The Trip
A two-day paddle down the upper Brazos through the Palo Pinto country — limestone bluffs, gravel bars, and river miles that depend entirely on what Possum Kingdom's Morris Sheppard Dam is releasing. We put in at the old Stone Arch Bridge just below the dam and take out at Shiela Lane upstream of Mineral Wells.
| Distance | ~30 river miles |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night on a gravel bar |
| Put in | Stone Arch Bridge below Morris Sheppard Dam |
| Take out | Shiela Lane, upstream of Mineral Wells |
Route
~29.7 recorded miles along the meanders, put-in to take-out.
River Conditions
| Flow | Status | What it means for us |
|---|---|---|
| Below 150 | No-go | Too low — a boat drag, not a float |
| 150 – 250 | Caution | Scrapy for loaded canoes |
| 250 – 1,500 | Go | Good to float |
| 1,500 – 2,500 | Caution | Pushy — leadership judgment call |
| Above 2,500 | No-go | Too high for the troop |
Possum Kingdom releases move in flat multi-day plateaus, so mid-week readings usually predict the weekend. The Brazos River Authority posts release data. Typical April flow at Graford runs low (long-term median ≈ 120 cfs) — this reach depends on dam releases, not season.
3-day forecast — river corridor
Safety Notes
Life jackets stay on, on the water. Period. USCG-approved, inherently buoyant, properly fitted. Every Trailman on this trip must hold Swimmer-level certification from within the last 12 months.
The dam sets the river. Flow below Morris Sheppard can change with release schedules; leadership checks the Graford gauge and BRA release postings through trip week and again the morning of launch.
No cotton on the river. Wool or synthetics only — April water is cold and an April norther is colder.
Packing List — Canoe Overnight
Swimmer-level certification within the last 12 months and a USCG-approved, inherently buoyant life jacket — worn at all times on the water — are required. No cotton: wool or synthetics only.
On the water
- Personal life vest (USCG-approved, inherently buoyant)
- Sun shirt / loose-fitting long sleeve
- Paddling gloves
- Whistle
- Bail cup
- Dry bag for personal gear (a contractor trash bag works and is provided)
- Ziplock bags for small items
- Water bottles (2–3 L)
- Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with retainer
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Water shoes or sandals with heel strap
Overnight camp
- Tent (1- to 3-person) — hammock spots possible but not guaranteed
- Sleeping bag
- Camping mat; travel pillow (optional)
- Merino wool or polyester base layer
- Extra wool socks and quick-dry underwear
- Warm hat and windproof evening layer
- Complete dry change of clothes (no cotton)
- Tarp, cordage, and pegs (optional)
- Mosquito net (optional)
Personal kit
- Personal first aid kit
- Hand sanitizer and toilet paper (no restrooms on the river)
- Trowel (cat holes — Trailman's Handbook sanitation)
- Separate small backpack for the overnight
- Extra snacks
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Mess kit (cup, bowl, spoon)
- Jetboil or backpack stove and small pot (optional)