Lake Martin
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 3.63 nm
- Elevation gain
- 472 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 472 ft
- Max elevation
- 12 ft
- TrailRank
- 50
- Min elevation
- -40 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- one hour 30 minutes
- Time
- 3 hours 18 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1165
- Uploaded
- December 27, 2023
- Recorded
- December 2023
near Ruth, Louisiana (United States)
Viewed 27 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
What does one do when you have a couple hours free, mild winter weather, no rain, and a paddler, why Lake Martin of course!
For a change we launched at the kayak launch located at the north end of Rookery Rd. No launch fee, limited parking and no restrooms. Launch was constructed by Lafayette Paddle Club, so don't let the sign fool you. Launching boats was no brainer. We then headed north, completetly encircling the lake. I cannot recall the last time we paddled that route, if ever as we usually launch at the boat launch ramp and head directly towards the rookery.
Duck hunting is allowed on the lake, so be mindful of that fact. As such there are several duck blinds worth viewing. As an old duck hunter, the "dressing" of some of these blinds, required to blend in the surrounding landscape is par excellence.
While there is not much color this time of year, the Spanish Moss was spectacular. Grey beards everywhere. As we don't get a chance to paddling within the rookery, most of the year, this itme of the year allows you accessonly limited by your paddling ability and weed/grass blockage. In one section we were able to get in further than ever before thanks to tour boats chopping up the vegetation. Don't let Google Maps images fool you into thinking that some of those channels are clear water! The salvinia was manageable, but silted in patches of grass stopped us in our tracks. The water level was lower than past paddles, so new sights were found.
Saw all kinds of birds, but no Whistling Ducks. Where did they go?
Can't go wrong with Lake Martin for a qucik, easy, sight filled paddle.
For a change we launched at the kayak launch located at the north end of Rookery Rd. No launch fee, limited parking and no restrooms. Launch was constructed by Lafayette Paddle Club, so don't let the sign fool you. Launching boats was no brainer. We then headed north, completetly encircling the lake. I cannot recall the last time we paddled that route, if ever as we usually launch at the boat launch ramp and head directly towards the rookery.
Duck hunting is allowed on the lake, so be mindful of that fact. As such there are several duck blinds worth viewing. As an old duck hunter, the "dressing" of some of these blinds, required to blend in the surrounding landscape is par excellence.
While there is not much color this time of year, the Spanish Moss was spectacular. Grey beards everywhere. As we don't get a chance to paddling within the rookery, most of the year, this itme of the year allows you accessonly limited by your paddling ability and weed/grass blockage. In one section we were able to get in further than ever before thanks to tour boats chopping up the vegetation. Don't let Google Maps images fool you into thinking that some of those channels are clear water! The salvinia was manageable, but silted in patches of grass stopped us in our tracks. The water level was lower than past paddles, so new sights were found.
Saw all kinds of birds, but no Whistling Ducks. Where did they go?
Can't go wrong with Lake Martin for a qucik, easy, sight filled paddle.
Waypoints
Photo
-98 ft
Birding spot
Information point
Comments (2)
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Looks like ya'll grabbed the only non cloud day...good for ya'll.
Very pleasant south Louisiana winter day!