Kayaking the Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park

I once canoed the Oxbow in Grand Teton National Park. Then, I was a chaperone with Paul Lussow’s High School class. It was at least forty-five years ago, and I ever since then I wished to paddle the myriad channels and Oxbows backwaters again… Finally, we got our chance, and we loaded our kayaks, bought the necessary permits from the state of Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park, (thirty dollars total) and unloaded the kayaks at Cattleman’s Bridge. As we got ready to launch, an immature bald eagle hit the water and rose with a large fish in it’s talons. It carried it across to an island near us and proceeded to feast on the fresh and flapping fish.

We could see it ripping strips of meat. Tossing them up, and then catching them in its mouth. As it fed a mature bald eagle flew overhead and called to the immature, as if to say, well done. We got into the kayaks and pushed off. As we floated in a gentle current the eagle flew over Renita’s head and she could hear its wing beating in the air. It landed in a large pine tree carrying the skin and head for a latter snack.

Passing under the bird we took the first channel to the left, it narrowed and wound past an island before opening into a larger channel. Ahead of us we spotted American White Pelicans looking for their own meal, but we did not see them dipping their large sagging bills into the water.

A family was also exploring the Oxbows Bend, but they were on paddleboards and in an inflatable raft. Continuing we next headed to three small islands which then opened into the main bend. From there we could see the highway and even some people at the overlook. Paddling into another channel Renita spotted a bear track in the mud that made up shallow botto

m. We decided to stay in the kayaks as we did not relish encountering a bear, wolf, elk or moose, (if you ever get the chance to watch a grizzly bear swim, well I doubt we could out paddle one).

Spotting the takeout point we decided to paddle the long section boarded by the highway, and then paddling upstream in the main channel of the Snake River. The river’s current is controlled by the amount of water being discharged from the Jackson Lake dam and we knew that the released water was lower and slower than it had been. Paddling around the point of the largest island we encountered the river’s current, but it was doable, even with our limited ability. Val has a much better kayak, with a rudder and so she scoots along in a straight path while our yaks tend to crab. She paddled across the river and back in the time it took us to cross along the river’s edge. It was a very deep hole, and I did spot a large snake river cutthroat! It was much bigger than any I had ever caught!

Renita and I were tired and so we all paddled up current to our takeout point. As we approached our takeout point a friendly lady from Australia, Marissa, helped us out of the boats. We talked a bit, and she told us she was house sitting and asked us how difficult the Oxbow was. We told her that if she had ever kayaked, she wouldn’t have any problem and that the float was a beautiful time in a beautiful place.

It was a great day on the water with Renita and Val. Just after we loaded the boats the wind came up and whitecaps formed. Perfect timing, and a perfect ending to a great day on the water. Clear skies