Cotton Lake Paddle

The boat launch at Cotton Lake offers several paddles. One can put in and go out to Old River and on down to Old River Lake or the small lake itself and paddle a series of marshy bayous to Trinity Bay or even paddle out into Trinity Bay. And Cotton Bayou comes into the lake from the west and offers a more swampy experience as one paddles under shady trees accompanied by lots of bird song.

On this paddle, twelve of us chose to cross Cotton Lake paddling east and south and then exit into Cross Bayou. We paddled that bayou past the hunting club land to Trinity bay. We met at the Jack-in-the-Box at the Intersection of I-10 and 146 because it is easy to get mixed up if you have never traveled to the boat launch. Then we caravaned east on I-10 to the Cove exit and went south and curved west. At Gou Hole Road, we turned south and then branched east on Maley. Maley curves back to the south just before the parking lot for the boat launch. There are no signs telling you there is a public launch until you are almost to the parking lot.

The day was clear and warm but not too hot to paddle. We quickly unloaded out boats and loaded up our gear before heading out to wait for the rest. Today we did not need to follow the line of sticks as the water was about two to three feet higher than normal. The usually south wind was absent and the air was almost still as we started out.

At the Put-In

Crossing the Lake

Arriving at the shell midden at the intersection Cross Bayou and Trinity Bay

Richard paddling into Trinity Bay

Southeastern Lubber Grasshopper

Some of the lunch bunch on the shell midden

Paddling in to Red Bayou in Trinity Bay

Soon we were across the lake and entering the mouth of Cross Bayou. Soon we came to the place were we can turn left and access Old River. The river was in flood and was pushing water into the bayou, giving us a fast ride to the bay. In less than two hours we had traversed Cross Bayou past the hunting club and had arrived at the shell midden where I planned to eat lunch. Most of the midden was under water and we watched clumps of water hyacinths ride the current out to sea. There were lots of big beautiful grasshoppers along the shore. Most of them headed inland to hide in the vegetation but a few posed for pictures. At home, I went to www.enature.com, then to the insect field guides and look them up. They are the southeastern lubber grasshopper.

Soon everyone was unloading lunch and their chairs and getting ready to eat. There was just enough room for all of us to gather pretty close near to our kayaks. Tracy thought to provide herself shade by putting up her umbrella. We planned to sail home using our umbrellas. Many people did a little exploring and found more grasshoppers and lots of small blue crabs. After lunch most of us lay out in the shallow water to get good and wet so we would be cool for the trip home.

The bay was beautiful and flat and even had plenty of water for paddling. So we decided to go back via the bay and paddled west looking for the entrance to Red Bayou. It is along the longest point one sees, about a half mile from Cross Bayou. Power lines come down along the shore here so it is easy to find. Two of the grasshoppers choose to go with us and row on the bows of their choosen kayaks.

Before we had turned into Red Bayou and were ready for furl our umbrellas and sail. But alas, today we did not have our usual southern breezes so we had to paddle all the way back. But we were able to paddle in High Tree Bayou because the water was so high. We paddled in a narrow channel with big clumps of white spider lilies interspersed among large areas of pink marsh morning glories. To our left was the stone covered levy that surrounds the power company's lake which is off limits to us.

We decided to go look at Cotton Lake Bayou so paddled west and north. We could see the big houses along the northwest shore before we could see the red and white poles that mark the mouth of the bayou. The water in Cotton Lake was warmer than our skin and no longer offered any cooling properties. We got to Cross Bayou and realized we had about another half a mile before we would be paddling in trees. It was already one o'clock and we wanted to be out by two so we agreed to save this bayou for another day and started back.

We angled north and east and were too soon back at our starting point. Then we were taking turns landing with the first arrivals helping the rest get their boats out of the water. Everyone got busy repacking their cars. We all agreed that this had been a great paddle. Then, before heading home, we went to look at the new park at the end of Gou Hole Road where we dreamed of paddling in Old River Lake.

We saw few birds because of the high water. But usually this is a wonderful place for bird life. We did see a few large alligators.

Maps: I use the Cove Quadrangleit it does not tell all the places you can paddle. The land is subsiding and channels are erroding so there is more paddling than is shown.

Topozone Map: http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=29.80056&lon=-94.80639
You will have to move south to see all of our trip.

Coordinates: 29°48' N, 94°48' W

Driving Directions: From Houston, Tx, travel east on I-10 to the Cove exit (just before the bridge over Old/Lost Rivers). Turn south and follow the road as it curves to the west. Go to Gou Hole Road - first cross road - and turn back south. Where Gou Hole turns to the left and Maley branches to the right, take Maley and follow it as it turns back south just before it enteres the parking lot for the public boat launch.

Links:

More pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/154273471THcbUZ

http://community.webshots.com/album/115221902sOtUon

Weather:http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Baytown%2C+TX

Other Infomormation:

This trip is suitable for canoes or kayaks. Occassionally waves in the bay will be dangereous to canoes but they can complete a circular trip within the marsh and lake. Sometimes the bay is too shallow to paddle. The area just at the mouth of Red Bayou is very shallow.

North winds blow the water out so this is when there is the least water.

This trip can be done all year round but fall through early summer are the best times.