If the creeks don't rise, this will be a nine mile downstream paddle from the canoe launch in Lake Houston Wilderness Park to Ponderosa Marina on Luce Bayou. We will paddle down Peach Creek into Caney Creek, then into the East Fork of the San Jacinto River? to the north end of Lake Houston, then up the lake-level segment of Luce Bayou to the takeout at Ponderosa Marina. We will traverse nearly as many different bodies of water as Lewis and Clark did, so you may reflect on that if you wish. Having learned from their experience, however, we will run a car shuttle rather than paddle back to the put-in.
This should be an easy paddle with a rest and/or lunch stop, depending on timing, so bring a lunch. Be prepared, as always, for rain, insects, and possible immersion if you should get unlucky or ecstatic. Have rain gear handy in your boat. Have a set of warm dry clothes in your boat. There could be a few pulls over shallow spots. Lake Houston Wilderness Park is now a City of Houston facility and has a $3 per person entrance fee. Ponderosa Marina has a $7 per car launch and parking fee so this could be a pricey trip..
Let's meet at 9:00 and run the car shuttle. Driving directions to the put-in:
It's about 40 minutes from downtown Houston. Take Hwy 59 north about 25 miles. Exit and turn right at FM 1485/New Caney Road. Follow the FM 1485 signs (turn right onto FM 1485, turn right onto TX-494 Loop S/ FM 1485, turn left onto FM 1485). Drive east about 2.5 miles on FM 1485 to LHWP on the right. Stop and pay your fee, get a map, and follow signs to the canoe launch (~2miles).
Driving directions 15 minutes from canoe launch to Ponderosa Marina: 27400 Huffman Cleveland Road, Huffman, TX 77336. Phone 281-324-6576 or cell 281-450-0342.
Exit the park to FM 1485. Turn right onto FM 1485. Continue onto FM 2100 Rd S/Huffman-New Caney Road. Total about 8 miles. Turn right onto Huffman Cleveland Road/Wolf Road. Marina is on the left after 2 miles.
Hazards..........................: A little current, slippery boat ramp, fire ants, alligators, snakes, some boat traffic, cold water.
HASK Trip Rating*……....: I (read-easy). If it's windy, the distance could make it a Level 2.
Have with you ................: Water, lunch, sunscreen, warm clothing in a dry bag
Have rain gear handy in your boat.
Duration…………………...: 5 hours
Paddling Miles…………...: 9 miles
Emergency #s, ................: 911
Distance from Houston….: 35 miles.
This is an ACA sanctioned event. Every participant must wear a PFD.
Waivers - Please complete our easy to use online waiver if you are a HASK member who has not signed a waiver within the last 12 months or a non- HASK participant. Read the waiver carefully. You give up substantial rights when you sign it.
- Add Smartwaiver with email address “noreply@smartwaiver.com” to your address book to ensure emails do not go to junk/spam.
- Select a link below to complete the online waiver.
ACA-HASK Adult Waiver ACA-HASK Minor Waiver
- Respond to the “Confirm your E-Signature” email from ACA / HASK to confirm your email address. Wavier is now complete and valid.
- You will receive a confirmation email. Please download and print a copy of the waiver and bring it to the trip put-in.
Guests – You are welcome to join us for a couple of paddle trips. HASK will cover the $5 ACA event membership for non-ACA members. Hopefully you will then join HASK and continue paddling with us.