Hike to Mokoma Falls-SGL 13

[image error]

This hike leads to a little known falls in SGL 13.  I called it Mokoma Falls due to its proximity to Lake Mokoma, and access is through land owned by the Mokoma Conservancy.  However, the falls is on Elklick Run.  As this run already has an Elklick Falls, located further downstream on private land, I had to use another name.  Mokoma Falls is not very tall, twelve feet at most, but it is located in a primeval, isolated setting.  The falls are framed by giant hemlocks and is located in a glen with cascades and more hemlocks, some of which are old growth.  It is a very beautiful place.

To begin the hike, use the Mokoma Conservancy trails to reach the pipeline swath.  At the swath you have two choices, follow the swath south or use game commission roads to the east, which is longer but offers easier hiking.  I took the swath south.  

I reached a private property line and had to go into the woods to stay on the game lands.  There might be a discernable trail along the property line.  I descended to and crossed Conklin Run and begin an uphill climb.  I returned to the pipeline swath where it crossed back into the gamelands.  I then followed the swath downhill to Elklick Run.  At the run, I turned left off the swath and into the woods, off trail.  The creek was scenic, as were the hemlock forests.  I stayed on the north side of the creek, the woods weren’t very thick.  I hiked in a beautiful hemlock forest and circled around a wetland, offering some nice scenery.  I crossed Elklick Run and picked up an old grade in a beautiful hemlock shaded glen.  I enjoyed a six foot falls and just downstream in a grotto was Mokoma Falls.  I enjoyed the beauty of this gorge, amazed by the towering hemlocks.

I hiked further downstream, and to the gorge to the east, but it is not worth it.  The gorge to the east has some cascades and pools, but there is extensive flood damage.  It is best to retrace your steps from Mokoma Falls.  

I parked at 41.420483, -76.480950.  The hike is about 4-5 miles one way.  For the map above, brown are the trails on the Mokoma Conservancy, red is off trail, yellow is an old grade.  No trails on the pipeline swath or SGL 13 are blazed or have signs.  

View this post on Instagram

Mokoma Falls in it's grotto of ancient hemlocks. SGL 13.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 3:14pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Scenery on the hike to Mokoma Falls, SGL 13. Deep hemlocks, wetlands, and an old grade above the glen. Great day in the deep woods.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 3:03pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Smaller falls above Mokoma Falls. SGL 13. Total isolation.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 2:37pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Mokoma Falls is set in a glen with a remarkable old growth hemlock forest. Some of these trees were over 100 feet tall. SGL 13.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 2:26pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Mokoma Falls. Big day in SGL 13. While the falls were beautiful, the old growth hemlock that surrounded it was even more so. Primeval spot.

A post shared by Jeff Mitchell-Outdoors Author (@hiking_mitch) on Dec 7, 2019 at 2:22pm PST