Joyce WMA, Akers Ramp, North Pass, Old US51
Kayak map route in the Joyce WMA area along North Pass just off Old US51 north of New Orleans. There are two launches, Akers Boat Ramp (west) and Akers Small Boat Ramp (east). A low bridge crossing the pass separates the two launches amd there is basically no traffic at this point between Maurepas and Ponchartrain. The plan was to head east and take every possible slough or inlet that entered North Pass, for instance T Bayou (shown on the map). This included those that were either in the Joyce WMA, allowed access to the WMA, or weren’t posted. A lot of the little inlets along the Pass were posted. Turnarounds were usually where things got clogged with hyacinth. The terrain here is low and grassy and almost at water level so, weirdly, you sometimes feel you are paddling on land. Saw nutria, otters, gators.
30.30897,-90.40536
Launch Site Google Maps Link
Above: The Akers Small Boat Launch. The low bridge to the left blocks most boat traffic.
Above: A one in a million day on North Pass, no wind at all.
Above: A lot of the land is like this.
Above: Break time. A cell phone tower is in the distance.
Above: New trees planted and protected from Nutria with plastic tubes.
Above: Another view of the surrounding land.