The Rivergator Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
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1,100
River Miles
9
Sections
1,611
Markers
526
Access Points
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Written by John Ruskey
40 years of paddling the Lower Mississippi, mile by mile. The original rivergator.org, now reimagined as your on-the-water companion.
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GPS tracking & navigation
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Plan a Trip
Multi-day expedition planner
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Paddler's Guide
Safety, skills & river knowledge
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River Conditions
Gauges, weather & reports
River Sections
1
St. Louis to Caruthersville
Mile 195–850 · 305 river miles
74% wild8 chapters
318
Markers
89
Access
67
Camps
12
Ramps
2
Caruthersville to Memphis
Mile 850–737 · 113 river miles
78% wild4 chapters
46
Markers
42
Access
38
Camps
6
Ramps
3
Memphis to Helena
Mile 737–663 · 74 river miles
82% wild5 chapters
34
Markers
18
Access
24
Camps
4
Ramps
4
Helena to Greenville
Mile 663–537 · 126 river miles
85% wild5 chapters
67
Markers
12
Access
19
Camps
3
Ramps
5
Greenville to Vicksburg
Mile 537–437 · 100 river miles
80% wild4 chapters
34
Markers
65
Posts
100
Miles
6
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
Mile 437–225 · 212 river miles
72% wild5 chapters
217
Markers
276
Posts
212
Miles
7
Baton Rouge to Venice
Mile 229–10 · 219 river miles
4 chapters
693
Markers
350
Posts
219
Miles
8
Atchafalaya River
Mile 159–0 · 159 river miles
90% wild3 chapters
187
Markers
145
Posts
159
Miles
9
Birdsfoot Delta
Mile 10–0 · To the Gulf
100% wild3 chapters
15
Markers
35
Posts
10
Miles
Community Reports
Guide & Resources Paddler's guide, river media, resources & more
Essentials
📜
Foreword
Why this guide exists
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🌊
Introduction
The Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
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River Sections
Browse all 9 sections of the river
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Safety
⚠
Safety Overview
Essential safety for the big river
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Canoe Self-Rescue
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Kayak Self-Rescue
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SUP Self-Rescue
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Paddle Signals
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Whistle Signals
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How to Paddle the Big River
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Beginner's Options
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Intermediate Options
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⇄
Main Channel vs. Back Channel
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📈
Forecasting River Levels
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📏
Monitoring River Rise with a Stick
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🚧
Paddling Through a Lock and Dam
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⚡
Notched or Overtopped Dikes
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🌈
What Color is the Mississippi?
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River Science
🦠
Phytoplankton
The invisible life of the river
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Resources
🔗
Essential Paddler's Links
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Maps
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🌿
Leave No Trace
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🌊
Water Trails in Louisiana
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🌊
Water Trails in Mississippi
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Lower Mississippi River Dispatch
LMRF newsletter
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News
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🎤
Press Kit
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River Media
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River Photo Gallery
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🎦
River Video
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🏆
2017 Celebratory Expedition
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About
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About the Rivergator
John Ruskey & the Lower Mississippi River Foundation
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Experts & Credits
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Contact Us
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Book Shop
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Map Shop
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River Conditions Live gauges & 5-day forecast
Normal Action Flood Updated live
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Mile Markers
Profile Your account & contributions
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