Days
<1
Motors Allowed?
Yes
Difficulty
Easy / Class A
Distance
3.00 mi (4.83 km)
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Lake Area Adventures offers guided kayak and paddle boat tours and rentals, as well as several other adventurous activities and rentals. They are headquartered in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which just happens to be a great central location for several kayaking options in the Calcasieu River system. The Calcasieu River Basin spreads out across central and southern Louisiana before emptying itself in the Gulf of Mexico not far from the Texas border. The landscape of the river basin is characterized by marshes, lakes, and bayous. This particular tour takes place on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River about 30 minutes northwest of Lake Charles. Our guide took us to a more remote section of the river, and during our time on the water we only saw two fishermen on one boat during our entire trip.

The water on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River flows at a very slow, almost nonexistent pace south. This makes the river a great option for paddlers who are only equipped to do a there-and-back trip. While much of the shoreline and surrounding forests are all privately owned, there was little in the way of visible human development along the trip that we did. There are some beautiful scenes along the river, full of little nooks to explore as you paddle alongside large cypress trees covered in Spanish moss. Hitting the river in a quiet paddle boat is your best bet for seeing wildlife on this river, but you’ll still need to be a ninja with your paddle. In spring, it’s not terribly uncommon to see alligators sunning themselves on the shorelines. Each season offers great birdwatching opportunities in the area as many migratory birds stop in this area to nest, feed, or wait out winter.

Be sure to check out all the amazing services that Lake Area Adventures has to offer, such as scuba diving trips, guided camping trips, paintball, and much more! Visit their website for more information.

For lodging and places to stay in the Lake Charles area, check out the Visit Lake Charles lodging page.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Calm and easy paddling. Knowledgable and informative guide.

Cons

None.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Put-in location (lat, long coordinates)

30°21'03.1"N 93°17'40.9"W

Take-out location (lat, long coordinates)

30°21'03.1"N 93°17'40.9"W

Water Temperature

149.00 °F (65.00 °C)

Features

Family friendly
Rental facilities
Boat ramp(s)
Wildflowers
Fishing

Trail type

There-and-back

Access

Vehicle

Typically multi-day

No

Shuttle required

No

Site characteristics: Water

River

Portage required

No

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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Alligators, Monarch butterflies, 400 species of birds, walking trails and natural, Gulf beaches - you can truly surround yourself in nature in Southwest Louisiana along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. After experiencing the great outdoors, you can enjoy the food, culture, music and art that Louisiana is known for the world over – in just a short drive to Lake Charles, LA.

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