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Atchafalaya, Sandy Cove (south) Launch A

This west side Atchafalaya kayak paddle trail route was done because it was near Lake Fausse Pointe State Park where I was staying and I wanted something close by before driving back to Dallas later that day. The launch is the southern version of two so-called Sandy Cove launches along the gravel Levee Road south of the Park. I skipped the northern Sandy Cove launch, the one with permit station, because there were quite a few airboats launching there, and went on down to the south launch. I didn’t have high expectations, just hoping for a short paddle before I left the area, but it turned out to be exactly what I had been looking for. The route in the map above first tries an obvious channel going north from the launch that looked as though it would lead into the interior of the swamp. But it was clogged by lilies (water hyacinth) and I couldn’t get very far. I then went south and I found a shallow channel that led deeper into the swamp. Perfect, a real paddle, although I suppose some luck that this route wasn’t also clogged. That’s the trial and error of Atchafalaya launches, you never know. This was a short jaunt, and I will try to explore this area, and the northern Sandy Cove launch, more thoroughly in a future trip.

Above: Incredible.

Above: Out of the boat and into the mud. Water levels are low.

Above: The same Fausse Pointe State Park alligator as always. He has a couple smaller friends who he chases away when they come by.

Above: Are these adventitious willow branch roots?

Above: Passed by an airboat. They are loud. But they can get through the water hyacinth where a kayak cannot.

Above: A good swamp paddle means mud.