This run is just under four miles of class 1+ water that's easy to do twice within about four or five hours. It's basically flat water with a gentle current, riffles, and broad turns. The setting is lovely and very quiet. Nice for a little floating picnic.
The run is suitable for canoeists beyond novice. It is also fine for skirtless hardshell kayaks, sit on tops, touring kayaks and similar recreational kayaks. Paddlers should have some experience and be able to maneuver in current to avoid trees and branches along the shore or in the channel.
Take out:
Stillman Magee Regional Park on Mackville Road, just north of Clements. Offering the last public access to the Mokelumne River before the city of Lodi, Stillman Magee features water rafting and swimming, picnic tables, barbecues and fishing at the river's edge.
Location: 23801 N. Mackville Rd., Clements.
Hours: Open daily (except Christmas) from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Cost: Vehicle entry fees are $3 weekdays, $5 weekends and county-recognized holidays. Vehicles over 22 ft. in length are $10.
Contact: (209) 953-8800 begin\_of\_the\_skype\_highlighting(209) 953-8800end\_of\_the\_skype\_highlighting or 331-7400 (Parks office is located at Micke Grove Regional Park's Memorial Building, across from Japanese Garden).
Coming from Sacramento: Take Highway 99 south to Highway 12 East (which strikes 99 at the city of Lodi). Travel on Highway 12 east (go left once you're off the freeway) about 11 miles to the town of Clements. In Clements, turn left onto Mackville Road. Proceed about a mile to the Mokulumne River bridge. (The county park is just in front of the bridge on your left.)
Coming from Stockton: Take Highway 99 north to Highway 12 East (which strikes 99 at the city of Lodi). Travel on Highway 12 east (go right once you're off the freeway) about 11 miles to the town of Clements. In Clements, turn left onto Mackville Road. Proceed about a mile to the Mokulumne River bridge. (The county park is just in front of the bridge on your left.)
Coming from Placerville: Take Highway 49 south to Highway 88 (which strikes 49 at the city of Jackson). Turn west (right) onto Highway 88 and follow 88 until it runs into Highway 12. Turn west (right) onto Highway 12 and drive about a mile to the town of Clements. In Clements, turn right onto Mackville Road. Proceed about a mile to the Mokulumne River bridge. (The county park is just in front of the bridge on your left.)
Put in:
To reach the put-in from the town of Clements, go east on Highway 12 about 3 miles to McIntyre Road. Turn left on McIntyre Road and go about a mile to
Mokelumne Day Use Area (which will be on your left). Be sure to: (1) bear right at the "Y" intersection where Highway 88 splits off left from Highway 12 and (2) look for the big, brown "Fish Hatchery" sign (which is easier to see at McIntyre Road than the "McIntyre Road" sign).
google map.
( Courtesy of Larry Hazen from California Floaters Society on May 8, 2007)
Other Information Sources
Comanche Reservoir release
East Bay Municipal Utility District - EBMUD
Mokelumne History on EBMUD page
Mokelumne Water Rights and legal issues
EBMUD fish hatchery info
Fish Sniffer article about the hatchery
2007 Fish Sniffer story about hatchery
Mokelumne Fish Hatchery; DFG page
Salmon restoration information
EBMUD; Comanche Water Rights extension
http://sjcrcd.org/articles/MokP03.pdf. City of Lodi general plan related to the Mokelumne River.
Searching for the Mokelumne Lodi News article
Parks Regional Facilities
San Joaquin County Other Regional Parks
Foothill Conservancy
Mokelumne River Facebook page
Mokelumne River .com information page