Village Creek Paddling Trail

Trail Access

Navigating the Trail

Paddling time can vary depending upon water levels and flow rates. Individual segments of the trail can be paddled in 2 to 5 hours of paddling. The entire trail is too long to paddle in one day.  Overnight camping permits are free and available at the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center.

Float Times: ~20.9 miles total
Estimate float times for each trail segment:
FM 418 to SH 327 – 8.6 miles, ~4-6 hours
SH 327 to Baby Galvez – 3.37 miles, ~1-2 hours
Baby Galvez to US 96 – 7.1 miles, ~3-5 hours
US 96 to Village Creek State Park – 3.2 miles, ~1-3 hours

Please note: The water quality of the creek is variable, but not recommended for drinking.
Village Creek is within the boundaries of Big Thicket National Preserve; all federal laws and regulations apply.

Trail Description

Village Creek is a flat-water stream with several smaller streams, oxbow lakes, and sloughs connected to the creek. Although there are no human built obstructions on this stream, there may be snags, logjams, and sandbars to avoid or portage around, especially when water levels are low. Heavy rains and high water can create dangerous conditions.

Village Creek is a natural creek that is unrestrained by flood control dams or other human built structures. As such, the creek is readily influenced by rainfall runoff that may create temporary high flows. Heavy rains and high water can create dangerous conditions and deceivingly swift currents. Flood warnings and stream flow information is available to paddlers from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) or from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Private Property

The entire Village Creek Corridor is within the boundaries of Big Thicket National Preserve.  All federal laws and regulations apply.  In some areas the boundary is just above the high water line, so watch for preserve boundaries posted with signs and yellow paint.

Respect private property by not trespassing or littering and keeping noise levels down. This creek is classified as navigable, which permits public use of the streambed and, if necessary, the banks to portage any hazard. Any other use of private river banks without permission of the landowner can be considered trespassing. Under Texas Penal Code (§30.05), criminal trespass occurs when one enters property after receiving notice not to enter. Notice includes verbal notice, a fence, sign(s), purple paint on posts or trees, or the visible presence of crops grown for human consumption.

Trail Map

Things to Do and See

Fishing

The creek supports numerous species of fish including bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish. Small lures such as jigs, plastic worms, spinner baits and light-line are recommended. Heavier line is recommended for catfish and gar. Live bait tends to work better due to low light conditions of the creek. A fish consumption advisory exists for the creek and surrounding bodies of water and information can be found online at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Due to elevated mercury levels found in crappie, gar, and largemouth bass, it is recommended that adults and children limit their monthly consumption of these fish and that women who are pregnant, nursing, or who may become pregnant do not consume these types of fish.

Wildlife and Ecology

The riparian corridor of Village Creek supports a great diversity of plant and animal life along the creek and beyond the banks. The Big Thicket area is known as the biological crossroads of North America since more species of plants and animals occur in this area than any similar sized area of North America. Birds spotted here include belted kingfisher, wood ducks, and numerous species of egrets and herons. Bald cypress, water tupelo, and black willow trees grow along the creek while pines, oaks, and over a hundred other tree species grow in the forests and bottomlands surrounding the creek. Common wildlife encountered includes white-tail deer, raccoons, turtles, fish, snakes, freshwater mussels and the occasional otter or beaver. Although common to the Neches River watershed, alligators are rarely seen in the creek due to natural springs creating cooler water temperatures.

Rentals and Shuttles

Eastex Canoes

Canoe and kayak rentals 50 Turtle Creek Dr., Silsbee, TX 77656
409-385-4700; http://www.eastexcanoes.com

Partnership

This trail was made possible through a partnership between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,Big Thicket National Preserve, Kountze Chamber of Commerce, Lumberton Chamber of Commerce, Silsbee Chamber of Commerce, The Nature Conservancy (Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary), and Village Creek State Park.