Texas paddling. Canoe and kayak the Lonestar State!

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Product Description

"There is no river like the Neches."-from the Foreword

From its origins on a sandy hillside in Van Zandt County, the Neches River flows through the heart of East Texas. In its watershed lies some of the wildest country in Texas, tucked amid the remains of one of the finest hardwood forests in the world.

With the goal of keeping the Neches flowing free, East Texas native and riverman Richard M. Donovan takes readers canoeing down a two-hundred-mile stretch of the upper Neches. Through two national forests and mile after mile of remote river woodlands, he chronicles the river's natural and cultural history, describes its animal inhabitants, recounts stories of early settlers and East Texas hunting traditions, and calls attention to the recreational potential of the river for paddlers and others, whether residents or visitors.

Donovan also makes a case against damming the river. He convincingly promotes the idea of turning the Neches into a National Wild and Scenic River, preserving forever the river's natural flow and what remains of the verdant bottomlands of this historic watercourse.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #624750 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Turtleback
• 270 pages

Pete A. Y. Gunter
"I found myself engrossed in this narrative."

Ken Kramer, Director, Lone Star Chapter, Sierra Club
". . . one of those great treasures that delivers far more than it promises."

Larry McKinney, Senior Director of Aquatic Resources, Texas Parks and Wildlife
"[Donovan puts] within the grasp of us all appreciation for our state's connection with its rivers, both emotional and historic."

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Customer Reviews

good book to read
I read this book with great interest. Born and raised in Angelina County in 1927 I relived many wonderful adventures on the Neches river. I only wish Richard Donovan every success in this venture which he has undertaken, to see the Neches receive the coveted Wild River designation.

Save the Neches!
Some buddies and I have been paddling or climbing over log jams on the Neches River from Lake Palestine section at a time and eventually will go as far as the river will take us. If you are planning to paddle the Neches river this is the definitive book. The river float milage maps are extremely helpful in planning your trip.
The author also tells the story of the Neches River and how important it is to the environment, wildlife and history of the East Texas region and even down to the coastal areas of Texas. If you enjoy a true well written entertaining outdoor adventure this book will suffice.
Unfortunately, are threats facing the wild Neches River. There are interests that are attempting to dam and have plans to further harm this unique natural resource. The author wrote this book for public awarness of the importance of the Neches River and not for personal profit. In fact, proceeds benfit the Conservation Fund for the purchase of Neches River bottomland.

Paddling the Neches River, Donovan sees so much
This quality book is recommended reading for anyone who loves the outdoors, nature or our wilderness areas. Mr. Donovan writes about the Neches River and the surrounding East Texas area and tells our history with such clarity that you can see the sights, hear the sounds and smell the scents. His love of our beautiful but vanishing outdoors is evident. There are some people who could walk out in to the woods and not see or feel as much as you can reading this book. When reading about his canoe trip down the river, it was so exciting that I found myself staying up until nearly 2 AM when I had to be at work the next morning by 7 AM.

There are a lot of beautiful pictures of nature as well as historic photo's that are captivating. If you were interested enough to read this review, take my advice, and read this book; you will be glad you did.