Steinhagen, Martin Dies State Park A
Steinhagen. One of the best places to paddle in Texas. The trips in this section have been labeled A, B, C…etc., there is a lot to explore. There are several TPWD/State Park trails as well. The map above is divided into two sections. The inset at the lower right shows the Martin Dies State Park Boat launch and path that gets up to where the Angelina River (on the right) and the Neches River (on the left) meet. The yellow line connects the end of this first inset map with the start of the main map. The Neches River is the muddy side and the Angelina River is the clear side. Where the two rivers meet is where you can enter the swamp. This in-between area is filled with little channels, sloughs, branches, lakes, some continuous, some dead-end, but all of which can be explored, depending on blockages by invasive aquatics. It’s possible to go pretty far north into the swamp following a channel (marked in red) that is usually pretty clear and which may even have a bit of current to it. From the northernmost turnaround point (yellow dot) you can head back the same way and return to the state park. The map also shows an alternate return that involves a portage from east to west at the narrowest spot (the red dots in the map). This was a hard portage, loggy and brushy with several water-filled gullies to cross. And I missed the tip of the sideways U where I wanted to hit the Neches. And I had a headache. Finally, by staying on the Angelina River and paddling upstream you can reach the Bevilport launch (which is the start of a TPWD trail). This is ok too but all flatwater paddling and less interesting than the swamp.
30.86252,-94.18278
Launch Site Google Maps Link
Above: Winter scene at Steinghagen.
Above: Palmettos.
Above: Keeping track of where I am, hopefully.
