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D’Arbonne Bayou, Gills Ferry Launch, LA

This paddle route is just southwest of Farmerville, Louisiana off of Highway 151, and starts at the Gills Ferry Launch. From this point you can paddle into the bayou going west or paddle east up into Lake D’Arbonne itself. There is a $5 self pay fee if envelopes are available (they were not). As the red lines show, I went west along D’Arbonne Bayou, into a scenic lake that had some hydrilla issues but which was still fairly open, and up along the Middle Fork. This channel could be taken even further upstream but three trees had blocked the stream and I used that as an excuse to drink a Coke and turn around. In several other places trees had been chain sawed to clear the way, presumably for hunters or fishermen. I did see one small alligator in the water and the area feels ‘alligatory’ but it was late summer and pretty hot out and not the best time for alligator sightings. I did chat with a couple people in a motorboat who had taken the day to slowly cruise the bayou looking for gators (no success). The other branch of the route went south down to the Highway 151 turnaround, and then back up to Gills Ferry Launch. There were a couple of decent launch points along this stretch and I was told that the area upstream of 151 is worth a trip as well. For next time.

Above: Scenic lake at the junction of D’Arbonne Bayou and Middle Fork.

Above: I saw several nutria, here is one on the shore.

Above: Out of the boat for a bit.

Above: The Highway 151 bridge and turnaround.

Above: A couple deer along the Middle Fork D’Arbonne Bayou.

Above: Pretty Lake, some hydrilla but generally quite nice.