Delta Meadows

Today I finally had the opportunity to explore Delta Meadows. The tides were perfect and the weather was a bit chilly being in the mid 40's but there was no wind which made the water like glass. We launched from Walnut Grove Marina a little after 1:00 p.m. with high tide predicted for 1:47 p.m..

The marina itself is very nice with a little store, clean restrooms and friendly people. They normally charge $10 to launch per vehicle not per boat but check their policy as sometimes they won't charge if you carry your kayaks to the ramp. Be sure and bring a chart and pay close attention to landmarks as it could be easy to get lost in the myriad of sloughs and channels.

After launching, we headed north on Snodgrass slough with what was left of the incoming tide. As we passed many beautiful houseboats a few ducks made their presence known as they flew back and forth across the slough. As we paddled up Snodgrass slough we passed many entrances to various channels and sloughs just begging to be explored. This area has a multitude of options to choose from for paddling quests. We chose to paddle the main channel of Snodgrass slough for about 3 miles until we reached the Meadows Slough. Once we reached the Meadows Slough we paddled southwest for another mile taking in the beautiful scenery. We discovered what had to be over a hundred turkey vultures perched in the numerous trees lining the levies. We were fascinated by just how numerous they were.

While we were investigating the Meadows, we lost track of time and soon realized almost an hour had passed and decided we should head back to the put in. I had hoped we would have a strong current in our favor to help us home but was surprised at how little current there was. We continued at a brisk pace not only to make it back before dark but to help keep us warm as the sun disappeared behind the many trees bordering the various small islands we passed.

I'm putting this paddle at the top of my list of best places to paddle on the Delta. I see myself spending a lot more time exploring the nooks and crannies of this magnificent area. I'll be adding this to the tours Delta Kayak Adventures offers so be sure to check our calendar or contact me for a private tour.