Kokosing, Ohio, US

Gambier to Walhonding River

Usual Difficulty	I-II (for normal flows)
Length	12 Miles

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
Kokosing River at Mount Vernon OH
usgs-03136500	150 - 3500 cfs	I-II	01h45m	110 cfs (too low)

River Description

This little stream can be paddled from Mt. Vernon, OH, down, but water is more likely below Gambier.

Steve Kreim relates that there are a couple of inaccuracies in Combs and Gillen's description: they omit Class II- Factory Rapid, and they get the location of a two-foot Class-I ledge wrong.


Rody Walter shared:

This is a great little stream for those central Ohio folk who are dying for a quick fix.

This section is best run from Millwood (intersection of 62 and 36) down to the bridge on 36 just past the sand factory. This is a 2 mile shuttle that is easily run by foot or bike...enjoy our environment, don't pollute!

The run has many great spots for teaching beginners while maintaining enough feature to keep the advance paddler interested. Although there are only three rapids in this three mile run, there are numerous waves, eddylines, and slide rocks to keep the interest flowing.

The first small rapid encountered is a 3' ledge moving left of some boulders. Great surfing here above 3'(bridge) with enders and squirts from the river right eddy.

Just downstream, the river narrows and bends to the left under some low hanging branches. Great squirt spot from the river right side...deep and fast due to the constriction.

Factory rapid is the next feature, a class 2 boulder rapid, it is best run on the far left around "munchie rock". This is the only passage available until the river reaches 5' on the bridge. The center and right is a pin magnate...scout on the right side. Above 5' on the bridge, fun boofs off "munchie" can be had and above 7' the river right side opens up a huge surf wave and hole...roll quick to avoid the trees down stream at this level.

The canyon section is next with great squirt lines and slide rocks for fun. An excellent place for swimming and jumping in the summer if you have enough water to scrape down. This section is an excellent moving water section to teach rolling with current. Have the bow rescue ready.

After some flat water (campground river right) and a minor class 1 riffle the river bends to the right at a large downstream ramping boulder with an auto eddy. The best squirts and cartwheels can be had at this seam.

Boulder hop through the last class 1 garden and take out on river left under the 36 bridge. Hope you saved some energy...the hike up reminds me of the middle meadow!