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We took a quick trip this weekend down the Calcasieu River. I am hoping it is has some potential for an overnighter/weekender in the near future.
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Happy National Pfeffernusse Day! ⚪🇩🇪😋
Calcasieu River, Louisiana
- Thread starter Jelwell1982
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Good Find.
I've been told about Whiskey Chitto, but have some concerns as that areas is getting a bit rough.
Sam Houston Jones State Park wouldn't be a bad stopping off point for a night.
I wonder though how it would be this time of year when it is just starting to cool off. I rarely see much traffic on the south end of Calcasieu near Lake Charles.
I've been told about Whiskey Chitto, but have some concerns as that areas is getting a bit rough.
Sam Houston Jones State Park wouldn't be a bad stopping off point for a night.
I wonder though how it would be this time of year when it is just starting to cool off. I rarely see much traffic on the south end of Calcasieu near Lake Charles.
I did the Calcasieu River about 14 years ago, before they changed the sandbar camping law (2008?) A friend of mine owns one of the many small canoe outfitters in area, and in return for an afternoon helping him schlep canoes, he let me use one, put me in at the Hwy112 bridge, and I drifted for two overnights and a couple days down to Hwy 190, where he took me out. Great water back then, though one section was full of drunken day trippers for a couple miles before their takeout. Wouldn't do it again today... nowhere to camp without trespassing, and the crowd is much rougher. I've heard from a local sheriff friend that the cops keep a closer eye on it than they should have to... sad.
You live within a couple hours of the Neches... It's a nice river, for the South... pretty clean, and the stretch from Steinhagen Lake down to Evadale is nice, going through the Big Thicket National Forest as it does... about a 4-5 day 3-4 overnight trip, depending on flow. The Sabine is nice too, but nowhere to camp between the reservoir and the Gulf now... all private land. Takes about 4-5 days to run that whole length, according to my friend (who used to offer a shuttle for that trip.)
I've recently re-discovered Toledo Bend. The entire southwestern corner is national forest, maintained by Texas (vs LA), and they do a really nice job of it... controlled burns, decent roads (for dirt, that is), relatively well-maintained since they have a budget and a thriving economy.
You live within a couple hours of the Neches... It's a nice river, for the South... pretty clean, and the stretch from Steinhagen Lake down to Evadale is nice, going through the Big Thicket National Forest as it does... about a 4-5 day 3-4 overnight trip, depending on flow. The Sabine is nice too, but nowhere to camp between the reservoir and the Gulf now... all private land. Takes about 4-5 days to run that whole length, according to my friend (who used to offer a shuttle for that trip.)
I've recently re-discovered Toledo Bend. The entire southwestern corner is national forest, maintained by Texas (vs LA), and they do a really nice job of it... controlled burns, decent roads (for dirt, that is), relatively well-maintained since they have a budget and a thriving economy.
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Wow! Thank you. I will definitely have to look into some of those.
Any experience exploring the Atchafalaya Swamp?
I read an article backpacker a number of years ago about a swamp trip they paddled, but can't seem to remember the detail of where they put in, camped, and got out.
I feel like my days in Louisiana are numbered and I'd like to get a few decent trips under my belt as I don't foresee myself coming back.
Any experience exploring the Atchafalaya Swamp?
I read an article backpacker a number of years ago about a swamp trip they paddled, but can't seem to remember the detail of where they put in, camped, and got out.
I feel like my days in Louisiana are numbered and I'd like to get a few decent trips under my belt as I don't foresee myself coming back.
Never done the Atchafalaya, but would like to someday... I know a guy who lived there for about a year studying the Louisiana Black Bear for his PhD and loved it. Have a friend in the area who had done it as a kid, but he's in the oil industry and our schedules are hard to coordinate.
