As part of the preparations for a future American Canoe Association flatwater kayaking class, Susan Eda was on the lookout for a good spot where students could fulfill the requirement that they complete a day trip of at least five miles. Having decided that the ideal location would: (1) be convenient to reach from the west side of Houston, (2) offer an easy launch from the bank, and (3) provide shelter from possible wind, she thought of the San Bernard River. So, five of us met up at Bates Allen Park for a socially distanced paddle on Sunday, May 10. Our Mother’s Day mission would be to plan for the required five mile trip, taking into consideration various conditions that might be encountered.
Due to the depth of the channel here, and to the presence of a large logjam that slows the release of water downstream, paddling conditions to the south of the park are generally quite reliable. This would allow for a trip of 0.8 miles in each direction, with options for fitting in as much as an extra 0.6 miles by exploring one or two of the side channels (marked on the map below as the “Western Channel” and “Eastern Trib”).
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| Western channel entrance |
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Eastern trib entrance |
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Downstream logjam |
Setting aside the possibility of making a portage, travel to the north of the park is currently limited by the presence of a logjam at the 1.8 mile point. Half way up to that logjam, the route leads under two bridges for US Hwy 59 and one for the Texas Mexican Railway’s “Macaroni Line”. When the water level is low, travel upstream can be limited by a rocky spot immediately south of the railroad bridge. So, depending on the river stage, the upstream loop from the park could be 3.6 miles or only 1.8 miles.
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| Bridges |
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Rocky spot |
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Upstream logjam |
Taken together, these observations can be used to plan paddling trips of the required length under most water conditions.
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| Planning Map |
But no trip here is complete without also observing the great natural beauty. For historical reasons, some of the cypress trees here were never logged, and tree ring analysis has shown that some of them are at least 1200 years old. We enjoyed a stop at the 0.4 mile mark on the downstream side of the park to admire what is believed by some to be the largest bald cypress tree in Texas. The side channels are also wonderful. And to the north of US Hwy 59, lotus plants were coming into bloom. We heard the calls of barred owls and saw evidence that beavers had been gnawing on trees, but we’ll just have to come back again in hopes of catching a glimpse of these creatures.
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| Susan & Pat |
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Bryan |
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Linda at big tree |
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Tom |
Motto for the day: “Come for the miles, stay for the smiles.”
Thanks to Linda Shead and Tom Douglas for the photos that appear in this article.
Trip Stats
Put-In/Take-Out: Bates Allen Park (A Fort Bend County Park)
Paddling Miles: 6.3
River Stage Data from: USGS 08117500 San Bernard River near Boling, TX
37.0 cfs
2.95 feet
Weather as Reported at: KTXEASTB5 in East Bernard, TX
Temperature: 75˚ at Noon
Wind: 0-11 mph from the NNE (avg. 2 mph)
Precipitation: None