Trip Report - Grassy Lake (Bell Slough)

[Raynard]

Trip report – Grassy Lake (Bell Slough) 5/26/14 – Mike & Julie Tharp – Stan

Gentle blackwater beginner paddle - longer than expected.

We arrived at Palarm Creek parking area on time (9:00a) and waited until 9:10a for others to show. No takers. We drove to the put-in (the March 22nd Grassy Lake Water Trail post in Paddling Trips’ instructions are spot on). Small note, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission road to the left shortly after leaving the Palarm Creek parking lot does not count as an “intersection”. Besides it is likely gated and locked. The rest of the directions were great.
When we got to the put-in, who should come gently paddling up the access channel but Stan.

After unloading and deciding to do the Grassy Lake Arkansas Water Trail clockwise, we followed the trail with the blue diamond shaped markers with the red square inside the lower point. They marked the access channel from put-in to the main loop trail. The loop tail is marked with the blue diamond shaped markers without the red squares. See the March 22nd posting for a map.

Stan paddled sweep to make sure we did not get lost, which we appreciated since the trail was completely new to us. What that really meant was that she did trail maintenance and bird watched and kept an eye on us. At her invitation, we got to go off-trail with her to see an open area with a tree with six heron nests. It is the first time we had seen them and had someone confirm what they were. Neat.

We paddled the spur to the beaver lodge and dam – red diamond markers. The beaver dam is the official end of the spur. However, if the water is high enough, as it was that day, you can paddle beyond the dam to the (relatively) open water. No red markers, but reasonable visibility. From the beaver dam, there are three different levees for stopping spots – the large levee, a half mile west, the second levee, a bit closer north and west and the little levee, a relatively short distance immediately west. The little levee was the only one readily accessible due to the water level which was adequate but dropping.

We stopped on the little levee to stretch our legs, have lunch, conversation and attend to nature. We enjoyed getting to know Stan a bit better.

After lunch, we paddled back to the beaver dam (sparse but sufficient blue markers getting us back) – there are not a lot of trees in the open water area. After paddling back down the spur to the loop, we elected to head back to the put-in (take-out) the same way we came instead of completing the rest of the loop to the east. Stan headed east. We made our way back without incident – other than startling a group of beavers in a semi-open pool. The cypress, the birds, the dragon flies, the peace, what a pleasant time. Note – no mosquitoes. We brought bug spray but did not need it.

Time taken for the clockwise portion of the loop, the detour, the spur, lunch and conversation on the small levee and return to take-out (put-in), without completing the eastern portion of the loop, five hours, at a leisurely pace.

Stan, thank you for your patience with us. We are beginning to understand why this area is special for you. We look forward to learning more from you at Rec School.

Mike & Julie Tharp