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See all 6 routes on Bogue Chitto River

Louisiana | Washington Parish / St. Tammany Parish

Bogue Chitto RiverPearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) to Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area

An upstream-to-park Bogue Chitto day trip from Franklinton’s Pearl Street launch to the state-park canoe-launch area.

Access and safety sources last checked September 10, 2026.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 11 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow a daylight window appropriate to the reach length
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Bogue Chitto River winds through a wooded Louisiana corridor.
River contextBogue Chitto River; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by mcandrus via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 11 river milesPearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) to Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area
DifficultymoderateClass I–II moving water with changing sandbars, strainers and fast rises; the long lower reach needs a complete daylight shuttle plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle first, then drive to the named upstream access. Confirm both sites are open before unloading.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current state-park admission, launch, parking and landing rules.
CampingOptions nearbyBogue Chitto State Park offers reservable camping; no informal riverbank camping is included.
SeasonJan-DecCheck the Bush gauge, rainfall, flood notices and state-park or landing hours. The lower river widens and can change quickly after storms.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

An upstream-to-park Bogue Chitto day trip from Franklinton’s Pearl Street launch to the state-park canoe-launch area.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

Pearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only the named public access points and existing paths.

Finish

Take-out

Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area
Open mapDirections to take-out

The state-park coordinate is a planning anchor; verify the canoe-launch carry and water entry in the field.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the named public access points and existing paths.
  • The state-park coordinate is a planning anchor; verify the canoe-launch carry and water entry in the field.

Watch for

  • Low water and exposed sandbars
  • Strainers and storm-driven rises
  • Heat, lightning and limited intermediate exits

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Bogue Chitto River winds through a wooded Louisiana corridor.
Bogue Chitto River; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by mcandrus via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY 2.0

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.

Data status
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBogue Chitto River near Bush, LA
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range1,000 cfs to 3,400 cfs
Low threshold650 cfs
High threshold10,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreRiverDates Bogue Chitto Franklinton flow context
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Route and distance11 miles

    Distance between the named access points in the linked manager guide.

    Source

  • Launch coordinate provenanceMapped launch and landing

    DEQ publishes the Franklinton and Sun public access coordinates. The state-park point is a map-level park anchor pending field refinement to the canoe-launch water edge.

    Source

  • Conditions posturePlanning only

    USGS 02492000 is the direct Bogue Chitto gauge for the selected Louisiana corridor. No accepted reach-specific numeric paddling threshold was found: RiverScout’s 300–2,000 cfs band is attached to the wrong station (07375085 is Bogue Falaya), so these starter cards remain planning-only until a responsible Bogue Chitto source reconciles a threshold.

    Source

  • Access and safety review2026-09-10

    Guide and current manager pages checked. Verify notices again before travel; a past review is not a statement of current paddling suitability.

  • Campingendpoint_campground

    Bogue Chitto State Park offers reservable camping; no informal riverbank camping is included.

  • Scoring band650–3,400 cfs same-gauge context

    Community flow context from RiverDates, which reads USGS 02492000 for the selected corridor; use as a conservative screening band alongside live telemetry and local hazard checks.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Louisiana

All 17 routes
Louisiana route guideBrowse every tracked Louisiana route.Washington Parish / St. Tammany ParishJump to routes in this region.

More on Bogue Chitto River

All 6
Boat Ramp Road public launch, Franklinton to Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch areaWashington Parish / St. Tammany ParishModerate · About 5.5 river milesBoat Ramp Road public launch, Franklinton to Highway 21 public boat launch, SunWashington Parish / St. Tammany ParishModerate · About 23 river milesBogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area to Highway 21 public boat launch, SunWashington Parish / St. Tammany ParishModerate · About 18 river milesPearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) to Boat Ramp Road public launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge)Washington Parish / St. Tammany ParishModerate · About 1 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Black CreekChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Big Creek Landing · about 55 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 6 river milesBlack CreekChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Old Highway 49 landing · about 55 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 11 river milesBlack CreekChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Ashe Nursery landing · about 55 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 12.3 river milesBlack CreekChurchwell Road / Camp Dantzler to Moody’s Landing · about 55 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 18.2 river miles

Quick answers

Bogue Chitto River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Pearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) to Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area route on the Bogue Chitto River?

Paddle Today watches Bogue Chitto River near Bush, LA and treats 1,000 cfs to 3,400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Pearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) to Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area route on the Bogue Chitto River start and end?

This route starts at Pearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) and ends at Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area, about 11 river miles on the water.

Is the Pearl Street public boat launch, Franklinton (water-entry edge) to Bogue Chitto State Park canoe-launch area route on the Bogue Chitto River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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