Trip Overview

Bouie River: Mississippis Hidden Gem

This weekend I took members of my Pathfinder class on a kayak/canoe river cleanup project on about seventeen miles of river. We put in late afternoon Friday at the Sumrall Seminary Road boat ramp. This are needs a lot of work for better access. We paddled down about 170 meters to a very small sandbar and set up camp.

The stars were amazing, the night sounds were soothing and it got a bit chilly. We got up and on the water early. The steam off the river gave the morning a somewhat magical feel. As the sun came up above the tree line I managed to get a few beautiful shots with the camera.

My crew carried tools that were required for cutting some of the debris out of the water and managed to improve some of the area along the way. They worked extremely hard for being a group of misfit at-risk youth. I am very proud of the young men and women that accompanied me on this venture. Pictures can be found at https://www.facebook.com/MSPaddlers/

As for the Bouie, it truly is an amazing river. It teams with wildlife and bio-diversity. Cypress tree and the crazy formations of the knobby knees are truly one of my favorite. River birch and red maple fifty t0 sixty feet high. Clay formations ranging in color from gray to purple, some youll find along the banks and others are formed into the river itself.

The flora and fauna are remarkable, every hue of green imaginable and for an early October weekend many leaves have begun their color changes. I loved the giant elephant ears growing on stump and tree rot in the middle of the river as well as the abundance of plant life along the banks and within the first few yards of the water.

I would caution that this river is not for the thrill of a smooth ride seeker but geared to kayak and canoe enthusiast who like a challenge. The Bouie River changes with the seasons and the storms, you will never travel the same river twice. While the route might be the same, the obstacles change. I hope to see you on the water soon.

Accommodations:

The boat ramp needs improved at the Sumrall-Seminary put in as well as the Hwy 589 ramp.

Fees:

None, public access.

Directions:

Best route to Sumrall, MS. take Hwy 42 toward Bassfield, MS take Rockhill Road north to an all-way stop. Veer slightly left as the road becomes Sumrall - Seminary road. Go approximately 6 miles to Bouie River.

Resources:

Google Earth