Public access to Brazos River?

[richardsfault]

While driving to a shoot yesteday, I noticed some interesting sand features where Grand Parkway (99) crosses the Brazos just north of 59.

Is there public access near this area or elsewhere nearby?

If so, is it worthwhile for shooting?

[richardsfault]

Found this @ http://www.hgs.org/hgsvft/vfth1/h1bb.html

Figure 5 shows the location of several points along the Brazos River near Houston where visitors can view the features of a meandering river. Public access to the river is available at the Brazos River Turnaround on U.S. Highway 59 northbound from Victoria. From the parking area under the bridge various trails lead down to the river and along the riverbank. The trail upstream leads to a large point bar which is more than 2500 ft wide and more than 40 ft thick.

Has anyone shot there?

[richardsfault]

I'm not looking to use Brazos Bend SP, where I'd have to pay and possibly be harassed by rangers.

[venchka]

There is an annual pass to ALL state parks. If you pay they will be there when you need them. Sounds like a job for a boat.

[preames]

You can get down to the river at the Brazos River Park just south of 59 on University Blvd. The best access is along the drainage canal that runs on the east side of the dog park. The problem with the river in that area is that the banks are steep, so if the river is running fairly high, like its been for the last couple of weeks due to the recent rains, walking access along the river itself can be limited.

I was there last weekend and got a few interesting shots.

[dwilliams35]

The brazos is pretty lacking in access: are you looking to put in a canoe or kayak there, or what? Most of the banks on this river really don't lend themselves to hiking down the bank without trespassing...

[venchka]

You may need to wait for another multi-year drought. Every stream I have seen in the last few months has been high to higher. Ask Al G. when we are due for a draught.

[crossmage]

And while it makes sense that you would think that Brazos Bend State Park has access to the river, it really doesn't. There is a trail that is supposed to open to it, but it is a horse trail and runs out of the park and its somewhere out there (I didn't successfully hike it when I tried).

I don't know if the 59 turnarounds still give any access as that bridge has just been rebuilt and changed dramatically. My best success has been the smaller bridges along its length and shooting from there.

[dwilliams35]

I haven't messed around much down in that neck of the woods, but I've kayaked everything between the FM 529 bridge and I-10: there's a lot to shoot on the river, but precious little of it is accessible walking in from one of the few bridges and other access points...

[Steelsun]

And a word of caution: The Sheriff and other LEOs have done heavy questioning to people at the various Brazos river accesses over the last few years, especially the 59 one (when it was open): They were often used to dump bodies.

Also south of 59 a tiger was spotted a few times in November along the banks. Don't know what became of that.

[angiem357]

I got river access at two locations today. I happened to be looking for petrified wood (score!) and also managed to find some fossilized tortoise shell.

I'm not sure where you're coming from, but the river is accessible from either side where it crosses I-10. That would be the 725 exit - Mlcak. Not much to see or shoot there, except for the train tracks and bridges. Lots of illegal dumping.

The other place (much more fruitful) was where 1093 crosses the river. It's probably easier to get there from Hwy 36, rather than any other combination of routes. I went down on the east side of the river. The water's low and they're doing some construction or something down there. Piles of trees dredged out of the river and stacked two times higher than my Jeep. Root balls 8 feet in diameter. Plus, an unused rusty piling that has great rivets. Stay away from the edge - you will slide right in the water - and make sure you have mud boots.

I have pictures on my SmugMug if you want to see. Password is "password." angiem357's Photos

[Steelsun]

Neat images, really got the feel of being there. Didn't know the Brazos was a good source of petrified wood. Might have to do some scouting myself now.

[angiem357]

To give you a real feel, I should have taken pictures of the mud I got all over my legs and butt when I slid about 8' down the embankment. I thought I was going swimming for sure.

If y'all are interested, you might want to get down there soon. You know the state's blocking off river access at roadways left and right...looks like this might be next on the list.

But yes, it was fun!