For many outdoor enthusiasts, the Brazos River
offers hundreds of miles to fish, frolic and travel
like 19th Century French voyageurs.
Spanish explorers originally named it Brazos de
Dios, meaning �Arms of God� because of its
numerous tributaries.
Beginning in Stonewall County where Double
Mountain Fork and Salt Fork join, the Brazos
River picks up its Clear Fork in Young County,
Texas. Approximately 840 miles long, the Brazos
River meanders south through Texas until it
dumps into the Gulf of Mexico near Freeport,
Texas, in Brazoria County.
Generally regarded as one of the most scenic
sections of the Brazos River in North Texas is the
20 miles between Texas 16 and 4 in Palo Pinto
County.
�It loops and coils snakishly from the Possum
Kingdom dam down between the rough low
mountains of the Palo Pinto country,� said John
Graves in �Goodbye to a River,� a novel about the
author�s three-week canoe trip down the Brazos in
which he weaves tales about the Kiowas,
Comanches and whitemen who have inhabited its
shores.
Unlike portions of the Brazos River north of
Possum Kingdom Lake typified by brown, briney
water and salt cedar flats, the 20-mile section
below Possum Kingdom is a scenic treasure with
towering cliffs and limestone boulders landscaped
with cottonwoods, oaks, mesquites, cedars,
willows, pecans and grapevines along the stream
that usually is crystal clear.
Many people prefer to enjoy the scenery like
author Graves by canoeing down the Brazos River,
and the brisk business at Rochelle�s Canoe Rental
is testimony to Its popularity.
Rochelle�s provides canoe rental and shuttle
service for the 40-mile stretch of the Brazos
between Texas 16 bridge below Possum Kingdom
down to Texas 180 bridge west of Mineral Wells.
Rochelle�s is located on the north side of the
Dark Valley Bridge on Texas 4 between Graford
and Palo Pinto.
Reservations should be made at least a week in advance.
The mailing address is 7024 No. Fm #4,
Graford, Texas 76449
telephone is 940-659-3341 AND 659-2581 .
With regard to length of trip, Rochelle�s can
accommodate almost any variation ranging from a
one-day trip to several days and nights. How long
it takes to cover any given distance is determined
by water levels, weather and how hard the
canoeists want to paddle.
Most popular is the overnight camping canoe
trip down the scenic section between Texas 16 and
4. It�s a favorite among church groups, Scouts and
families.
Even inexperienced canoeists facing less than
ideal water and weather conditions can make the
trip in two days. Weekend trips that begin on
Saturday morning and end on Sunday afternoon
are the most popular (week days are less crowded)
Experienced canoeists have learned weight and
waterproofing are two important considerations
when packing for an overnight camping canoe
trip.
Weight is especially important if you happen to
catch the river when the water level is down and
frequent shallow sandbars are encountered. The
less weight in the canoe, the higher it will float out
of the water. Even a few pounds can make a lot
of difference when you are trying to slither across
the shallows.
If there are several canoes in the group, it is
recommended that everyone get together and
make a list of necessary equipment so some items
can be shared to eliminate duplication and more
evenly distribute weight and bulk among the
canoes.
For instance, one canoe could carry a hatchet
and another could carry a folding shovel. One
could carry a lantern and another could carry a
gasoline cook stove. One could carry a tarp and
another could haul the campfire cooking grill.
Waterproofing is equally important. Even if it
doesn�t rain or you don�t overturn your canoe, a
certain amount of water manages to get slopped
over into the canoe and on your equipment, and
spending the night inside a wet sleeping bag is no
fun for any outdoorsman.
Heavy-duty plastic trash bags are great for this
purpose although some care must be taken to
avoid puncturing the bags. Clothing, sleeping
bags, etc., can be placed inside plastic trash bags
and then stuffed into duffle bags and backpacks to
protect the plastic bags from being ripped or
punctured.
Plastic buckets with snap-on lids are also
popular among canoeists. They are sturdy enough
to sit and stand on, waterproof, puncture resistant
and easily accessible.
The amount of gear necessary for any overnight
camping canoe trip depends on the individual.
Some canoeists travel ultra-light while others haul
enough gear to outfit a wilderness expedition.
Gear for a typical overnight trip for two might
include the following: an Army duffle bag
containing sleeping bags and foam mattresses, a
small zipper duffle bag for extra clothes and
toiletries, one five-gallon plastic bucket with lid
containing dry food items, eating utensils, paper
towels, mess kit and one-burner gasoline stove and
another bucket containing electric lantern,
camera, binoculars, flashlight, sunscreen, knife,
rope and insect repellant.
The load would be rounded out with a tent in its
own duffle bag, a container of fresh drinking
water, ice chest for food and drinks, campfire
cooking grill, fishing equipment and a couple of
folding lawn chairs. One trick is to freeze plastic
milk jugs of water; when the ice melts inside the
cooler it becomes a source of drinking water at no
additional weight of bulk.
It is wise to lash everything into the canoe in case of an
overturn with stretch straps or rope.
