Vermilion Voyage is a unique trip for Louisiana paddlers | Entertainment/Life

At 70 miles long, the Bayou Vermilion winds from Lafayette to Abbeville, passing small farming communities, marshland and cows — a lot of cows — on its journey to the Vermilion Bay and Gulf of Mexico. 

The river is part of the landscape of life in southwest Acadiana, used to move goods and explored by fishermen and recreational boaters, but little experienced by the thousands of people who live alongside it. Nobody swims in it, for the most part, and few use it in the course of their daily lives — whether paddling downriver to visit a neighbor, or simply spending a day on its banks. 

There are several reasons for this. The Vermilion was once dubbed the “most polluted river in America,” and its waters are still contaminated in sections by agricultural runoff and waste. There are few public access points along the banks, and paddling the river presents many unknowns — from the vagaries of weather and wildlife, to limited cell signal as the bayou carries you away from populated areas. 

But that’s where the adventure comes in, according to longtime paddler Greg Guidroz. As an experienced guide, he loves helping people explore the waterway and reach a new understanding of one of Acadiana’s defining natural features.  

“At this point, the river is almost like a person to me. It’s a beautiful thing getting to watch the river and getting to know it on that level,” said Guidroz, who is the main guide for the annual Vermilion Voyage, a three-day paddle and camping trip that starts at Acadiana Park Nature Station in Lafayette, and ends at Palmetto Island State Park south of Abbeville. 

The voyage will take place this year from March 20 to 22, and registration is $400, which includes the paddle craft and transport costs, meals and beverages, and entertainment. 

“Each voyage is very different,” Guidroz said. “It’s definitely a challenge, but there’s just something about being out on the water for three days — you can check out of everything. Anything waiting on the bank is going to have to wait. It’s just a good time to unplug and immerse yourself in the experience.” 

Highlights of the journey include spending the first night at Southside Park in Lafayette, which is part of the Bayou Vermilion District. The second day of paddling ends with dinner and primitive camping at Richard Sale Barn in Abbeville, and Guidroz said that the third day is his favorite, when they paddle past a rookery in southern Vermilion Parish where thousands of migratory birds nest in the swamps.  

The Vermilion Voyage attracts paddlers from all over, including people with experience paddling the Vermilion River’s ancient creator — the Mississippi. Mississippi Delta paddler Billy Howell, who runs Delta Bohemian tours and has been on several Vermilion Voyages, says that both rivers scratch a primal urge to reclaim a connection to the wild, unpredictable elements that surround us. 

“I love the Vermilion,” said Howell. “It’s a real treasure, and the voyage is such a well-run weekend. The food is fantastic, the music is fantastic, and there’s just enough fellowship, but you can also paddle by yourself.

“So often, in modernity, we don’t take the time for reflection. Without reflection, whether educationally, vocationally, or domestically, it’s hard to get better at what we do. When I’m on the water, I’m just alone with God and myself and nature, and it’s where my mind gets renewed.” 

Participants can register for the Vermilion Voyage at the Lafayette Travel website, which offers extensive information on the route and daily itinerary, and a thorough packing list for the trip. The Vermilion Voyage is a Class I paddle trip, which assumes the paddler is familiar with basic strokes and can handle their canoe in flat water.