-up and photos of a spectacular hike. Willow is one of my favorites too, and good to see documentation of current conditions upstream toward Broken Bow Arch. Next time!

I was just there in August, and here’s a view from inside that huge alcove you show, looking out to the canyon…

Thanks for posting!

 

[Rivergoer]

Thanks @JFRCalifornia for the awesome shot, interesting how far up the water was just a couple of months ago.

We are dying to figure out how much further we needed to go to reach Broken Bow. My iPhone walking app showed we covered a little more than 3 miles each way. This alcove was probably about 1/4 mile or so from the beach so we turned around at about the 2 3/4 mile point.

Any guesses at the distance from this alcove to Broken Bow?

 

[JFRCalifornia]

Well, here’s what my notes tell me about distances in Willow Gulch. From the confluence with the Escalante, it’s about 4.2 miles to Broken Bow Arch. That’s about 0.7 miles past where Forty-Mile Gulch comes in from the right. At 3573, I’m guessing it’s navigable for about 1.3 miles from the Escalante, or maybe 0.2 miles past the confluence with Bishop Canyon, which is the navigable right hand fork.

So overall, I’m guessing it’s about 3 miles of hiking from the at the current lake level, so you were almost there! The key is knowing you’re close is when you pass the narrow mouth of Forty-Mile Canyon.

I’m attaching an aerial map I made for the canyon (yes, I made these for all the canyons), plus a couple of photos from my hike to Broken Bow in 2010. At that time the lake was at 3632, so the lake was navigable for about another mile compared to today… you’ll also notice the vegetation was much less thick then, so it was an easier hike…

Hope that helps!


These photos are all from August 2010, lake level 3632. Note the relatively easy waking since the vegetation isn't overgrown...



The next shot is looking up Forty-Mile Canyon where it joins Willow on the right. From there it's a couple of good turns and about 0.7 miles to Broken Bow Arch.





Finally you get to Broken Bow, which kind of sneaks up on you on the right. It's easier to see it once you pass and look back to your right. The view in the photo is downstream...

 

[Desert Dory]

We spent a night up there on our 5 night trip back in May 2020. Definitely my favorite spot of the 5 different places we stayed. On @JFRCalifornia map, we were right at the HWM 3600 arrow. Water level at the time was not quite 3601, if I remember correctly.

Got up as far as we dared with the motor then pulled the boat up a bit more and set the anchor.


Looking back down the way we came you can see your big alcove there on the right.