Neches River, Highway 294 Launch, up
Kayak paddle trail route map on the Neches River starting from Highway 294 a bit to the east of Palestine TX. There is no boat launch here, no ramp, just a rocky embankment. And its a party place, with trash and graffiti and remnants of old fires. A morning launch was fine, but maybe not on Saturday night. Since this is one of only a few Neches highway crossings, launching here is convenient to do this section of river. The route went upstream first, a bit of work but not too bad. The USGS gage here, Neches at Hwy 294, read 350 cfs. Time up to the turnaround was a bit under three hours, with a two hour return, for around 20 miles total. The scenery is classic Neches, orange brown yellow banks lined in some places with super tall pines, quiet and isolated. Saw beavers and coyotes this trip. There were quite a few downed trees but only a couple portages, most of the fallen trees could be avoided by going under or around. Nice stretch, should be national river.
Above: Launch site, not so pretty. The river is down a bit from top here.
Above: But soon we are here.
Above: Because the banks are high, most of the fallen trees had a space underneath to pass through.
Above: Winter sky on the Neches River.
Above: For this one the boat could go under but I had to go over the top.
Above: This is the turnaround take-a-break spot.
Above: Classic Neches, river and forest.
Below, what is it? A kind of vine attached to a log?
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