Trip Report: Armand and Horsepen Bayous July 5, 2025
An eager group of 11 paddlers met on the morning of July 5 to paddle Armand and Horsepen Bayous. Everyone showed up early as we were eager to beat the heat, which we did most successfully.
Joe Coker took this photo of our group:
We were away from the boat ramp in Bay Area Park by 9:15 and paddled a round trip total of 6 miles. The water was quite high.
We paddled south and east to the mouth of Horsepen Bayou. My gps is currently AWOL so I’ve recreated somewhat of our path on the official map of this Coastal Paddling Trail from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The map of the entire paddle trail is at:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/boating/paddling-trails/gulf-coast/armand-bayou/
Here’s my best approximation:
Here we are entering Horsepen Bayou, portions of which are known as “alligator alley” but alas it was so warm that day, the gators were not much in evidence.
There were many wildflowers in bloom. Pink morning glories were everywhere and at selected places upstream another non-native invasive, Mexican ruellia, bloomed in blue and pink. Here is Joe admiring one of those stands:
My camera pointed to several of our natives:
Palo Verde, a small tree
Swamp or crinum lily
Trumpet vine
Beyond the flowering stage, elderberries are setting their berries, green at this stage but purple at maturity. Note the invasive elephant ear behind the elderberries. They seemed less prominent this time than on previous trips. Maybe the freeze got some of them?
We tried in vain to find a place I call “the clear spring”. This was one of the “likely” places but we never could find the location.
We paddled as far as the Middlebrook bridge at the University of Houston Clear Lake campus and turned around to head back. It was a very pleasant day on the water and we enjoyed a meal together afterward at Miller’s Café, home of the “almost famous”, but very tasty burger.
Paddlers Joe Coker and Jeff Ortiz have posted more extensive photos of our trip on the Houston Canoe Club “photos” page. It was a lovely day on the water.
Natalie Wiest
Trip Coordinator