Pickle Creek, Missouri, US

Hawn Park Road to Hawn State Park picnic area (2.4 miles)

Gauge Information

River Description

Gauge Description:
The USGS gauge is a crude indicator for runnability of this small creek. Better to look for 1-2" of rain within 24 hours at the Farmington & Libertyville rain gages. There currently is no paddler’s gauge. If allowed by park officials, one will be placed at the take-out in the Hawn State Park picnic area on the left-channel footbridge (river-right pier). Look for levels to be 6"-18" above the footing (check it with a paddle, or a stick, or whatever). Also, at the put-in, the water should be flowing 0"-12" over the low-water bridge.

River Description:
This creek run has dual character. The first mile or so is very brushy with a lot of wood to negotiate. Fortunately, the minor gradient allows stopping in microeddies for portaging. When the gradient increases, the creek opens up into a scenic mini-gorge (shut-in) typical of other Missouri steep creek runs. The four (five?) main drops can be scouted from the Pickle Creek trail that parallels the creek along the whitewater section. The drops are named Back Packer, Which Way, Mad Dog, and Boat Buster. At meaty levels, be on the lookout for hard-to-see logs in inconvenient places.

Logistics:
Both the put-in and take-out are in Hawn State Park located off Hwy 32 between Farmington MO and I-55. To get there from I-55, take the Hwy 32 exit (exit 150) and go west toward Farmington for 11.3 miles to Hwy 144. If you’re heading north on Hwy 67 from Fredericktown, take the Hwy W exit, turn right (east) and go through Farmington for 2.3 miles to Hwy 32 and follow Hwy 32 for 9.3 miles to Hwy 144.

Once at the Hwy 32 & 144 intersection, turn south on Hwy 144 and go 1.9 miles to Hawn Park Road. This is the road to the put-in (1.4 miles). However, if you want to first check out the river level and the take-out, continue on Hwy 144 another 2.5 miles to the take-out in the picnic area of Hawn State Park. Check the level on the left-channel footbridge (river-right pier) as per the instructions above under "Gauge Description."  Also, if this is the last run of the day and you want a hot shower, pay a few bucks and take-out in the camping area. The camping area and showers are downstream of the picnic area and the footbridge. Be sure you have enough clearance to paddle under the footbridge!

To get to the put-in, from the take-out in Hawn State Park, go back on Hwy 144 for 2.5 miles, turn left on Hawn Park Road, and go 1.4 miles to the put-in at the low-water bridge on Pickle Creek.

History:
Pickle Creek was first run on Sunday, 20 November 1988, by Stan Stoy, Greg Brown, Bruce Wagner, Herm Smith, and John Tansil. An account of the run, written by Stoy, appeared in the Feb/Mar 1989 issue of the River Log, newsletter of the Missouri Whitewater Association.