Sulphur River, White Oak Creek WMA, 259 and WMA Launch near I-30
Out and back kayak paddle route trail map on the Sulphur River in the White Oak Creek WMA area, Texas. There are two launches near Interstate 30, the one to the east is in the WMA down a little side road off of 4507, the one to the west is along Highway 259. I first launched in the WMA and went up to the I-30 bridge but with all the log fall portages I was kind of sick of it. When I got back I decided I wasn’t kind of sick of it. So I drove over and launched a second time at Hwy 259 and paddled downstream over all the log fall portages to a point near I-30 where I decided I was kind of sick of it. The flow on the Sulphur River at the I-30 gage was less than 1 cfs, very shallow, a lot of log jams, and a lot of mud. These sections could probably be done more easily if the river was a foot or two higher but you get what you get. And there was lots to see, deer, fish, beavers, pigs, otters, so good workout and no complaints.
Above: The launch at the end of a rutted side road within the White Oak Creek WMA. Not really for trailered boats, all jumbly.
Above: View from atop the launch, low but looks paddleable.
Above: Shallow in sections. Very pretty in the early morning sun.
Above: Weave your way through.
Above: Near I-30, pushing through the slot to get closer.
Above: The I-30 bridge.
Above: The Highway 259 launch. The sides are lined with cockleburs, very sticky. Nobody here, after all what kind of idiot launches when the flow rate is only 1 cfs …. oh.
Above: While busy with this portage a beaver rushed out of the brush just a couple feet away. A big surprise to see this big brown burly thing barreling past me.
Above: The iphone tries to take a picture of three otters on the bank.
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