General Description & Characteristics -- The Red River is one
of the longest rivers of the United States. It flows out of the Texas panhandle, along the
Oklahoma/Texas border, and through Louisiana, until it finally joins the Atchafalaya. The
Red is a natural tributary of the Mississippi River, but a Corps of Engineers structure
now diverts its flow into the Atchafalaya basin. In the reaches along the Oklahoma/Texas
border the Red is a sweeping, wide river with sandy banks. The water color reflects the
red clays of the river's headwaters to the west. The Red is a wild prairie river, with a
significant impoundment at only one point (Lake Texoma). The Red is not widely used as a
canoe stream, and access is often difficult, but most who venture onto this big river will
be captivated by its special appeal.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- There are two long sections
of the Red along the Oklahoma-Texas border that are suitable for extended canoe camping
trips. From the highway 79 bridge to a point called Dripping Springs (on the Texas side,
east of Gainesville) is about 135 miles. This trip can be done in a week unless the flow
is very low. This take out is on a county road that extends north from the village of
Walnut Bend. You will need a county map (Cooke) or Texas Road Atlas to find this place.
You could take out 20 miles short of the final destination at an excellent access point
under the I-35 bridge, but you would miss the fossil bluffs (see below), and security of
vehicles left under the Interstate bridge might be a problem. An alternate put in for a
shorter trip is on the Little Wichita River (in Texas, at the FM 2332 bridge); this is
about 35 miles downstream from highway 79 -- you only paddle about one quarter mile on the
Little Wichita before it flows into the Red River. There is always some water in the
upper Red River, but it can be pretty shallow in periods of little rain in the region.
Below Lake Texoma, you can put in right at the dam on the Oklahoma side
and canoe about 140 miles to highway 37. You can actually keep going from there, all the
way to the end of the Red River and into the Mississippi or Atchafalaya, though at
Shreveport it becomes a commercial navigation river and is generally not recommended for
canoeing. The last recommended take-out for canoes would be at I-30 or Little River near
Fulton, Arkansas.
There is usually access to the river at highway crossings, but some of
these are difficult. If there is no release at Denison Dam, you will find the upper
section of this run too shallow for enjoyable canoeing; however, releases are frequent and
often continuous.
Interesting Features -- The upper run is essentially
free-flowing. It usually has adequate water for floating, and when the rains come, it can
be awesome. There are no rapids, but at high water the boils, surges, and undercurrents
can make for some hazardous canoeing. Large trees that become lodged in the sandy river
bottom are waiting to snag your canoe and cause disaster!
Throughout its course in this region, the Red passes through some rugged
wooded hills, and also through some very flat farmlands, offering a variety of scenery.
Just above Lake Texoma, there are several bluffs containing fossils of ammonites. These
large sea creatures inhabited most of the earth about 150 million years ago. These are
easy to find and are constantly being washed into the river. There are other, less
abundant fossils as well.
Below Lake Texoma, the water is clearer, but it takes on the red color
after a couple of days' float. Bald eagles are abundant in the cool season below Lake
Texoma. They are said to be nesting in certain locations -- take care not to disturb the
nesting areas.
While you can encounter winds that make paddling difficult on just about
any river, the Red is particularly notorious for its strong winds.
Camping -- There are substantial sand bars at most major bends
and on some of the larger islands. These make great camp sites in warmer weather. In the
cool weather, it is easy to find sheltered camp spots on the higher banks of the river.
While the land along the Red River is mostly privately owned, the low areas nearest the
river are usually remote and suitable for camping.
Additional Information:
| Canoeing
Information |
. |
| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service |
None available at this time |
| River Flow Data |
|
| Parks on/near the
River |
. |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the
River |
. |
| Books |
Rivers and Rapids
(Nolen/Narramore) has descriptions of this run and others in Texas in adjoining
states. |
| More Pictures |
Canoe Camping Photo Gallery |
| Environmental
Issues/Organizations |
The Dallas Sierra Club occasionally
sponsors outings on the Red River including the annual Bastille Day week end canoe camp. |
| Acknowledgments/Contributors |
. |
| Miscellaneous |
The Dallas
Downriver Club is a good paddling organization in this area, and their web site is one
of the best canoe club sites anywhere! |
