Hey yall,

I have a 9-year-old daughter who I want to get in the outdoors more. I’m trying to find a river canoe trip where we could legally camp along the river for one night. Preferably primitive camping and not designated sites, but I’m ok with either. Looking at early April and we really only have time for two days (one night).

Does this exist in North Texas or Southern Oklahoma? We’re north of Denton, and I’d like to not drive more than a couple hours.

Appreciate any recommendations you might have!

Call Rochelle’s in graford.

Brazos river floating, right below Possum kingdom dam. As long as the river isn’t up too bad, and the BRA isn’t releasing water, should be okay for a 9 year old with a little preparation. Done the trip a bunch when I lived in Denton. Can camp along the river as long as it isn’t above the river gradient.

Have never done it but the Brazos south of PK is supposed to be a pretty good trip.

https://www.rochellescanoeandkayakrental.com/trips


If you want to DIY it you can put in on the Red around the hwy 79 Bridge and take out down river somewhere. You'd need somebody to pick you up and drop off though. I've never been on that stretch but have camped up river a few times. Don't think you'd have any problems camping on a sandbar overnight and should be plenty of water flow down stream of where the Wichita flows in.

Check the rules. A game warden told me that the only public land below PK is land that is 100% surrounded by water. Basically islands. He said if we step on shore we are trespassing.

I recommend the Cahulawassee River.

What a great idea taking the daughter out like that! Bet that trip will be a fun adventure and create some fond memories down the road.

I have done the Brazos trip many a time when I worked at the YMCA camp on PK. Don't think we ever paid any attention to where we camped, we just never crossed any fences. Different time then though, they were still generating electricity then so they were always releasing water to some degree. It was a good trip 30+ years ago.

If you're not opposed to the drive i'd recommend the White River in Arkansas.

Buffalo River in Arkansas

I’ve done several. Kiamichi above between Clayton and Antlers is as good as you can do imho.

Circle K does a shuttle for you for a few bucks too.


Designated sites/ legally. Doesn’t exist in north Texas that I know of. I’ve never had issues camping in and along river beds.

Illinois river in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. They are all set up for it.

Certain sections of the Red are Oklahoma land up to the permanent vegetation line on the Texas side and yes LO will run you off. Spouse's family has land on the Red and they do not allow trespassing to camp or float.

Definitely going to look into this, thanks!

Appreciate all the suggestions yall. Sounds like OK or AR are my best bets.