Mercer Bayou, Sulphur River WMA, Texarkana, Arkansas A
Kayak paddle route map in the Mercer Bayou, located within the Sulphur River WMA just south of Texarkana, Arkansas. Many lost rivers, old rivers, side channels which look ok by satellite are enclosed and inaccessible, or dry, or shallow, or only filled periodically. But Mercer Bayou, an old channel of the nearby Sulphur River, is supposedly good all year, and it’s listed as a paddling water trail on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website. This trip, done late summer, means the water was a bit low; there is a crude level gage at the launch and it read about two or three inches below the fourth rung down from the top. But this was fine for paddling the main channel and some of the side channels. Lots of lily pads, which sometimes act as a sudden friction brake on the boat. Saw a decent sized alligator, maybe 6 foot, but much of the shoreline along the bayou is blocked by vegetation making it harder to see them sunning.
33.22593,-93.98791
Launch Site Google Maps Link
Above: The Mercer Bayou Boat Ramp (number 1). This is the main access at the end of 151. The route above goes down to boat ramp number 2. But there was no obvious access from ramp 2 into the main Mercer Bayou channel (other than a portage) so the route goes back the same way. There are two more ramps further south.
Above: Side channels were narrow and lined with lilies and lotus.
Above: Pushing through, looks mushy but fine paddling.
Above: On the main channel from the boat ramp to the bayou.
