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Put-in
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Plum Park, TX (Between Smithville and La Grange)
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Take-out
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Buffalo Trail Park, La Grange, TX
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Fees or Permits
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There is a $5 per person charge at Plum Park (LCRA)- $2 for over 65
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Gage
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Flow rate was 500 cfs, gauge height was 2.75 feet on the USGS La Grange Gauge, 08160400
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Temperature
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45 deg F at the start, increased to roughly 78 deg F in the afternoon
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Sky
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Mostly sunny and pleasant
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Precipitation
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none
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Wind
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Still at the start with a maximum of under 10 mph later in the day- Nice!
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Coordinator
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Bruce Bodson
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Participants
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David Portz, Dan Massingill, Karen Suggs, Monica Gries, Doug Fairchild
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Shuttle
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Self-Shuttle
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Craft
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5 kayaks, 1 canoe
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River Miles
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19.03
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Road Miles
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Approximately 105 miles to Buffalo Trail
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Photos
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Plum Park to LaGrange, Colorado RIver, March 19, 2022
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This section of the Colorado is the section between Checkpoint 2 and 3 on the old 100-mile format, or between checkpoint 2 and the finish on the 100 K format. It is a truly lovely section of the river with lots of clear, gravel bottomed flat sections; plus, Buffalo Wallow Rapids at about mile 6.5 and the La Grange rock garden rapid at about mile 16.5. Since this is blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) spawning season, we had the benefit of some regular water releases from the dams upstream. This is part of an agreement between USFWS and LACRA to try and avoid the necessity of listing the species.
We met at Buffalo Trail Park, at Business 71 and the river and verified that the boat ramp was open. This is a nice concrete ramp, which makes for easy take out. From there we shuttled up to Plum Park for the launch. As with the week before, the cobble bar at Plum Park was accessible to vehicles so the amount of boat carrying to get in the river, was minimal.
Photo by Bruce Bodson: Monica, David and Dog at the launch
Photo by Bruce Bodson: Dan and token canoe at Plum Park
After the launch we had a relatively flat and peaceful river for 6.5 miles. At roughly the 6.5-mile mark we encountered Buffalo Wallow Rapid, a savage class 1 or less and the only named rapid on the route.
Buffalo Wallow Rapid is formed by a limestone sill that crosses the river, and a nice assortment of outcrops and loose rocks below that. It’s about 250 yards total of bumpy water. This trip, the major hazard in the rapid was in failing to find a deep route through and sticking for a moment on the rocks. Most of our group bumped bottom at least occasionally trying to get through, but there were no upsets.
Photo by Bruce Bodson: Dan, Doug, and Monica in the bottom of Buffalo Wallow Rapid
We went roughly three miles below Buffalo Wallow Rapid and took a lunch break near “Halfway Bluff”; a large bluff on river left. Our actual stop was on a gravel island in mid channel.
Photo by Bruce Bodson: David Portz rock picking at the lunch stop
Photo by Doug Fairchild: The lunch island
After lunch we made the last roughly ten miles without any additional stops. Most of this section was smooth flowing with a few shallow sand and gravel bars, until the La Grange Rock Garden.
Photo by Doug Fairchild: Flat stretch of the Colorado, above La Grange
The rock garden is an unnamed rapid of sub-class 1 difficulty. It does, however, require a bit of boat handling skill to avoid hitting rocks or grounding out on the eroded limestone fins that run parallel to the channel. Often, it is more difficult to navigate than Buffalo Wallow.
Photo by Bruce Bodson: Karen in the Rock Garden
Photo by Bruce Bodson: Dan in the Rock Garden
As noted at the beginning of this report, the takeout at Buffalo Trail Park in La Grange is a nice concrete boat ramp, with only a short carry up to the parking area. The business 71 bridge is currently under construction, so the access to the park and launch is a bit obstructed, but it is still open, at least on weekends.
Photo by Bruce Bodson: David and Karen at the takeout
As far as birds went, it was much like the week before, but there was evidence of accelerating migration. We saw the same selection of raptors including one two adult bald eagles, red-tailed –hawks, red-shouldered hawks, coopers hawk, crested caracara, American kestrel, and both vultures. There were far more shorebirds. There were flocks of greater yellowlegs, killdeer, and spotted sandpipers, as well as a smattering of least sandpipers, one lesser yellowlegs, and a solitary solitary sandpiper. There were lots of belted kingfishers (probably 25 or more), neotropic and double-crested cormorants, wood ducks, a few blue-winged teal and a couple of anhingas.
It was a very nice day on a very nice piece of river, and a far gentler experience than fighting the wind the week before.