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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 old channel marked on the charts which shows it to
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We followed “Dean’s Route” in the spring of 2015; we entered the back channels on the morning of the first day, and reached Morgan City around noon on the 3rd day. Here is how it went: we paddled first down Jake’s Bayou, and then Bloody Bayou, which dead-ends
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The Atchafalaya River bounces through a series of riverbends in this 10-mile stretch, with extensive woods lining the river along the East Bank (left bank descending). If you need to stop for lunch or to make a camp, the left bank descending will be the more peaceful choice. The Morganza
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Coming into Bayou Point, entering the 4th bend of the squiggles, paddlers will find 2 small eddies along left bank descending around which small deposits of sand will collect in low and medium water levels. But the best sandbars, and hence the best camping and picnicking are found around the
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Between miles 13 and 20 the river meanders through four tight bends of the river around four points. Tow pilots call these “the squiggles.” For tow pilots pushing a heavy load it requires a good bit of maneuvering to get safely through the squiggles, especially in high water. Give tows
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There are a collection of covered picnic tables at the Simmesport River Park where paddlers could pull up (over the rip-rap) and make a picnic stop, or even camp overnight. Vehicle accessible. Located above a parking lot north of the Simmesport Boat Ramp. Just over the levee paddlers could find
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Railroad swing brideg with a very narrow opening for commercial traffic. There are two narrow openings for navigation under the railroad bridge, both are about 132 feet wide, which isn’t much for a towboat 2 barges wide, or 60 feet. The steady handed pilots must have to hit this
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A nice sandbar emerges at low/med water at the downstream side of the mouth of the Lower Old River Channel, opposite the Junction Three River Light. Excellent picnic site, especially after paddling through the stillwater canal. Stop here and celebrate your first view of the Red, the Atchafalaya, and