Neches River, NWR, Hwy 79 Launch, down

Kayak paddle route trail map Neches River, NWR, Hwy 79 Launch, going down, www.SawdustRiver.com

Kayak paddle trail route map on the Neches River, starting at the Highway 79 Launch near the Neches River NWR. Another trip started at this launch and went upstream first; this one goes downstream first, then back upstream to the launch. The time down was an hour and a half. With the slight current that meant a two hour return. The Neches River nr Neches USGS website was about 110 cfs, similar to the upstream trip. The feeling of this region is nicer–more woodsy and isolated–than the upstream region, perhaps because the river borders the Neches River NWR. There was a lot of logs and brush to avoid in the river but only two get-out-of-the-boat portages. The plan was to go a mile or two further than the turnaround shown on the map, but there was a low water dam that I had not expected. Rather than portage this and go further it seemed convenient to call this spillway as the turnaround point. Turns out the spillway launch can be accessed off of Hwy 79 by taking roads 354 and 3542. This spot could provide a launch or takeout point roughly halfway between Highway 79 and Highway 84. I drove down there to check it out after completing the paddle. The last hundred yards of road before the river is pretty rough and would require a suitable vehicle. The day I did this paddle the refuge was closed for a special permit/lottery/draw type hunt. And when I returned to the Highway 79 launch I was examined?/quizzed? by a NWR Ranger who was looking for folks who were on the refuge hunting without authorization. As I understand, paddling the river is separate from activities on the refuge itself. Not much wildlife this time but terrific fall scenery. One snapping turtle though, which is pretty cool.