Sabine River "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Southern Forests & Swamp Land |
| Best time | Fall & Spring (Winter) |
| Wilderness | Infrequent road crossings |
| Water Flow | Dam controlled; always some |
| Water Quality | Good |
| Campsites | BIG sand bars, except coastal |
| Hazards | Some snags and downed trees |
| Logistics | Good public access; canoe rentals available (upper section) |
| Trip Length | Up to 156 miles |
| Recommendation | Regional favorite - go for the sand bars! |
"I'm gonna sit here on this bank of sand . . .
and watch the river flow" --Bob Dylan
General Description & Characteristics -- Prepare to lay back and relax! The lower Sabine is one of the easiest and enjoyable long floats anywhere. The river flows through bottomland forests typical of this region, with quite a bit of commercial pine forest very near the river. At low to moderate water levels, huge sandbars are almost continuous, particularly on the upper sections of this run. This is Cajun country and the place names reflect that heritage. The river's name is from the Spanish 'sabinas' meaning cypress, a tree commonly seen along the river.
The flow of the lower Sabine River is controlled by the dam at Toledo Bend Reservoir, the largest man made reservoir (in terms of surface area) in the US. There is a minimum release from the dam of about 200 cfs, which enables this river to be canoed at any time. The flow is usually higher, and at times the "on-off" generating cycle can be troublesome.
This is a year round float stream, but the summers can be very sultry. The best time to go would be October through April. Severe winter weather is rare, but possible.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- You can float the entire 156 miles from the dam at Toledo Bend Reservoir to Bridge City, Texas on Sabine Lake . For an easy week long float trip through the piney woods of the Louisiana/Texas border region, try the 100 mile section from LA highway 8 (TX highway 63) to highway 12. There is easy access at both of these locations on the Texas side with a paved road leading to a sand bar under the bridge at highway 63 and a state maintained boat ramp at highway 12.
If you go all the way to the mouth of the Sabine (another 40 miles below highway 12) you can take out at a private boat ramp at Rob Bailey's Marina (near bridge city). This is on Sabine Lake, about 3 miles west of the mouth of the Sabine. Check locally for the exact location of this access point, and be sure to have good map and navigation skills. You can also take out at the ramp at Interstate 10.
Interesting Features -- Other than an occasional side stream, there are no remarkable features of this run. Just sit back and enjoy the float. The river is lined with woods of cypress, willow, sweetgum, silver maple, water oak, and other hardwoods. On higher ground you will find some stands of pine. There are many houses along the river, mostly clustered in small settlements, but nothing you would call a town. Most of these houses are seasonal cabins, but there are some permanent homes.
Evidence of heavy timber management is seen on the upper sections, giving way to a more natural bottom land forest further downstream.
Wildlife is abundant on the Sabine. In addition to the usual river critters, you may see otter, mink, or alligators. The local residents actively pursue fishing, hunting, and trapping along the river, and the few people you encounter will likely be engaged in those activities.
Some of the side creeks open up into cypress swamps or old river channel sections that have become lakes. These can be some of the best wildlife viewing locales. Of particular interest is Bayou Anacoco which enters the Sabine at about mile 27 of this run. It is a classic southern black water stream.
If you go below highway 12, you must follow the course of Indian Bayou for a few miles, where most of the Sabine's water flows. Here you will find some interesting settlements and lots of houseboats, some of which are permanent residences. Below I-10 you enter the coastal flats, and pass the industrial city of Orange, Texas. On the Louisiana side the landscape remains natural. Here, large commercial vessels use the river. On the east side of Pavell Island (below Orange), at low tide you can see about a dozen World War I vintage wooden military ships which were scuttled in this channel.
Camping -- The many huge white sandbars in the upper sections of this run make for excellent camping. At high water levels (maximum generating release is about 15,000 cfs) these sand bars will be mostly covered up. Take care to camp above the generating level to avoid a surprise in the middle of the night. The further you get away from the dam, the less the fluctuation between "on" and "off" of the generators at the dam. Should the water level or weather dictate, it's easy to find a campsite in the woods. Except for the riverside settlements, the land along the river is mostly owned by timber companies, and riverside camping is a generally accepted practice. As you approach highway 12, there is little high ground, so finding a campsite when the river is up will be challenging (but usually possible). Below highway 12, good campsites are scarce, but can be found.
Additional Information:
| Canoeing Information | . |
| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service |
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| River Flow Data |
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| Parks on/near the River | . |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the River | . |
| Books |
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| More Pictures | Canoe Camping Texas Photo Gallery |
| Environmental Issues/Organizations | . |
| Acknowledgments/Contributors | . |
| Miscellaneous |
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