Felsenthal NWR, Beer Joint Access, Arkansas D
The Beer Joint Access in the Felsenthal NWR is a fairly active motor boat launch just to the north of Highway 82, immediately to the west of the Ouachita River bridge. However, it is easy to launch a canoe or kayak here as well. Primitive camping is also allowed but it’s not very private, the Shallow Lake area is better. The route in the map above went north into the open lake, then northeast into the swamp. The lake is pretty but rather shallow and near the shore you are really chopping mud to make progress. And there are a lot of cypress stumps and logs to hit. Beyond the lake, the route to the northeast is impressive, the channel is clear and you navigate around many big cypress with their knees, very quiet and majestic. Better than I had hoped. But going even further north/northwest the channels fill with shrubs, buttonbush, etc. For a mile or two the paddling was rough work–the boat had to basically be pushed through the branches and underbrush. A picture or two below kind of shows the idea. It’s another one of those cases where the satellite map depicts water channels that, in reality, are so shallow or clogged with brush you have to adapt or reroute. Still an excellent paddle.
Above: Pushing through the brush.
Above: More brush to get through.
Above: Raccoon
www.SawdustRiver.com 