Mohawk
Mohawk R. Rd to Hileman Rd
| Difficulty | II-III |
| Length | 6.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 39 fpm |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 9, 2025 |
This description is based on the paddling guide Soggy Sneakers, 4th Ed (2004), run #90.
'Gate on Mohawk Road to Hileman Road Bridge', 5.8 miles, 39 fpm (continues), class 2(3-) T
Note, in the 5th edition of Soggy Sneakers (2016), the run was removed from the main section due to more than 20 portages required by wood blockages (see p. 379, 5th Ed.)
In addition to Soggy Sneakers, for scouting and for locating features a phone app with 'USA Topo Maps - ArcGIS' was used.
[[ A general description about the charm of the valley and the feeling of 'being in the woods' will go here]]
GAUGE: USGS 14165000 MOHAWK RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, OR (about RM 1.6). The flow at the run is only a fraction of the numbers reported at the gauge but scales proportionally as the topography across the watershed is rather comparable. We report the flow as shown at the gauge and leave it to the reader to adjust for the upstream location, if desired.
RIVER MILES based on digital 'USA Topo Maps - ArcGIS'
GRADIENT: The entire run #90 is reported at 39 fpm (ft/mi). The upper section, Gate to 'The Z', is calculated at 49 fpm based on topo map contour lines and interpolated RMs; (800-677) ft / (20.9-18.4) mi = 49.2 ft/mi
RIVER MILES -- FEATURES (references to 'road' refer to Mohawk River Rd and Marcola Rd, respectively)
20.9 -- Gate. Put-in below ~RM 20.8
20.4 -- bridge(1st), scenic waterfall left bank
20.0 -- 'Shallow Shelf', scout from road!
19.8 -- weeping ferns wall & scenic waterfall left
19.6 -- tree blockage in 2023 and 2024; not directly visible from road
19.4 -- 'Flipper', 4 ft shelf drop, scout from road
19.3 -- 2nd bridge, nothing remarkable
19.2 -- 'Hanging Chair', 3rd bridge, scout from bridge
18.6 -- 4th bridge (not visible from road)
18.5 -- slide and shelf after left turn
18.4 -- 'The Z', distinct zigzag pattern of the river shown on most maps; near intersect
...
Put-in. Park at pull-out in front of gate. Use easy river access 100 ft downstream of gate.
Author found the gate closed most of the time. A sign warns about 'Gate may be closed at any time'
The zigzag shaped stream pattern where the Mohawk turns from primarily going West to South. It's near where Mohawk River Rd joins Marcola Rd.Right. After the first W => S turn a fun shell/slide feature awaits you:) The last turn of the Z accumulates often wood, sometime leading to complete blockage. At medium flows it's possible to stop at the first 180 degree turn and access the situation.
Hanging Chair rapid is located under the 3rd bridge at River Mile 19.2, or 1.7 miles into the run.The chair, seen here in April 2023, was still bouncing around on Dec 29, 2024 at 5700 cfs.
Jan 8, 2025
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Apr 29, 2023
First time run by this team after having scouted and interviewed the locals during the week prior to the run. We couldn't find any paddler who had run the entire Soggy Sneaker 4th. Ed. stretch #90 over the past decade. The most recent info available was in Soggy Sneakers 5th Ed. (2016) page 379: 'More than 20 portages for wood in recent runs.' The 4th Edition (2004) run #90 reported more wood 3.5 miles downstream of the put-in, also wires crossing the river in the vicinity of geodesic dome houses. We located a geodesic structure off Mohawk Loop Rd, about 3.5 miles below the put-in, and decided to take out before on public land at a steep bank on Mohawk Loop Rd. close to the river.
We were lucky to hit a beautiful, sunny day -- almost too warm for portaging the three wood blockages we encountered (none of them visible from the road). Two of the three blockages were washed away when running the first 2 miles again in May 2024. The remaining blockage was/is(?) 1.3 miles below the put-in.
