Denton Creek, McInnish Park, Carrollton
The above kayak route map (click on map to enlarge) shows an out and back on Denton Creek starting at the McInnish Park Launch in Carrollton Texas. The idea was to paddle upstream to the dam at Lake Grapevine, then paddle back. The creek winds in and around some large homes which is kind of interesting, and near Grapevine there is plane after plane coming in from the north preparing for landing at DFW airport. It’s definitely an urban float. Complications to the route are possible log jams that must be portaged, and there is a wide section of river about the half way point that can be a bit shallow (and sometimes too shallow). Towards the end of the wide section, in the upstream direction, is a low spillway (edit; the spillway is now a larger stone barrier; you can instead try to paddle a bypass channel that goes around this, as well as a second bypass just upstream). But… the bypass channels are new, and narrow, and are lined with trees. Although clear at present, flooding of these little corridors will likely result in fallen trees, probably blocking them both. And so pulling the boat straight up instead of taking the bypasses might be better. Note also there is a pipe a mile or so upstream of the launch that you have to go under or around depending on the water level; for this trip I went under (~80 cfs is fine e.g.). The last bit just before the dam is riffles and I had to pull the boat up this stretch to actually reach the golf course bridge and the ‘Restricted Area’ sign. Pretty nice paddle, and an interesting alternative to the usual McInnish-Elm Fork route. And more calm in windy conditions than the Elm Fork.
Above: This section of the creek has lots of willow trees.
Above: Early morning, fall paddle.
Above: This was a portage on the way upstream. Here I pulled the boat around the logs. Coming back I went directly through the logs… and got the boat stuck pretty good, which took a bit of pushing and pulling to get it free.
Above: Turnaround point. Golf course bridge with Restricted Area sign and view of the Grapevine Dam and outlet into Denton Creek.
Above: Some small riffles coming back!
Above: Another short portage.
Above: A view of the area where the creek widens out and gets a bit shallow.
