River Log section: Atchafalaya River
Atchafalaya River
144.2 RBD Amerada Pass Amerada Pass would be a good choice for paddlers to reach the Gulf, then turn around and camp at a designated Campground! The Atchafalaya Delta WMA maintains a boat-access only campground approximately one mile down Amerada Pass on Willow Island. You could paddle down, check
Atchafalaya River
144.2 RBD Willow Island Even though there are a few rough shell beaches at the top end of Willow Island (between Amerada Pass and Log Island Pass), Willow Island is restricted access only. Avoid camping here.
Atchafalaya River
142.2 LBD East Pass Although there are no landings at the end of you could paddle down and back. But this is not recommended. Try one of the other passes with beaches for the best conclusion of your expedition! East Pass flows past Roger Brown Island and leads to
Atchafalaya River
140.2 LBD Location Island Pass Location Island Pass is the first East Bank Pass option to the Gulf, and is short and sweet. You could paddle two miles down this pass and make a landing on the beautiful beaches of Plumb Island Point. Check route on Google Earth. If
Atchafalaya River
140.5 RBD Breaux’s Pass Your next passible route to the Gulf after the Shell Island Pass would be Breaux’s Pass. No camping here, but you could paddle down and turn around afterwards.
Atchafalaya River
140 LBD Deer Island Dry camping & picnicking can be found at all water levels up to flood stage on several short shell beaches with scrubby woods and marshes behind. Best beaches are found on a prominence jutting out from Deer Island left bank descending at mile 140. But don’
Atchafalaya River
139.1 LBD Small Shell Beach This small shell beach might be good at low or medium water levels for a dry landing.
Atchafalaya River
138.5 LBD Low Lying muddy/sandy Beach with Willows Good in low water conditions only. Check wind forecast and tide charts, and pull your vessel at least one foot above water level and tie it down. Set tents at least one foot above high tide level.
Atchafalaya River
137.8 RBD Shell Island Pass The Shell Island Pass is the very first possible western exit into the Gulf of Mexico off the main channel of the Atchafalaya, and begins at the base of Shell Island (which is indeed a pile of shells - at least here at the
Atchafalaya River
136 - 137 Sandy Marsh Island As you come around the new channel through the Avoca Island Bend you will notice a long sandy-marshy island with some short willows. This place offers dry spots for possible picnicking or camping up to flood stage 6 MCG, but check tide charts, and
Atchafalaya River
135-138 LBD New Navigation Channel around he Avoca Island Bend In case things seem confusing here, dear paddlers, please know that a new navigation channel has been made around the Avoca Island Bend which is not visible in the 2012 USACE charts. This new channel stays LBD instead of the
Atchafalaya River
135-136 LBD New Dike Wall A new dike wall (not visible in the 2012 USACE charts) has been build left bank descending parallel to the main channel from 135 to 136 LBD focusing the river water into the big southward bend here.