Bois d’Arc Lake, 897 Launch
Kayak paddle route on Bois d’Arc Reservoir Lake near Bonham, Texas. I had been waiting several years for this new lake/reservoir to open, checking the pool level regularly, but it had been stuck for a long time at about 75%. I went on a weekday just a couple days after it first opened and the parking lot was jammed (see picture). This reservoir was built to serve the North Texas and DFW area and is between Bonham and Paris. The launch site I used was off of Highway 897. The interesting thing about the lake is that since it just filled the adjacent wooded areas are all flooded; probably the tree trunks will be sticking out of the water for years just like they do in other lakes. Eventually the part of the tree above the water will decay and the stump will remain at about water level. But now, since the reservoir has filled so recently, you can actually paddle into the woods as it were, which is kind of cool. Note that at the time the above route map was made google satellite images were not up to date on the full pool boundaries. The trip route is based on phone pins and doesn’t cross land as it would seem from the map. So you have to see where you can go once you’re there or wait for a later satellite pass to take new images.
Above: 897 Bois d’Arc Launch. Lots of boats, including quite a few fishing kayaks, were there.
Above: Its possible to kayak into the woods.
Above: Just opened, and busy.
Above: Snake hiding out from spring rains that quickly elevated the water level.
