Launching from Sweetwater Strand off Loop Road

[Daniel Madrigal]

Hi guys, I drove by there a couple of days ago and it looks like a pretty cool area to explore and check out. Right where Loop Road Curves it looks like the creek goes down for quite a while. Does anyone know if it goes anywhere? Or anyone checked it out before? 

 

(attachment has been resized to keep it within posting guidelines - admin)

[yakmaster]

Looks great doesn't it...

always dreamt of paddling down that creek all the way to the islands!

Finally got to explore it a few years back when it dried out. Truth is you've already seen most of it! I don't think you can go another 50 yards beyond what you can see from the bridge. It really closes up pretty quick. But it's still a beautiful place!

[Keith W]

Did you drive the entire Loop? What's the current condition? When I was last down there in July there were parts of the road that were getting pretty hairy, especially at the east end by the Environmental Education Center. The Loop Road rehabilitation project is still in the planning stages and they probably won't do any work until that has been finalized.

[Daniel Madrigal]

I didnt do the whole thing just from monroe station to sweetwater strand and back. I did it around july as well and my car took a beating, it is pretty bad after the strand.

[Jared E]

I did the whole drive about October of last year, it was very hairy, I have a truck but not 4x4 and I got a little nervous. I was back in the area around May and it was still pretty bad I didn't do the whole thing, Love the road but it's a balancing act to keep it wild & passable at the same time.

-Jared E.

[Kim Gass]

Did the entire Loop Road but last March. I had a passenger new to the area who wanted to do some photgraphy. We did about six stops for that. Total travel time was about four hours.. We discouraged some car motorists going the other way. I had a truck and it was just plain rough and were it not for seat belts for sure the roof would have had head dimples. We just kept going saying "Its GOTTA get better (we went west to east). No it doesnt!

I wont try it again this year.

[Swamp Hunter]

I agree with yakmaster that it closes up pretty quickly past what you can see. But I discovered something interesting the other day while talking to an oldtimer that lives on the Loop. The old hunters and Indian elders have much knowlege of the area and I always enjoy taking with them.

He tells me that he remembers an airboat trail (before the NPS took over), in the Sweetwater Strand, with earthworks built high on both sides. He said that is one place he would like to return to. He mentioned something about Sig Walker's so it may be near to it. Most of what he told me he says is not for print but I wanted to share this tidbit of information.

I hope someone will explore this deep swamp area, find the trail and tell us what they discover. He said the earthworks could have been built by none other than ancient Indians. An archaeologist believes an ancient Indian trail went all the way up through Roberts Lakes Strand where 2 dugout canoes were found. He believes the ancients moved inland, from the coast, every year when the mosquitos became unbearable.

At this time there are no designated trails in Sweetwater or Sig Walker Strands.

[Swamp Hunter]

It has been a long time since I walked back there. Looking at this map, it appears to open up a little. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=25.7881834&lon=-81.0999584&z=16&a...

[Robert Sobczak]

You won't get far without slogging and portaging over trees.  Try upstream instead.

[Amazon Bill]

I talked with a ranger at the Oasis Visitors Center this Thursday about Loop Road. It is under construction now and the north/south section was closed. The construction will be completed in about 6 months or so.

[Swamp Hunter]

This is true. The Loop Road is closed again this year.  I have heard several rumors for the closure. I havent driven it myself but several tourists tell me the road is in good condition. 

 The workers left when the rains came and the mosquitos got bad. This year may have had the worst mosquitos in 30 years. I am not sure the workers have returned yet lol. The fine for passing the roadblocks is $100. The hunters have been complying but I dont know how I will be able to keep the tourists out because I cant tell them unless they stop in to talk. I work at the FMB wildlife check station Tues-Wed.-Thurs..   Here is a map of the closure. http://www.nps.gov/bicy/parknews/upload/LR%20Closure.pdf

You could theoretically park at the roadblock and walk in or use a bicycle. No vehicles allowed.