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From: Natalie Wiest <wiestn_at_tamug.edu> subject: [Paddlewise] Texas Trip Report: a day on the Brazos River Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:42:08 -0600 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:48 PDT

I tried unsuccessfully to send this to Paddlewise;  I guess it didn't
like my home address.  In any case, this turned out to be the third of
now six trips since Christmas Day.  I'll send a brief note about the
others - three of them on my favorite "home town stream" of Armand
Bayou, but in the meantime, here's a stretch of river you might not want
to paddle, but gee whiz, this is one of the best times of the year to be
out paddling here on Gulf Coast Texas.

Trip Report:  The Brazos River at the Richmond Loop segment.

At the risk of scaring off any other folks willing to do exploratory
trips with me, following is my report of paddling the Brazos River with
Mark Andrus on December 29th, 2007.

This is actually the third of three trips I've done since Christmas -
sure sign of paddling withdrawal remediation.  I'm ready to keep on
paddling, but looks like going back to the real job will be pulling me
back off the river.

I'd posted this potential trip to the Houston Canoe Club site, but only
Mark responded with enthusiasm and commitment and we duly met up in
Rosenberg where highway 723 crosses the Brazos.  There's a nice little
park right there called Brazos Park.  There's paved parking, lots of
picnic tables, and playground equipment for the small fry.  There is no
formal access to the river, and the usual high steep banks.  This is
somewhat "improved" by what appears to be a contractors' unused cement
dumping ground.  The good thing is, this gives good firm footing to get
down to the river, but not something I'd want to drag a canoe over (and
steep enough that carrying is risky);  so boats went over the edge of
the dirt bank, and Mark and I scrambled over the concrete.

The river itself is broad and flat, with noticeable current most places,
and bends a long horseshoe around the city of Richmond to the crossing
by highway Alt-90, about 10 miles downstream of the putin.  This feature
made it look like a good candidate for a day trip, and as far as the
river and the time it takes to run it (about 3 hours), it is very
desirable.  Please read on before you make a decision to paddle.

One of the nice features of the Brazos is the presence of large sand and
gravel bars that are nice for camping or picnicking and in our case,
taking a lunch break.  The first nice one we came to was about two miles
downstream as the river makes its first abrupt left turn.  The un-nice
features of it are the water treatment plant directly opposite, and row
of houses.  We opted to paddle on and about 5 miles later came on a nice
big bar, with an actual ripple of running water over rocks at its far
end.  It was nice to get out and stretch our legs and eat a sandwich
there before paddling on.  The air temperature as we put in was about
51; and only 55 when we took out.  Only once did the sun peak out from
behind the clouds and we were both happy to have our nylon wind jackets
on.

The final left bend in the river brings the three bridges into view:
first the railroad bridge, then westbound Alt-90; then east-bound
Alt-90.  Fishers were on the outside of this bend, and we could see
their car parked about 100 yards away.  In retrospect, this would be the
most desirable takeout, or at least appears to have a more gradual bank
and perhaps firmer footing.  As we approached the railroad bridge, train
whistles heralded the crossing of a freight train full of containers,
presumably heading for the Port of Houston or other distribution center.
We paddled on to the second of the Alt-90 bridges - a big mistake both
for the challenge of getting boats up to the road level; and because
Mark's truck was parked upstream of the first bridge.  The truck was
easily moved - but the bank, UGH!  My worst fear of quicksand,
boat-sucking mud was fulfilled right there at water level.  It took both
hands and one leg pulling to get each foot unmired and moved farther
upstream.  Of course as one pulls free, the other goes down, so it was
quite a struggle to finally get to weight-supporting river bank!  Both
Mark and I had mud from head to toe and were pretty much exhausted until
we and our boats and equipment made it to the top of the bank.  We both
decided we were glad we had paddled this trip once - and that we never
wanted to do it again!  So, gentle reader, if you desire a struggle of
epic proportions to get yourself and your gear to and from the river,
here is the excellent spot, and an easy 3 hour paddle in between.  If
not, you can enjoy vicariously with my photos that are posted at:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/561940302pGpJAG?vhost=outdoors

Conditions for the trip:  air temperature, 51 to 55 degrees F (10.6 -
12.8C);  river level, 11/25 feet, approximately 1900 CFS (USGS gage
08114000); wind speed 5-7 mph, from the east and east-northeast.

Natalie Wiest

Houston, Texas
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