Mile 200.0 LBD — 197 RBD Bayou Goula Crossing

John Ruskey

26 Apr 2026 � 1 min read

Downstream freighters and big tows all follow the line of this crossing, from deep within St. Gabriel Bend, staying with the swift waters down along the East Bank and then gradually crossing over above the shallows of Bayou Goula Island to West Bank and dropping again into deeper and swifter waters beyond around Bayou Goula Bend. paddlers: be aware that upstream freighters and tows will stay in the slow water West Bank below Point Pleasant, as long and as far as they can find enough depth, and then jump out around Point Pleasant at the last possible minute to plow through the faster waters beyond. This is a typical pattern for all commercial traffic, especially bigger vessels. If you are approaching Point Pleasant from above be extra cautious about the possible approach of big upstream vessels coming around these blind corners.

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