Lake Charles, LA area
More Ride Info (courtesy of Gerald Massey, gmassey@softdisk.com)I cannot say enough about this place, as I would do the same to some stranger to Big Cypress - Caddo Lake area. I know that I don't have the control to get or make you do anything but I implore you to consider this place and go to it. Since you ride the Caddo Lake & Big Cypress area so much I am thoroughly convinced in my mind you will not only enjoy the waters I am about to describe but you an also your friends will love it. They are Sam Houston Jones River, West Fork River, Indian Bayou, English Bayou, Calcasieu River North, and Calcasieu River South.
I can pin point a specific place to go to which is the Sam Houston Jones State Park at Moss Bluff, La.
Now, know that Moss Bluff is just a per say suburb of Lake Charles. I think I need to elaborate on Lake Charles at this point on the assumption that you know nothing about it. Lake Charles Is a large city., perhaps about the fifth largest in the state. It has many amenities. including Casino River boats, and beaches, there are several Parish [County] parks & campgrounds with good amenities.
I can get tied up in describing what is available for a whole bunch however, the idea is to tell you about the waters. First I would like to say that I personally have made several trips to this are and enjoyed them immensely each time I went and I will definitely be going back in the future.
Why this State Park? Well it is strategically located near the junction of several streams. First the park is located right on the Sam Houston Jones River. The Park is right next to a small but very neat Marina, Parasite Citgo Marina, with a small primitive camping area, good boat launch, fuel on the water, a continence store. Actually it is located on a tributary, Indian Bayou that is only about 300 yard off of the Sam Houston River. Now Indian Bayou is a great small serpentine, scenic stream that would be good for about a 45 minute ride,[round trip]. I simple loved it.
The Sam Houston Jones River is a stream about the size of Big Cypress Bayou. It is only about one mile west of the Park on the river to the junction of the West Fork of the Calcasieu River. You can ride up the West Fork River past Holobrok Park for about 8-9 water miles and it is a great ride. It is a relatively small serpentine stream. It is about a six mile ride south the junction of the Calcasieu River at Perkins Ferry. There is a good paved launch here but no amenities.
To take the choice of riding the Calcasieu River north [left] the distance is almost unlimited. There is good river riding north for about 45 water miles to near Kinder, La. At some point north of White Oak Park the river has a lot of per say loops that creates a maze for a lot of exploration riding. Take note that the Calcasieu River is a large river.
At Perkins Ferry a person could choose to continue on left past the Calcasieu River into English Bayou, a stream I dearly love. It starts out fairly large but gets quite small but not too small. I have ridden this stream for a distance of about nine miles, about 2-3 miles past I-10. A very beautiful serpentine stream.
The only place to get fuel on any of these streams is at Citgo Park Side Marina.
Next you get into the choice of taking the Calcasieu River south. You can go all the way to the Gulf this way if you choose. I took one ride south all the way to Prien Lake at the I-210 Loop past I-10, Lake Charles, the casino boats and the port of Lake Charles and all its ships, large ships. This is a distance of about 16 miles from the Sate Park to I-210. There is one item to contend with and that is a "Lock" the Salt water Barrier at 7.5 miles from the park. There is fuel at "Grout's Bayou Marina" just a few yards off of the river to the right [west]. It is only about 1 mile farther to I- 10.
Got a suggestion? Send it to
jetskier@earthling.net