It’s September in south Louisiana, and as summer gives way to fall,there’s no better time to be—or become—a recreational paddler.
Baton Rouge has a hidden treasure trove of little-known destinations that are perfect for bayou-borne navigation. If you’ve ever felt the urge to explore your urban surroundings by water, paddling a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard is a great way to do it, especially in and around the Red Stick. Here are 10 ideas for your next wet and wild adventure.
The Backpacker 7656 Jefferson Hwy., 225-925-2667
This popular outfitter for all things outdoors has a variety of boats and boards, with paddles starting at $125 and Hobie kayaks starting at $799. To keep your essentials dry, pick up an E-Case iSeries Case for the iPhone 5 for $39.95 and a 30L SealLine Baja Dry Bag for $31.95. geargut.com
Massey’s Professional Outfitters 7519 Corporate Blvd., 225-246-7100
Massey’s in Towne Center offers convenient, all-inclusive canoe and kayak rentals at a great price point. Life jackets (or PFDs—personal flotation devices), paddles and seats are included in the rental prices, which range from $20 to $40 per day. In addition, Massey’s rents useful accessories like universal roof racks for transporting the boat, all between $2 and $10 per day. masseys.com/rentals
LSU UREC
LSU campus, 225-578-8601
LSU’s Recreation Center is largely for student use, but for outdoor hobbies, equipment rentals are available to the public. From primitive camping to canoeing and kayaking, UREC has it all. Canoe and kayak packages, which include the boat, the paddles and the life jackets, are $10 per day for UREC members and $20 for nonmembers (or non-students). Boat trailers are available, too. lsuuniversityrec.com/lsuurec/adventure-education/outdoor-rental/
So you’ve got your boat and your life jackets. Now it’s time to hit the water. Here are a few nearby water trails and access points that work well for beginners.
University Lake at Milford Wampold Memorial Park
The lakes near LSU are the perfect place for beginners to cultivate their paddling prowess. Learn the ins and outs of your new hobby by launching at any of the handful of boat-accessible landings that dot the shores of both lakes.
Before setting out, novices may want to try BREC’s “Paddle Up” program, which offers basic training classes sorted by ability. Wampold Park is also the setting for BREC’s occasional moonlight paddle events. brec.org Ease of Entry: Beginner Launch Point: The far left shore at Wampold Park on Stanford Avenue makes for an easy launch spot, as well as the floating dock be- hind the Lutheran Student Center on Dalrym- ple Drive, but there are many other beginner-level launch points on both lakes.
Canoe & Kayak Trails at BREC Greenwood Community Park
Greenwood Park, off Hwy. 19 in Baker, is one of BREC’s more recent paddle-friendly developments, and a gorgeous one at that. It’s also perhaps the easiest location for a beginner to explore. Due to the on-site canoe, kayak and paddleboat rental service, it’s actually easier to rent a boat at Greenwood than it is to bring your own—renting spares you a rather inconvenient haul from the parking lot to the launch deck, and it’s relatively inexpensive. The canoe trail is located at the far left edge of the main lake, and it makes for a lovely, shaded afternoon paddle. brec.org Ease of Entry: Beginner Launch Point: Clearly marked wooden docks.
Ward Creek at South Mall Drive
Ward Creek, located behind PetSmart, is a lovely reminder that untamed areas still exist in Baton Rouge, even in the most urban of settings. Behind the asphalt acres of the Sam’s Club shopping complex—specifically, behind PetSmart—is a lazy, pastoral waterway that eventually empties into Bayou Manchac. The slow flow of Ward Creek allows for an easy upstream paddle back home. paddlebr.wordpress.com Recommended Trek: South Mall Drive to Manchac Park Distance: About five miles, one-way Ease of Entry: Beginner to moderate Launch Point: Park behind PetSmart by way of South Mall Drive; cross the street and drag boat downhill to launch at the flat bank near the large culvert.
Bayou Fountain at Highland Road Park
This waterway used to be quite uninviting to recreational paddlers, but thanks to years of hard work by Nathaniel Klumb and his friends at Paddle BR, Bayou Fountain has gotten back to its beautiful, trash-free state. This bayou trail now features handmade mile markers and is navigable all the way from Highland Road Park to the parish line at Bayou Manchac. paddlebr.wordpress.com Recommended Trek: Highland Road Park to Manchac Park Distance: Four miles, one-way Ease of Entry: Moderate at higher water levels; somewhat difficult at lower water levels due to steepness. Launch Point: Water trail access is through the woods, behind the baseball fields at Highland Road Park. Drag your boat toward the woods between the two leftmost ball fields (closest to the archery range) and through the opening in the woods.
Past the beginner’s level and looking for something a little more challenging? One of these more daring paddles will sate your adventurous side.
Comite River Paddle at Blackwater Conservation Area
The Comite in Central is a fickle river for paddlers, but given the right water levels on a beautiful day, it’s a heck of a day trip through Baton Rouge. After a bout of heavy rainfall, Blackwater Conservation Area provides access to the Comite, which runs like a vein through Baton Rouge, ending at Port Vincent. A first-hand account is available on paddlebr.wordpress.com.
Blind River Paddle at Blind River via St. James Parish Boat Club
Discover this beautiful hidden river via canoe or kayak in Gramercy, and while you’re there, be sure to visit Our Lady of Blind River—a hand-built cypress chapel that is open to the public year-round, accessible only by boat. For shortcuts, tips and a first-hand account, visit noadventure.com.
Swamp Paddle at Wetland Watchers Park on Lake Pontchartrain
Drift through the cypress-laden wetlands that everyone else merely drives over on the way to New Orleans. wetlandwatchers.org
Canoe Trails at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Get lost in St. Martinville and find yourself in a boat-accessible campsite with your own wooden deck on massive Lake Fausse Pointe. No boat? No worries. The park offers onsite rentals. crt.louisiana.gov
Abandoned Fort Proctor Paddle at Lake Borgne
Explore an abandoned military fort hidden off the shores of Lake Borgne at Shell Beach. Read a first-hand account at noadventure.com.
Guided Canoe Trip on the Mississippi River at Quapaw Canoe Co.
Have your own Mark Twain-worthy, real-deal experience on the Mississippi starting in Natchez with a certified river guide. Do not attempt this paddle without a guide. island63.com/natchez.cfm Visit kayaklouisiana.org for more information.
Like any activity involving water, a canoeing or paddling trip can become dangerous at unpredictable moments regardless of the paddler’s experience level. All paddlers, novice or expert, should heed a handful of safety precautions before taking the boat out.
1. Jacket up. As tempting as it may be to ditch the PFD, you never know when you’ll end up trapped under a flipped kayak or pulled underwater by an invisible current. All boaters are required by law to wear life jackets.
2. Be aware of your wild surroundings. Any natural waterway features equally natural health hazards, including alligators, venomous snakes, poison ivy, rabid animals and hungry insects. Do not touch or feed wild animals; do not pick or harvest foliage; do not make quick or sudden movements near alligators; and whatever you do, bring insect repellent.
3. Practice safe boating procedures. Here are some of the bigger ones: Don’t stand up or lean to the side while in a canoe—keep a low, balanced center of gravity. Don’t overload a canoe—evenly distribute cargo weight and tie everything down to the bottom of the boat. If you see a motorboat or a craft significantly larger than your own, keep your eyes on its direction and the size of the wake it creates; avoid getting into its path, and if its wake is overly turbulent, find a protected area near a bank and wait for it to pass. If you plan to fish from your canoe or kayak, be careful when casting or reeling in a catch; it doesn’t take much to capsize a small craft. If your boat flips in deeper water, stay with the boat. It floats.
4. Bring the essentials: water, snacks, a hat, sunscreen, a small first aid kit, a charged cell phone and a dependable light source. A few hours of paddling works up a healthy thirst and hunger. Bayous play host to tons of terrifying bacteria, and paddling through them provides ample opportunity for flesh wounds. The sun can be oppressive at high noon on a summer day, but if the sun goes down before you figure out where you are, you’ll be in trouble without a cell phone.
