Thanksgiving on the Neeches

The Big Thicket is a wild, mysterious place made up of swamps and streams, cypress and tupelo as well as pine covered open lands. It was the last U.S. home of the ivory billed woodpecker. 

The lower Neches from Hwy.1013 to highway 96 runs 38 miles through a portion of the Big Thicket National Preserve. 

You must get a permit and only 8 people are allowed on each trip. Order from Big Thicket National Preserve, 3785 Milam, 
Beaumont, TX, 77701. 
409-839-2689. Also ask for packet, Canoe Trip Planner.

For more information, contact the Big Thicket National Preserve 
and click on the "In Depth" button.

The Old Man and the River

Cypress Tree on a side slough

Outfitters that will run 
shuttles:
You can order a packet of information from the Big Thicket 
National Preserve, including contact information for several 
outfitters.

We have used the following two outfitters to run our shuttles and 
store our cars, returning one of them for us to use to collect the 
rest of the cars on the last morning: 

Eastex Canoe Outfitters in 
Silsbee (1-800-814-7390) 

Sharps Canoe Rentals - Silsbee
409-385-6241 -our favorite

Safety Issues:
This is a very remote stream with little road access. 
Tie your boats each night - the 
river can rise several feet if the 
dam releases or if there is a heavy storm.
Camp on sand bars that are 
several feet above the water.
Bring your drinking and cooking water.
Bring a good wilderness first aid kit. 

When to Go:

The Neches is at its best in spring or fall. Winter is also a nice time to visit ifyou bring clothes to keep you warm and dry. 

Don't plan to come July to September as the sun is very strong, the weather is hot and humid and the water is low and slow.

Maps:

If you'd like to carry topo maps of the route, these 7.5 minute series are the sheets you'll need: 
- Magnolia Springs 
- Potato Patch 
- Franklin Lake 
- Evadale (only used for the last 
2 miles - not necessary to reach the 
takeout) 
MapTech's online interactive topos 
of the put-in and most of the route can be found at Maptech 
Mapserver - Neches River, Big Thicket .

Trip Description:

The put-in at 1013 just east of Silsbee, is on a private boat launch and costs $3.00. There is a covered area which is great place to finish packing if it is raining or to wait for the shutlte to run. 

This is 10 miles below the dam and if the water is releasing, the 
current can be quite swift. Otherwise, it is very slow. Sandbars are 
available, in varying numbers, depending on the water level in about 
the first 12-15 miles. The next best place to camp is at the Hardin 
County Park which is quite low (muddy in rainy weather) and may be the hangout of teenagers on Saturday night. The next sandbar you can usually count on is about 35 miles downriver. You can hear the railroad from it.

Trip Reports:
from Marilyn Kircus
from Hulin Robert
from Bob Greibel

Other Links:
River Levels
Weather

Nearby State Parks:

Village Creek State Park is about 20 minutes south of the takeout on 96 bypass. 

Martin Dies Jr. State Park, my favorite, is about 30 minutes from the put-in. This is a fun 
place to stay and paddle down the Angelina River to Martin Dies State Park on Lake Steinhagen for a nice day trip. See Martin Dies Report.

Link to Texas Parks and Wildlife to get more information or make reservations.