www.SawdustRiver.com

Sequoyah NWR, Oklahoma B

Kayak paddle route trail map at the Sequoyah NWR in east-central Oklahoma, just south of I-40 and west of Checotah. This route is a second trip here but (since hunting season was over) it launches at the Moody Boat Ramp and explores the east side of the refuge. And, as it’s later in the year, everything has greened up compared to the earlier winter trip. Very few people were here on a weekday and the boat ramp was completely empty. The route explores the shoreline and a bunch of little islands, making its way over to the Little Vian Creek before heading back to the launch. Further south is the Arkansas River but I didn’t go down that far on this trip. In the distance you can see the Ouachita mountains rise on the horizon. Lots of lily pads, very reedy, saw pelicans, blackbirds, Canadian geese, two Bald Eagles, a variety of Otherbirds, as well as a bunch of beaver lodges. Sunny day, breezy, great paddle (and swim) before heading back to Dallas.

Above: Moody Boat Ramp launch site.

Above: Lots of lily pads on this paddle.

Above: Saw five or six of these very large beaver lodges but no beavers.

Above: Up the Little Vian Creek a ways.

Above: Beaver lodge hiding back in the reeds.