Dorcheat Bayou, Dixie Inn, Louisiana
Kayak route map on Dorcheat Bayou east of Shreveport just north of Interstate-20. The launch is a public boat ramp at Dixie Inn off of Highway 79 and just north of the freeway. On a previous trip here the bayou was flowing so scary fast there was a change of plan down to Lake Bistineau instead. For the trip shown here, after parking and getting out, there were thousands of nails spilled up and down the road. Big thick flat-headed roofing type nails. Everyone that had parked here to visit a local fair were out of their cars, kids and adults alike, picking up nails in the road, fistfuls of them, hoping car tires were not punctured.
The trip itself is a good paddle, the channel is linear and scenic. The turnaround point is an upstream railroad trestle. At that point the bayou started to sprawl and was less defined. The launch is close to Bistineau State Park for camping.
32.59773,-93.33331
Launch Site Google Maps Link
Above: Railroad bridge turnaround point.
Above: Gnarly and biological.
Above: Bit of current on the Dorcheat.
Above: Messy break spot.
Above: Near the Dixie Inn put-in.