The Spruce Creek trailhead close to 9 connects directly to Mohawk Lakes. So you can hike in and avoid 100% of that 4wd road on foot from the 2wd parking lot.
The 4wd portion past the 2wd parking lot tends to get littered with people stopping as you say. If you drive as far as possible, that last section of road is dug out and more than just high clearance rocky (at least as of last August), but it does put you at the base of the actual climb to Mohawk so you cut out the ingress/egress.
I guess all I’m saying is that I agree that walking that road sucks - I have done it once coming out to get down faster - and if I was not comfortable driving in (idiots notwithstanding) or I wanted the longer hike, then I’d hike Spruce Creek as it really is pretty.
I’m not sure I’ve ever paid attention to what is considered the Mohawk Lakes actual trailhead, though - I think I’ve just assumed it’s all Spruce Creek and you end up at Mohawk Lakes. That might be why my comments are confusing.
As an aside, going up the old cable route by the big waterfall is pretty cool.
The 4wd portion past the 2wd parking lot tends to get littered with people stopping as you say. If you drive as far as possible, that last section of road is dug out and more than just high clearance rocky (at least as of last August), but it does put you at the base of the actual climb to Mohawk so you cut out the ingress/egress.
I guess all I’m saying is that I agree that walking that road sucks - I have done it once coming out to get down faster - and if I was not comfortable driving in (idiots notwithstanding) or I wanted the longer hike, then I’d hike Spruce Creek as it really is pretty.
I’m not sure I’ve ever paid attention to what is considered the Mohawk Lakes actual trailhead, though - I think I’ve just assumed it’s all Spruce Creek and you end up at Mohawk Lakes. That might be why my comments are confusing.
As an aside, going up the old cable route by the big waterfall is pretty cool.