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Sabine Island WMA D, Old River, Cross Bayou

This paddle route was one I had hoped to do on an earlier trip to Sabine Island WMA but the current on Old River was a bit too fast at that time. This time however the flow in the Old River, which is on the east side of Sabine Island, was suitable and it was easy to paddle up north (Sabine at Ruliff about 1050 cfs). The plan was to then take Cross Bayou across the island and connect on the west side with the Sabine River. Google maps images showed this might involve a short portage at the end because the channels going across don’t connect cleanly, so that was expected. Which was fine. But, turns out the water in the interior channels of the island was really low, and while I could take Cross Bayou a ways in, things quickly began to dry up, as the pictures below will show. What to do…turn around or keep going? It’s pretty hard to turn around, especially when you think of going over all the same log falls, the same portages, a second time. So, forward. This turned out to be close to a mile boat drag through heavy brush, vines, woods, fallen trees, and mud (shown by the yellow and dotted yellow lines in the map). But I figured the outcome is certain–hit the Sabine River and just paddle up, around, and back down to Nibletts. Turns out the Sabine was also a bit low, with shallow sand bars where the boat needed to be pulled up through. And so I was happy to reach the northern junction where the Sabine and Old RIver split, because from that point it’s an easy paddle back down to Niblett’s Bluff! All’s well that ends well, an interesting day.

Above: Launch at Niblett’s Bluff Park. Requires LA self-permits if going into the WMA.

Above: Nice image along the shore of Old River.

Above: Hmmm. Water is running shallow pretty soon into the Cross Bayou. Lots of log jams. Hmmm. Hmmm.

Above: Interior channel in Sabine Island, not much water.

Above: Yeah, great.

Above: You got yourself here, get yourself out.

Above: Shallow sand bars along Sabine River on the west side of the island. Mighty pretty day!

Above: Stopping for a break. The sandbars themselves are firm and shallow but they can drop off steeply to one side. I got out on the wrong side of one and was IN.