Blind River, Two options:
Upstream—away from Lake Maurepas and power boats, or downstream, to old chapel (and headed towards the mouth at Lake Maurepas).
***NOTE***
In the summer of 2016, this region experienced record flooding which damaged the Our Lady of Blind River Chapel and destroyed its dock. Since this is the typical lunch spot and turnaround for the downstream option, consider your options or check the chapel's Facebook page for updates:
https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-Of-Blind-River-158075900881659/
I don't have any confirmed updates, but I've heard that progress is being made on this rebuild process (as of early 2020) and I've seen pictures of folks sitting on the incomplete deck.
***Latest update as of 2021 - the chapel and deck are restored!! We paddled there in Dec 2020 and were able to stop and relax on the deck and see the restored chapel.
***NOTE #2***
In early November, 2019, I was unable to do the upstream option, due to extremely thick water hyacinth growth blocking passage under the Hwy 61 bridge. From boat level, this looked much, much too thick for me to try to push through, so I simply went downstream. Of course, on my next trip to Blind River in April 2020, the path under the bridge was clear. So the main point is: Be flexible and willing to change plans. There are plenty of options out here.
I've added a new post about other options for paddling around Blind River:
Paddling Blind River - Just Exploring
I will describe both in this single document, so this is long.
But, you could read the general notes below, and then jump to the details of the upstream option by clicking here, or the downstream option by clicking here.
But, you could read the general notes below, and then jump to the details of the upstream option by clicking here, or the downstream option by clicking here.
Difficulty: Easy, if you're okay with 10 miles and (seasonally) heave motor boat traffic on the downstream option. Typically no perceptible current in upstream option, and very mellow current in downstream option. Motor boat traffic can be very heavy in the downstream option, so you’ll deal with some wake action. Most boaters are very polite and try to minimize wake. Virtually any kayak or canoe would be fine for this trip--but of course, any kayak under 12' long will be tiring for this distance.
Distance: 8-10 miles, depending on options for upstream routes, and about 10 miles for the downstream option, if your turnaround is the chapel(described below).
General Description and Launch: The St. James Boat Club offers a great launch along Hwy 61 in Gramercy. This is the same launch for both options.
The upstream option (go right) goes under Hwy 61, which limits it to smaller boats. This route feels much more isolated and “swampy”, and has very little motor boat traffic. The biggest thing to keep in mind with this option is that other than an old, abandoned hunting club very early into this paddle, you may not find a stopping spot. It can be very hard to distinguish between mushy mud and firm ground out here. On one trip, our group of 8 or so found a spot right around the 4.5-5 mile mark where we were able to pull over, get out, stretch and eat. But, the next time we didn’t find it. So, you need to be prepared to stay in your kayak for all but the near beginning and near end of this trip.
The downstream option (go left) is, and feels like a very slow moving river the whole time. It’s wide enough to allow motor boats and kayakers to make plenty of room for each other. The typical destination on this option is the Our Lady of Blind River Chapel, near the 5 mile mark. You can get out, relax on the wooden deck, visit the chapel, and use a restroom. Water levels can make docking and securing boats tricky. Bring rope—you may need to string boats together.
Both options, upstream and downstream, offer up-close access to a cypress forest as the river moves through it. As you look at the photos, you'll see that there are no banks to this river. As you paddle along the edges, you brush up against lily pads and look right into the forest. Plenty of birds, varying with the season.
Both options, upstream and downstream, offer up-close access to a cypress forest as the river moves through it. As you look at the photos, you'll see that there are no banks to this river. As you paddle along the edges, you brush up against lily pads and look right into the forest. Plenty of birds, varying with the season.
Details of the upstream option:
Bring your camera.
There is no specific destination: paddle until overgrowth, fatigue, or nature’s call turn you around.
The upstream option starts wide, and is very calm. I usually describe this route as having no current, but we did do a trip here in October 2017, within a day or two of a pretty good downpour, and we definitely felt like we were paddling upstream. It was a pretty light current, but it definitely made the return leg faster.
You’ll pass one or two bayous off to your right, and you’ll come upon an old abandoned hunting club. The dock looks pretty rough, but it’s stable.
After this, and another bayou off to the right, the river quickly narrows and this begins to feel more like a swamp paddle. Eventually, it’s just you and whoever you’re with, and nature. No motor boats, no other people.
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| One of the side bayous |
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| Exploring on of the side bayous. |
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| And another side bayou. |
You’ll encounter two logging canals that you may think are the actual river, but they are not. Both are to the left, and are very straight canals. Continue towards your right, past those. The second of these will very much feel like the river itself, but again, when you see a very straight option to your left and a more natural option to your right, go right. There’s a bit of an island to the right, and the river continues beyond that. After this, the river really narrows and the vegetation thickens.
On our trips upstream, we usually determine our turn around spot by hitting a blockage that looks impassable and/or realizing we’ll need to answer nature’s call soon.
In fact, you’ll have some nice options to explore or continue farther if you’re willing to push and trudge through a few vegetation blockages. These blockages are often only 5-15 feet thick, and then the river opens up again, but they do seem to get more numerous the farther along you go.
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| Lunch! Of course, we passed this spot the next trip, but didn't see it. |
In the thick of summer, you can expect to have to push through at least one “blockage” to continue more than 3 or 4 miles out on the main river, or to explore the side bayous, some of which are worth the effort to explore. If you give up on your first blockage in summer, this could be a very short paddle…the vegetation is soft and doesn’t hurt my fiberglass kayak.
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| In person, this looks impassable, but it really just took a couple of minutes of work to push through. |
Otherwise, this is a very simple out-and-back.
Details of the downstream option:
Bring your camera.
And rope to tie the boat(s) at the chapel (explained later).
Don’t let this shorter description suggest this route is more boring than the other. It’s just a simpler route to follow, and there are fewer options. In fact, the options really are limited to exploring one or two side routes (I haven’t), or continuing farther down the river past the chapel.
Update-April 12, 2016: We did the trip again for a social paddle, and my friends Nick and Stephanie continued past the chapel, up to a canal that connected with Bayou Fusil, which looped them back onto Blind River headed back to the start/finish. They said it added about 3 miles, and they saw "unbelievable amounts of wildlife."
As mentioned, this route remains wide and keeps its “river” feel. You’ll almost always share the water with fishing boats, and in spring and summer, you’ll have a lot of pleasure boats also. It’s very green, with cypress trees and birds all around. Each bend in the river seems to bring another photo op. You’ll probably feel a very slight current helping you along on your way out, so plan on the return trip being a little slower. Even though it's usually a pretty light current, it can combine with the distance to tire out a shorter boat or less experienced paddler.
Between the 4.5 and 5 mile mark, you’ll see Our Lady of Blind River on the left. This is a small, very rustic chapel with a large deck out front. The dock can be high, and there may not be any easy spots to land on the shore. In our group paddles, one person will typically exit onto the dock, tie his/her kayak off and then start helping others up, while tying the boats to each other. There is a separate restroom to the right rear of the chapel. Relax, eat, visit. Then head back when everyone’s ready.
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