Trip Description: Meet at 9:30 a.m. to put in at 10:00 a.m. on a shell beach in Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. Paddle two salt lakes (3 miles). If conditions permit, cross the Intracoastal Waterway into Drum Bay and paddle to a lunch stop at a beach. Round trip will be 8 - 10 miles. The launch site has good parking and a spacious clean porta-potty, last time I was there. The Visitor Center at the HQ has good facilities and information also. This trip has a nice variety of coastal lake, marsh, ICW, and bay and is usually a good bird trip. There are a couple of areas with oysters, depending on water level, so consider whether you're willing to risk scratching your fiberglass boat.
Driving Directions: Enter "Salt Lake Fishing Area, Freeport, TX" into Google Maps.
From Houston, Head south on Hwy 288 towards Angleton and Lake Jackson. Exit at FM 523 South and go left (south) on FM 523. Go 14.5 miles and turn left at Hoskins Mound Road/CR 227. Go 1.8 miles and turn right to the refuge. Go about 3.1 miles and turn right immediately before the visitor center onto a shell road called something like "Salt Lake Road". Go 1.5 miles due south to a shell parking area. ~60 miles from downtown Houston.
Latitude and Longitude: 29° 2.257'N, 95° 16.037'W
Trip specs: 8 - 10 miles, up to 5 hours. Trip Rating 2. Be ready to launch at 10;00.
Hazards: Put-in ramp can be slippery. Water depth should be adequate but shallow areas do have some oysters, so you might consider your plastic boat. LIttle boat traffic on the lakes but the Intracoastal has a few MAJOR barges and work boats. If we cross the Intracoastal, we will stay together and give them LOTS of room. Always remember to dress in layers as if you might go in the water. NO COTTON! Oysters, stingrays, and debris in the water - wear good footwear. Slight chance of bears, rattlesnakes, and tarantulas. Bring lunch, sunscreen, plenty of water, and insect repellent.
Contact: Carl Kuhnen 713-444-3315
Trip Leader Carl Kuhnen
Trip Assistants Linda Davis, Bob Scaldino
Emergency Initiator Phil Salvador 713-591-2974
Trip Rating* 2
Ready to Launch at 10:00 a.m.
Duration (hours) 5 hours
Paddling Miles 8
Emergency Phone #s 911
Brazoria County Sheriff 979-849-5711
Brazoria NWR 979-964-4011
Latest Expected Return 5:00 p.m.
Auto Description/Lic: Red Subaru outback TSR 7650
Distance from Houston 50 miles from downtown
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
This is an ACA sanctioned event. All participants in ACA-insured activities must wear properly-fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets (Personal Flotation Devices, or PFDs) at all times during on-water activities. Non-HASK participants must sign a waiver.
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 trial paddle trip. HASK will cover the $10 ACA event membership for non-ACA members. Hopefully you will then join HASK and continue paddling with us.
Trip Leader |
John Doe |
Trip Assistants |
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Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
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Duration (hours) |
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Paddling Miles |
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Emergency Initiator |
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Emergency Phone #s |
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Latest Expected Return |
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Auto Description/Lic # |
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Distance from Houston |
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* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
John Doe |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
|
Duration (hours) |
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Paddling Miles |
|
Emergency Initiator |
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Emergency Phone #s |
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Latest Expected Return |
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Auto Description/Lic # |
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Distance from Houston |
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* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
John Doe |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
|
Duration (hours) |
|
Paddling Miles |
|
Emergency Initiator |
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Emergency Phone #s |
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Latest Expected Return |
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Auto Description/Lic # |
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Distance from Houston |
|
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
John Doe |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
|
Duration (hours) |
|
Paddling Miles |
|
Emergency Initiator |
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Emergency Phone #s |
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Latest Expected Return |
|
Auto Description/Lic # |
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Distance from Houston |
|
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
John Doe |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
|
Duration (hours) |
|
Paddling Miles |
|
Emergency Initiator |
|
Emergency Phone #s |
|
Latest Expected Return |
|
Auto Description/Lic # |
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Distance from Houston |
|
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
John Doe |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
|
Duration (hours) |
|
Paddling Miles |
|
Emergency Initiator |
|
Emergency Phone #s |
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Latest Expected Return |
|
Auto Description/Lic # |
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Distance from Houston |
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* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
Carl Kuhnen |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
9:30 a.m. |
Duration (hours) |
6.5 hours |
Paddling Miles |
16 |
Emergency Initiator |
|
Emergency Phone #s |
911 |
Latest Expected Return |
5:00 p.m. |
Auto Description/Lic # |
BP2-469 |
Distance from Houston |
50 from downtown |
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
Carl Kuhnen |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
9:30 a.m. |
Duration (hours) |
6.5 hours |
Paddling Miles |
16 |
Emergency Initiator |
|
Emergency Phone #s |
911 |
Latest Expected Return |
5:00 p.m. |
Auto Description/Lic # |
BP2-469 |
Distance from Houston |
50 from downtown |
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.
Trip Leader |
Carl Kuhnen |
Trip Assistants |
|
Trip Rating* |
2 |
Ready to Launch at |
9:30 a.m. |
Duration (hours) |
6.5 hours |
Paddling Miles |
16 |
Emergency Initiator |
|
Emergency Phone #s |
911 |
Latest Expected Return |
5:00 p.m. |
Auto Description/Lic # |
BP2-469 |
Distance from Houston |
50 from downtown |
* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.