Felsenthal NWR, Pine Island Launch, Arkansas C

Kayak Map Route Felsenthal NWR Arkansas www.SawdustRiver.com

The Pine Island Launch in the Felsenthal NWR is down a long gravel road that runs south off of Highway 82, just east of the Ouachita River bridge. This is a more remote launch and less people use it compared to some of the others. The route hugged the east side of the lake very closely. As a result it was hidden and shaded among the trees and away from the open channel a bit to the west. At about the point of the Felsenthal Lock and Dam I turned north and followed a clear channel you can see weaving back and forth on the satellite map (not the Ouachita itself though). A lot of the surrounding open water was covered with surface vegetation, especially lotus, making it inaccessible. At some point the route heads back east because progress in the lilies and alligator weed was too difficult, and several ‘give-up’ turnarounds occurred. I then followed a clear channel up into the northeasterly lake, made a loop, and headed back. This path is very pretty with decent sized cypress and the destination lake is remote and idyllic. Paddling into the lake was tight though with alligator weed on each side. Nice paddle!