Trail Map PADDLING TRAIL COOK’s LAKE TO SCATTERMAN PADDLING TRAIL This 4.8-mile loop trail gives visitors a chance to paddle through the beautiful moss-draped cypress-tupelo slough in the biologically diverse Big Thicket National Preserve. It is also home to the Neches River Rally, a group paddling event held each September. GETTING THERE Access site: Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) Saltwater Barrier Boat Ramp 6790 Bigner Road Beaumont, TX (DD) 30.15523, -94.11588 From US Highway 69/96 in Beaumont take the Lucas Drive Exit and head east approximately one mile. Turn left heading North on Bigner Road and continue straight on Bigner Road until reaching the boat ramp in approximately 1.5 mile TRAIL DESCRIPTION & LANDMARKS WILDLIFE AND ECOLOGY The riparian corridor of the Neches River supports a Trail Length: 4.8 mile loop great diversity of plant and animal life along the river and Float Times: ~2- 5 hours Depending on wind speed, beyond the banks. Birds spotted here include: herons, water levels, and time spent exploring egrets, cormorants, barred owl, belted kingfisher, osprey, pileated woodpecker, prothonotary warbler, roseate The paddling trail takes paddlers from the LNVA Saltwater spoonbill, swallow-tailed kite, and wood duck. A variety Barrier Boat Ramp up the Neches River taking the left fork of plants can be found along the river as well, including to Pine Island Bayou and into Cook’s Lake. This looped bald cypress, black tupelo, loblolly pine, oaks, river birch, paddling trail gives paddlers a chance to paddle through ferns, cardinal flower, spider lilies, and Neches River rose a moss-draped cypress/tupelo slough in the biologically mallow. Common wildlife encountered include bullfrog, diverse Big Thicket National Preserve to Scatterman Lake leopard frog, opossum, red-eared slider, raccoon, river and back to the Neches River. The seemingly short trail can otter, American alligator, alligator snapping turtle, and a actually become an all-day adventure since Cook’s Lake and variety of water snakes. Scatterman Lake are abandoned river channels that have become oxbow lakes which are fun to explore. This trail is LNVA SALTWATER BOAT RAMP relatively flat and very close to sea level giving paddlers a The primary trail head is located at the LNVA Saltwater fairly easy paddle upstream; flow is generally quite low. Barrier. The Lower Neches River Authority operates and maintains the Barrier which was completed in 2003. The SHUTTLES & RENTALS public boat ramp, public restrooms, picnic area, walking Services offered: Kayak Rentals, Canoe Rentals, Shuttle trail, and stocked fishing ponds provides the public world Services, Maps, Paddles, Lifejackets, Guided or Self- class facilities as well as increased access to the Neches Guided Day Trips and Overnight Trips. Services will vary River and the Big Thicket National Preserve. with each outfitter. Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor’s Center • Big Thicket Outfitters 115 Connolly Road, Vidor, TX (409) 951-6700 77662 (409) 786-1884; bigthicketoutfitters.com www.nps.gov/bith/index.htm • Eastex Canoe Trails/Eastex Outfitters 50 Turtle Creek Dr., Silsbee, TX 77656 (409) 385-4700; Big Thicket Association/Neches River Adventures eastexcanoes.com (Eco Tours on-board the Ivory Bill) • Sharp’s Canoe & Kayak Rentals 8632 Billy’s Drive, (409) 651- 5326 Silsbee, TX 77656 (409) 385-6241 www.bigthicket.org • Shawl Canoe School Mary Carter; (409) 791-0040 FISHING The river and oxbow lakes support black (largemouth and spotted) bass. A favorite fish eaten by locals is catfish and blue, flathead (also called yellow), and channel catfish are present. This system supports a variety of sunfish, including bluegill, green, and longear sunfish. Spotted, alligator, and long-nose gar all inhabit these waters. Small lures such as jigs, plastic worms, spinner baits and light- line are recommended. 21 Trail Map PADDLING TRAIL • TRAILS • 22 Trail Map Legend ^_ Start/Finish ! Mile Marker !³ Convenience Store ® ÅB PADDLING TRAIL Route • TRAILS • Trail Length: 8.6 Miles Waterwww.beaumontcvb.com Access Locations: Village Creek - FM 418 to SH 327 1.) FM 418 - Latitude 30°23’52.09”N Village Creek 1-Paddling Route Longitude 94°15’52.76”W Directions: From Kountze on US 69, FM 418 to SH 327 take FM 418 East for approximately 3.2 miles to Village Creek; turn right onto launch site road before crossing !. 1122 the bridge. www.visitportarthurtx.com 418 92 From Silsbee on Business 96, take FM 418 West for approximately 6.9 418 Silsbee, TX miles to Village Creek; turn left onto launch site road after crossing the bridge. 327 !. Texa s .! 2.) SH 327 - Latitude 30°20’49.30”N Kountze, TX BUS Longitude 94°14’20.58”W 96 418 Directions: From Kountze on US 69, 96 take SH 327 East for approximately 2.1 miles to Village Creek; turn right 69 onto launch site road before crossing the bridge. Lumberton, TX !1 From Silsbee on Business 96, take SH 327 West for approximately 3.6 Trail Length: 8.6 Milesmiles to Village Creek; turn left onto launch site road after crossing the Water Access Locations: Village Creek - FM 418 to SH 327 1.) FM 418 - Latitudebridge. 30°23’52.09”N Longitude 94°15’52.76”W Directions: From TrailKountze Length: on US 69, 8.6 Miles take FM 418 East for approximately 1122 3.2 miles to Village Creek; turn right !. onto launch site road before crossing !. 1122 the bridge. Water Access Locations: 418 418 92 1.) FM 418 - Latitude 30°23’52.09”N 92 !2 From Silsbee on Business 96, take FM 418 West for approximately 6.9 Longitude 94°15’52.76”W 418 Silsbee, TX miles to Village Creek; turn left onto launch site road after crossing the 418 Silsbee, TX bridge. Directions: From Kountze on US 69, 327 !. Texa s 2.) SH 327 - Latitudetake 30°20’49.30”N FM 418 East for approximatelyKountze, TX Longitude 94°14’20.58”W BUS 3.2 miles to Village Creek; turn right 96 Directions: From Kountze on US 69, 327 onto launch site road before crossing 96 Texa s take SH 327 East for approximately Kountze, TX !. 2.1 miles to Villagethe Creek; bridge. turn right 69 onto launch site road before crossing BUS the bridge. Lumberton, TX 96 From Silsbee on FromBusiness 96,Silsbee take on Business 96, take SH 327 West for FMapproximately 418 West 3.6 for approximately 6.9 !3 miles to Village Creek; turn left onto 96 launch site road aftermiles cros singto theVillage Creek; turn left onto 69 bridge. launch site road after crossing the Trail Length: 8.6 Miles bridge. !. 1122 Water Access Locations: 418 Lumberton, TX 92 1.) FM 418 - Latitude 30°23’52.09”N Longitude2.) SH94°15’52.76”W 327 - Latitude 30°20’49.30”N 418 Silsbee, TX Directions: From Kountze on US 69, Longitude 94°14’20.58”W take FM 418 East for approximately 3.2 miles to Village Creek; turn right 327 onto launch site roadDirections: before crossing From KountzeKountze, TX on US 69, !. Texa s the bridge. BUS take SH 327 East for approximately 96 From Silsbee on Business2.1 miles 96, take to Village Creek; turn right FM 418 West for approximately 6.9 96 miles to Village Creek; turn left onto onto launch site road before crossing 69 launch site road after crossing the !4 bridge. the bridge. Lumberton, TX 2.) SH 327 - Latitude 30°20’49.30”N N LongitudeFrom 94°14’20.58”W Silsbee on Business 96, take Directions: From KountzeSH 327 on US West 69, for approximately 3.6 take SH 327 East for approximately 2.1 miles to Villagemiles Creek; turnto rightVillage Creek; turn left onto W E onto launch site road before crossing the bridge. launch site road after crossing the bridge. From Silsbee on Business 96, take SH 327 West for approximately 3.6 S miles to Village Creek; turn left onto launch site road after crossing the !5 bridge. Trail Length: 8.6 Miles 0 0.25 0.5 1 Legend Legend Legend Legend Water Access Locations: Village Creek - FM 418 to SH 327 ! 1.) FM 418 - Latitude 30°23’52.09”N Miles . Access Point .! Access Point.! Access Point .! Access Point Longitude 94°15’52.76”W ! Mile Marker ! ! Mile Marker ® River Stretch Mile Marker River Stretch ! Mile Marker Directions: From Kountze on US 69, !6 take FM 418 East for approximately Road Road 3.2 miles to Village Creek; turn right ® River Stretch River Stretch onto launch site road before crossing !. 1122 Big Thicket National Preserve Boundary Big Thicket National Preserve Boundary the bridge. Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary 418 ! 92 7 ® Road Road From Silsbee on Business 96, take FM 418 West for approximately 6.9 418 Silsbee, TX Big Thicket National Preserve Boundary Big Thicket National Preserve Boundary miles to Village Creek; turn left onto launch site road after crossing the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary bridge. Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary 327 !. Texa s ® 2.) SH 327 - Latitude 30°20’49.30”N Kountze, TX BUS Longitude 94°14’20.58”W 96 !8 327 Directions: From Kountze on US 69, Texas 96 take SH 327 East for approximately 2.1 miles to Village Creek; turn right 69 onto launch site road before crossing .! the bridge. Lumberton, TX From Silsbee on Business 96, take SH 327 West for approximately 3.6 miles to Village Creek; turn left onto 23 launch site road after crossing the bridge. 0 0.25 0.5 1 Trail Length: 8.6 Miles !. 1122 Water Access Locations: 418 92 1.) FM 418 - Latitude 30°23’52.09”N Miles Longitude 94°15’52.76”W 418 Silsbee, TX Directions: From Kountze on US 69, take FM 418 East for approximately 3.2 miles to Village Creek; turn right 327 onto launch site road before crossing Kountze, TX !.