MBCKC Paddle Reports

- - - Styx River - Lower End Paddle - - -
Saturday, November 1, 2003
by Brint Adams, brint.adams@us.army.mil

Richard Kozik, David Haynie, Linda and I met at the I-10 exit 53 BP at 9:30 AM and headed 1 mi. north to right on Linholm Rd, went 4 mi. to right on Hwy 87 for 2 mi. to the put-in bridge. After shuttling a vehicle to the take-out point at the Seminole Boat Launch, we began the paddle at 10:35 AM.

The day was glorious, with a light breeze, clear skies and temps in the 70's and low 80's.

When we reached the I-10 bridge we encountered a downed tree we could not paddle around with the low water level on the river. Fortunately, there was a sandbar right there which made for an easy portage of about 20 ft. We continued down a fairly swift current making good time and lunched at 12:15 on a beautiful white sand bend in the river. So far, we saw no sign of civilization other than crossing under the I-10 bridge.

We continued and at about 7 mi. into the trip, we were not so lucky this time and came upon a very large log jam which we could not get through. We carried our kayaks and canoe up a steep bank, portaged about 50 yds. through the trees and Palmettos and back down the steep bank and continued after about a 15 min. delay.

At about this point, the river seemed to run out of steam and we no longer had the help of the nice current. So, for the remaining 5 miles, we paddled on still, flat water. It was still very beautiful and remote until just before reaching the Hwy. 90 bridge, when we came upon a number of houses along the bank. From the bridge, we paddled about 1.5 mi. to the take-out at the Seminole Boat Launch which is listed on the Baldwin County Park and Public Access Inventory map legend as number 59. The total paddle distance was 12 mi. and paddle time ended up being 4 hrs and with lunch and the portage detour took 5 hrs.