Neches River Canoe/Camp Experience
by Paul Woodcock and Mary Ellen Zaborowski
Paul paddling the Neches River

Click on image to enlarge.
Photo by Fraser Baker.
On a cold January weekend, we decided to try recreating our first canoe trip on the East Texas Neches River. When we did this trip seven years ago, it was two days of pain, suffering, and exhaustion. We spent most of our time dragging a heavy 17-foot Smokercraft aluminum canoe over snake-infested log jams. We paddled many more than the thirty mies on the indicated map. However, we did not know how to maneuver the canoe in moving water and hit every low tree branch and log jam in the river. This is how we came to name this heavy canoe the "tree climber". Also, we carried an immense amount of heavy gear on that trip.
This time we invited our sidekick Dana to go with us. Because of the earlier problems, we decided to cut the trip in half and make it a private trip with just a tandem and a solo canoe. We would look at this rvier and plan to possibly lead a Houston canoe trip later that spring.We arrived at the put in at Highway bridge 294 and as we walked to the deep bank at the river, we spotted a young doe at the river side. She looked up at us and started to run, then stopped dead in her tracks and proceeded to jump into the river. The current was strong enough that she could not swim directly across, but drifted down rive as she ferried across to the other bank. The doe quickly climbed the bank and stopped again to look at us. Then at a moment's notice she walked into the deep dark forest.
The canoes were then loaded and down the river we went. After seven years of wilderness camping, we had our day gear down to three small day packs with plenty of water. We were hoping it would make lifting the canoes over the anticipated log jams easier. We were amazed at the swiftness of the current since we thought there was no moving water in East Texas. As we approached the first tree across the water, we back-paddled to slow the canoe down and easily floated across the trunk and limbs.
The next strainer showed a very narrow passage between the roots of a tree and the bank. The narrow passage was very shallow, but the swiftness of the current easily floated us through it. Three more obstacles were challenging, yet we never had to leave our canoes. Finally we took a break on the sand banks, broke out the maps and discovered that we would be at the takeout by late afternoon.
Around the next bend we were on our way down the river, paddling between six-foot tall banks when suddenly we heard a huge splash just behind our canoe. Dan informed us quickly that a large golden beaver had jumped half way down the bank into the water.At the next two log jams we finally had to drag both canoes loaded with gear with much effort yet easier than the first time with our knowledge of how to achieve these with expertise. As we drifted down the river, we saw a large bird flying down the river in front of us. At first we thought it might be a vulture, but it didn't seem right. It banked to the right, then flew to the left, then we saw the white feathers on its tail. We really didn't expect to see a Bald Eagle on the Neches River, yet there he was in all his splendor.
That afternoon we took out at the bridge on Highway 21. Taking the back roads we ended up at Mary's place in Slocum and set up a base camp. The evening ended up with a very good hot meal and looking at forest maps trying to find a put-in/take-out for a short run the next day.
We left camp the next morning with canoes loaded ready for a good paddle, but all the roads leading to the river dead-ended into private property. Then we finally located a bridge, but decided to explore the interesting forest roads. We spent a totally enjoyable day lost on the back forest roads of the Davy Crockett National Forest that were not on any map we had.
What a difference seven years of experience paddling and camping made! This was a fantastic trip with a true wilderness feeling.
Yet down a waterway that cuts through the heart of the East Texas' piney woods and the Davy Crockett National Forest called the Neches River, this is one trip we would like to share with other members of the canoe club as a future trip.