Red River, Arkansas, Hwy 160 I-49 Launch
Kayak paddle route trail map on the Red River in Arkansas, south of Texarkana. The launch is along Highway 160 which doesn’t intersect I-49 but can be accessed by taking an I-49 exit to the north or south. The location of the ramp is at the confluence of the Sulphur and Red Rivers. An earlier trip on the Sulphur reached this point and went back upstream. But this route explores the Red River itself, going upstream to reach turnaround point at the Miller County Road 8 bridge. The river was low with lots of sandbars, but even at 4500 cfs (Red River at Spring Bank) it was some work paddling upstream. At the launch an Arkansas Game and Fish Officer said the chance of seeing alligators was 100%. But unfortunately not today. Here the scenery is open and there is a lot of sky. A few powerboats were on the river; one mudboat got stuck in a shallow sandbar, so everybody got out to push.
33.08758,-93.85909
Launch Site Google Maps Link
Above: View from the boat ramp area looking north at the Highway 160 bridge.
Above: Some areas had dissolved organic carbon, or natural suds, floating.
Above: Lots of sandbars at this low level, convenient for a break.
Above: The expeditionary force.
Above: A piece of chocolate cake broke off. Very moist.
Above: The sand on these cliffs was pouring off into the water.
Above: The water surface shows there is a bit of current.