Best Kayaking in Louisiana

Trying to find the best kayaking in Louisiana? Bivy has great hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, skiing, riding and more, with hand-curated trail maps, as well as detailed driving directions.

1

Louisiana, Caddo Parish County

00 :32 hrs
1.3 mi
14.224426 ft
I

Back Bayou Louisiana. Lots of alligator snapping turtles and bird watching. Bring your bug repellent!

2

Mississippi, Pike County

02 :53 hrs
6.8 mi
7.4956665 ft
I

The Bogue Chitto River is tiny and logjammed in its upper reaches but as it extends into Pike County, it widens into one of the prettiest and most popular paddling rivers in Mississippi. It is not too small that you are constantly fighting logjams yet not too big that you are forever fighting headwinds. It has a swift current with sharp bends and submerged logs that will keep your attention. The river abounds in wildlife, the water is clear and the scenery is gorgeous, alternating with woods and sandbars. This stretch offers a very pleasant float with gorgeous forested scenery. It can become very busy on weekends and in the summer, especially as you approach the water park. There are canoe rental companies available near the park as well.

3

Mississippi, Pike County

02 :08 hrs
5.1 mi
9.762527 ft
I

The Bogue Chitto River is tiny and logjammed in its upper reaches but as it extends into Pike County, it widens into one of the prettiest and most popular paddling rivers in Mississippi. It is not too small that you are constantly fighting logjams yet not too big that you are forever fighting headwinds. It has a swift current with sharp bends and submerged logs that will keep your attention. The river abounds in wildlife, the water is clear and the scenery is gorgeous, alternating with woods and sandbars. This section includes perhaps the finest stretch on the river from Bogue Chitto Water Park to just below Highway 48 in Walthall. The river is narrow enough to provide shade, tricky enough not to be dull, and has little sign of human presence. Wildlife is abundant and ospreys are frequently spotted.

4

Mississippi, Covington County

04 :02 hrs
9.5 mi
11.642513 ft
II

Mississippi is not a state that has a lot of whitewater. Several streams have occasional chutes and drop-offs, but only the Okatoma is renowned for its whitewater. The Okatoma Creek is just a regular Mississippi creek that happens to have four notable rapids on a popular stretch between Seminary and Sanford. Drawing huge crowds and making the Okatoma one of the most popular floats in the state, these rapids provide quite a thrill. The first rapid contains a fairly easy passage to the left of some rock shoals blocking most of the river. The Chute is a narrow channel on the left that requires paddlers to make a hard right to negotiate the second drop at fast speeds. Okatoma Falls comes 2 miles below the Chute and consists of a straightforward plunge of about 2.5 feet. The last rapids comes right after the falls as the river narrows into a tree-lined gorge and provides some excitement but poses no threat.

5

Mississippi, Perry County

04 :09 hrs
9.8 mi
10.117439 ft
I

Black Creek is Mississippi’s premier paddling stream. For most of its length it is ideal paddling size, avoiding logjams and strainers of a small creek and motorboats and headwinds of a large river. The current is strong and steady with no whitewater and no stagnant pools and it is located largely in the De Soto National Forest and contains wilderness surroundings and gorgeous scenery. Its name comes from the dark, tannin-stained waters. The dark water is highlighted with white sandbars beneath green forest walls. Many wildflowers and wild berries can be found along the river banks as well. This wonderful stretch of river is a designated national Wild and Scenic River and the Black Creek Wilderness Area fills the surrounding land.

6

Mississippi, Hattiesburg

02 :15 hrs
5.4 mi
7.9778214 ft
I

Black Creek is Mississippi’s premier paddling stream. For most of its length it is ideal paddling size, avoiding logjams and strainers of a small creek and motorboats and headwinds of a large river. The current is strong and steady with no whitewater and no stagnant pools and it is located largely in the De Soto National Forest and contains wilderness surroundings and gorgeous scenery. Its name comes from the dark, tannin-stained waters. The dark water is highlighted with white sandbars beneath green forest walls. Many wildflowers and wild berries can be found along the river banks as well. On this stretch you will float down several lovely, meandering miles with quiet, peaceful scenery. On busy weekends and holidays you are likely to meet many others also enjoying this segment of the river.

7

Mississippi, Forrest County

03 :05 hrs
7.3 mi
7.2615013 ft
I

Black Creek is Mississippi’s premier paddling stream. For most of its length it is ideal paddling size, avoiding logjams and strainers of a small creek and motorboats and headwinds of a large river. The current is strong and steady with no whitewater and no stagnant pools and it is located largely in the De Soto National Forest and contains wilderness surroundings and gorgeous scenery. Its name comes from the dark, tannin-stained waters. The dark water is highlighted with white sandbars beneath green forest walls. Many wildflowers and wild berries can be found along the river banks as well. This stretch runs between broadening sandbars and high bluffs. The stream is narrow and shallow enough in some places to require tricky maneuvering but not hard enough to make you question the worth of the trip. The scenery is very beautiful and intimate.

8

Mississippi, Stone County

08 :33 hrs
20.2 mi
12.618445 ft
I

Black Creek is Mississippi’s premier paddling stream. For most of its length it is ideal paddling size, avoiding logjams and strainers of a small creek and motorboats and headwinds of a large river. The current is strong and steady with no whitewater and no stagnant pools and it is located largely in the De Soto National Forest and contains wilderness surroundings and gorgeous scenery. Its name comes from the dark, tannin-stained waters. The dark water is highlighted with white sandbars beneath green forest walls. Many wildflowers and wild berries can be found along the river banks as well. The creek exits the national forest on this section but the change is not dramatic. More noticeable is the creek’s gradual evolution toward swampy-ness.

9

Mississippi, Walthall County

02 :38 hrs
6.3 mi
11.078846 ft
I

Magee’s Creek is a sparking jewel of a stream with crystal clear water and deep, shady woods. There are only about twelve miles on this creek that are floatable but it’s as pretty a place you’re likely to see anywhere. It is a tributary to the Bogue Chitto River and it becomes floatable at Homes Water Park on Highway 198. This stretch is twisty and narrow and may pose problems in extreme low water contains adequate water most of the time. The smaller and more maneuverable the boat, the better. The scenery consists of spring-dampened clay banks and massive, overarching hardwood trees. Because of previous issues with paddlers and landowners, there are strict regulations prohibiting alcohol, firearms, trespassing, and glass or Styrofoam containers.

10

Mississippi, Clarke County

01 :29 hrs
3.5 mi
3.2065659 ft
I

The Chickasawhay River flows for 159 miles at the fringe of the Appalachians and contains a variety of beautiful scenery. You will see pretty stone, encounter some muck, pass an intriguing region of waterfalls and alligators, as well as cliffs and swamps. Except for the lower reaches of the river where it becomes wide and deep, the Chickasawhay provides pleasant floating, with good fishing, and relatively little human contact. Because of its remoteness, wildlife thrives here and sightings are common. This section is particularly scenic, with high clay-rock walls and deep woods that range from pine plantations to tropical-type jungle. The sheer bluffs are natural sources of spring water and in springtime, water pours from the mossy clay walls like faucets.

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