The Best Kayak/Canoe Trails in Louisiana (United States)

Mittie - Stanley

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

with

Distance

19.18nm

Elevation +

9268f

TrailRank

40

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A great paddle on a beautiful river. We caught it on the perfect weekend, the weather was great and we had the river to ourselves. We had 9 paddlers Saturday, three campers and were joined by 5 others for Sunday. A good ...

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Upper Atchafalaya

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

66.33nm

Elevation +

23f

TrailRank

40

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Three Rivers to Butte La Rose. Three day trip under really good conditions following the passage of a spring cold front. The river was just below 30" at the Simmesport gauge which gave us a pretty good current and north ...

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Hardwater Lake

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

4.19nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

38

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Nice, heavily wooded, shady paddle. Launch is really easy for kayaks. Shore is somewhat sandy and there is plenty of room away from concrete boat ramp. Fairly litter free. Plenty of parking, but no restroom facilities. H...

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Lake Fausse Pointe State Park

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

4.64nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

37

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Nice, easy, slow paddle with a couple of caveats. Most of this paddle is in abandoned oil field canals, so paddling is straight with little to no winding banks or shade. Nice scenery though. As long as you stay in the ma...

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Ouiska(Whiskey) Chitto Creek - Hwy. 377 to Hwy. 26

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

9.25nm

Elevation +

0f

TrailRank

37

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Hwy. 26 river gauge level at 4.4' made this paddle doable. Any lower and a lot of time would be spent dealing with downed trees across creek. Put in at Hwy. 377 was easy, all though slippery. Just ask my paddle buddy as ...

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Calcasieu River - Hineston to Strothers Landing

Kayak\/Canoe

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Chicotgal

with

Distance

7.08nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

36

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Both launch site and take out were very accessible. This section needs to be done only when water is at 12'/just at flood stage. Smaller sit-in kayaks highly recommended. The current was swift and there were many fallen ...

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Osprey Cove/Atchafalaya Southern Flats

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

6.30nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

36

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Nice, easy Atchafalaya Basin paddle. Launched from Bayou Benoit Landing, which is a free, large boat launch with a floating dock and two boat ramps. Parking is plentiful. No restroom facilities. Launched near the souther...

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Whisky Chitto; Mittie - Stanley

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

18.75nm

Elevation +

253f

TrailRank

35

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Put in at La 26 east of Mittie down to US 190 just west of Kinder. The upper section from Mittie to Carpenters Bridge is heavily used by outfitter guides through the spring and summer. I'd avoid tourist season! Really an...

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Calcasieu River; Oberlin - Stanley

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

17.21nm

Elevation +

164f

TrailRank

35

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Another great paddle on the Calcasieu. Like others before, this section requires high water. Numerous downed trees and sandbars would make for a very long day and lots of portages in low water conditions. The river gauge...

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Bayou Sara - St. Francisville, LA

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

4.91nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

35

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Lafayette Paddle Club members and friends put in at low water crossing bridge on Tunica St. Muddy in some spots getting from road to river edge, but not a problem. Water level was fairly low, but with a good current unti...

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Voyage to Butte Larose

Kayak\/Canoe

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Adam89

with

Distance

8.69nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

35

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South Louisiana Kayak Adventures created this trip from Henderson Louisiana to the boat launch in Butte Larose. Just under 9 miles and 5.5 hrs in the water. There were 4 kayaks with us on this trip. It was a hot day but ...

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Atchafalaya Basin

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

3.94nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

34

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Launched out of Kern's Landing for a nominal fee of $2 per kayak/canoe. Self service fee box in use. No specific canoe/kayak launch, but ground gently sloped right down to the water. Little muddy, but not too bad. If you...

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Iatt Lake

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

9.19nm

Elevation +

49f

TrailRank

34

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From the Forest Service boat ramp at the Observation Point to the South landing. We had been warned that aquatic vegetation would be an problem (and it was) but after our aborted start from the LA 122 bridge, Mike and I ...

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Lake Bigeux

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

7.43nm

Elevation +

20f

TrailRank

33

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In the heart of the basin! Great paddle on a beautiful spring morning. We traveled a fair long ways under the interstate, just because we could. I don't really recommend it. It is hard to understand how really loud the t...

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Little Alabama

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

7.96nm

Elevation +

33f

TrailRank

33

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Easy paddle on a beautiful morning - we did get rained on at the take-out. Score it as the price you pay, it was getting hot, the rain was refreshing - and soaking!

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Lake Chicot at Chicot State Park

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

4.46nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

32

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Easy paddle on beautiful lake at the best Louisiana state park. Paddled from East Landing boat launch, which is one of three canoe trailheads along paddle trail, up to Walker Branch, Long Island, Turtle Island and back t...

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Bayou Tortue/Lake Charlo

Kayak\/Canoe

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Chicotgal

with

Distance

5.15nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

32

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We launched at paved boat ramp on river at Heymann Park behind "Somewheres Else Bar & Grill". Paddled under the bridge up river past the airport. Turning south into Bayou Tortue we encountered beautiful cypress, pecan tr...

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Henderson

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

Distance

3.39nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

32

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Well, not the paddle we were hoping for as the basin is drawn down for aquatic vegetation control. Go figure, drawing down the water level of the Atchafalaya Basin! Couldn't launch at Kern's Landing as it was closed. Dr...

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Bayou B. Day 3

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

Distance

20.69nm

Elevation +

72f

TrailRank

32

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Jones LA to Chemin-A-Haut Park. With a side trip up Chemin-A-Haut Creek to the Castle Tree. Great conclusion to a three day paddle. The length of the Bayou is lined with very large old Oak and Cypress. The side trip up t...

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Clearwater

Kayak\/Canoe

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Chicotgal

with

Distance

8.48nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

32

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We call it the Bayou Cocodrie trail. I ranked it moderate due to length of this trip, but it was really easy. You do need to know where you are going, but it's not too hard to follow as long as you have done some prior r...

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Upper Calcasieu River

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

17.28nm

Elevation +

0f

TrailRank

32| 4.33

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Calcasieu River from Hwy 28/Alexandria Hwy to Hwy 121 This paddle can only be done at high water levels. With the passing of a front and heavy rainfall, perfect conditions allowed us to try it. In paddling this backwo...

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Upper to Middle Calcasieu River

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

7.03nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

31

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Hineston - Calcasieu Paddle was done at flood stage, which made for an exciting trip. Water levels any lower would require more portages, but less difficult situations. River was beautiful as always, but plenty of tre...

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Upper Lower Calcasieu River - Reed's Bridge Road to Hwy. 26

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

8.28nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

31

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9+ feet at Oberlin gauge made this a great paddle. River was wide and had enough water that all downed trees were under water and no dangerous strainers or portages. Water was still low enough to access some sand bars, b...

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Trapper's Run

Kayak\/Canoe

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chicotbill

with

Distance

4.72nm

Elevation +

3f

TrailRank

31

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Followed the trail from an existing post. First time doing so, and am very pleased with how Wikiloc works. Launch has changed somewhat as the highway has been overlaid and loose asphalt material is now part of launch. T...

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Whiskey Chitto; Grant to Mittie

Kayak\/Canoe

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olmcdon

with

Distance

9.39nm

Elevation +

180f

TrailRank

31

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La 377 to La 26. Difficulty rating based on the section above the junction with Six Mile Creek. Many trees and downfalls to deal with. We did it under low water conditions (4.3 ft at the Oberlin gauge) Higher water condi...

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