Webster Parish Open Paddle
Webster's upcoming fall paddle invites all to partake in a waterborne adventure down Bayou Dorcheat on October 2.
In North Louisiana, your ultimate paddle destination is Webster Parish. With plenty of public launches, rental outfits, and seasonal open paddle events, there are endless opportunities to get out on the water and away from it all. On October 2nd, pack your kayak, canoe, or pirogue for a group trek down Bayou Dorcheat. On this scenic six-mile route between the towns of Dixie Inn and Sibley, you’ll paddle past towering cypress trees, sunlit sandbanks, and a retired train trestle.
Check-in begins at 8 am and launch is at 9 am at the Dauchite Park public ramp in Dixie Inn. A shuttle will be available to assist paddlers getting to and from their vehicles (note: please arrive at 8 am to utilize this service). Don't have your own kayak? Rent one from Dorcheat Bayou Rentals by calling 318-403-3440. Once you make it to shore in Sibley, stick around for post-paddle lunch and refreshments. The meetup is free to attend.
The Bayou Dorcheat route is part of the Webster Parish Paddle Trail, a guide map that makes paddling in the parish easy and accessible thanks to a collaboration between Webster Parish Tourism and the Bayou Chapter of the Ozark Society (BCOS); the organizations also partner up to put on the open paddles, aiming to get more people out in nature and foster a sense of community and camaraderie in the process. The trail also includes popular attractions like the public lakes at Lake Bistineau State Park and the Caney Lakes Recreation Area in Kisatchie National Forest.
Winding from its origin in Arkansas, through Northern Louisiana until finally flowing into Lake Bistineau, Bayou Dorcheat was once a major transportation route for steamboats to travel from the Red River all the way to Dixie Inn and Minden. While you're in Minden, stop by the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum for an in-depth look into the region's past. Named for the eponymous waterway, the museum is a well-curated tribute to the bayou communities who have traditionally called it home.
To start planning your Webster waterborne adventure, download the Webster Parish Guide app for on-the-go resources, digital mapping tools, and more, or head to visitwebster.net.