Black Bayou LA, Noah Tyson Park, Hwy 1
This kayak paddle trail route map is at Black Bayou (one of many vaguely named ‘black bayous’) in northwest Louisiana, about half an hour from the Caddo WMA area. Access is either at the Noah Tyson Park boat ramp just south of Mira Mytis Road, that is the easiest, or at the side of Highway 1 where it crosses the Bayou just south of Rodessa. The Highway 1 launch seems relatively safe and lets you start at the northern end and work your way down to the lake. But I used it only because the Noah Tyson Park launch was flooded and closed. The bayou is easy to follow, there is a single main channel, but if the water is high enough, and if the surface vegetation, particularly alligator weed and salvinia, have not yet dominated like they will later in the summer, you can explore the lakes and woods to either side. I saw several beavers, lots of snakes, and on another occasion, an alligator. Black Bayou doesn’t get the attention that Caddo does, but it has a unique, more lush, feel to it. For this route the turnaround point was at the watchtower in the lake. The lake would be an interesting place to explore more thoroughly as well.
Above: Signs at the junction of the bayou and the Noah Tyson launch.
Above: The turnaround, and lunch, stop.
Above: So nice.
www.SawdustRiver.com 