Bouie River
The Bouie Creek has its origins near Magee and Mt. Olive in Simpson County, MS. At normal levels it generally becomes navigable by canoe and kayak where it crosses Hwy 589, North of Sumrall, MS in Covington County. The creek is joined by the Okatoma River just south of the Hwy. 49 bridge in North Hattiesburg and becomes the Bouie River. The river gently meanders through rural forests and farm country until it empties into the Leaf River at the Hwy 11 bypass near Chain Park in Hattiesburg. It forms several beautiful fishing lakes along the way and is dotted with sandbars and islands and some gentle rapids.
Two sections of the Bouie have now been designated as Pinebelt Blueways with landing signage and mile markers. The Upper Bouie Blueway starts at the public boat ramp at Hwy. 49 just north of Hattiesburg and ends where it crosses Peps Point Road. There is signage both at Hwy. 49 and Pep's Point Road. The Lower Bouie Blueway takes you from Pep's Point Road to Glendale Ave. This section has some nice little rapids passing a gravel island that is great fun to stop and play in. This section also opens up into two large lakes just before you reach the Glendale landing.
Click Below for NOAA Bouie River Water Level at Hattiesburg, MS
FIVE LANDINGS - FOUR TRIPS
Hwy. 589 to Hwy 49
The section of Bouie Creek is the farthest upstream we have attempted to paddle. There is a good landing on a sandbar under the Hwy. 589 bridge north of Sumrall, MS that is accessible by a short dirt road/drive. As of 2019 the landing was accessible, but we were informed by a local law enforcement officer that there were efforts to block access to the landing by gating the drive and giving control to private landowners. The creek is typically fairly shallow at this landing, and it is unlikely that the creek is navigable by canoe much further upstream except in high water conditions. The next public landing downstream is a public boat ramp at the Hwy. 49 crossing.
This trip is approximately 11.5 river miles long. So far, we have paddled it twice and would do it again. We got crazy one night and wanted to hit the river so bad we made this trip in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, our lighting wasn't the best, so it was a real challenge dodging snags that would appear before us with only a short time to make adjustments.
In the daytime, we have encountered Great Blue Herons, Great White Herons, Kingfishers, hawks, mallard ducks and deer swimming the river on this section of the Bouie.
Hwy. 49 to Pep's Point Road
(Upper Bouie Blueway)
From the public boat ramp on Hwy. 49 just north of Hattiesburg, it is only a short float to the mouth of the Okatoma River. Past the Okatoma, Bouie Creek becomes the Bouie River and meanders downstream to a nice takeout at the public boat ramp at Pep's Point Road. This section of the Bouie is beautiful with numerous steep bluffs and plenty of sandbars to stop and swim or picnic at. Wildlife is abundant with egrets, herons, king fishers and lots of signs of small and large mammals.
The entire trip is only about 6.65 miles from put in to take out. We have paddled this section many times. The last float took us about 2.5 hours with the river at what I would consider its normal level of 2.2 ft. at the gauge at Glendale. This section is also blessed with easy access with the put in on major Hwy. 49 and the take out just one turn off of Hwy. 49. Both landings have concrete boat ramps in good condition with Blue Way signage.
Pep's Point Road to Glendale Avenue
(Lower Bouie Blueway)
This is an exciting section of the Bouie River that that runs about 7.75 miles and takes about 3-4 hours, depending on stops along the way. In 2021, it was designated the Lower Bouie Blue Way with signage at the launch and take out with mile markers along the way.
It includes a small set of rapids branching off of a gravel island that offer a fun play stop for kids and adults alike to float over and swim in.
There is also a nice log dwelling that operates as a Bed & Breakfast at the point of the rapids called River Ranch Bed and Breakfast.
The Pep's Point Rd. launch is scheduled for significant improvements in the near future, including adding a fish cleaning station.
This section of the Bouie also ends with two good sized lakes with sand bars and islands that make for great camping spots and swim holes. Fish are abundant in these lakes. The take out is a public boat ramp at the Glendale Ave. bridge.
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Glendale Ave. to Hwy. 11 Bypass/Chain Park
From the public boat ramp at Glendale Avenue to the public boat ramp at the Hwy. 11 Bypass at Chain Park in Hattiesburg where the Bouie empties into the Leaf River, this section of the of the Bouie consists mostly of a large lake and a short stretch of river winding to the Leaf. We do not recommend putting in at the concrete boat ramp, because it will take you over a small, rubble dam that is notorious for wrecking boats and a dangerous undertow. Boaters and swimmers have lost their lives here over the years. The best put in is a short walk down to a sandbar just downstream from the dam where the water is gentle.
There are a few nice sandbars along the way to stop and swim at, and the small peninsula between the Leaf and Bouie is quite beautiful and interesting to stop and play at. We highly recommend this trip for a pleasant, short getaway close to Downtown Hattiesburg.