St. Louis to Caruthersville
182.6 RBD Bob Cassilly Sculpture/City Museum Above the riverbank and behind the seawall you might be surprised to see a series of cement dinosaur sculptures. Bob Cassilly Sculpture, the genius artist behind the City Museum is responsible for these, and other monuments along the waterfront. If you take
St. Louis to Caruthersville
182.6 RBD Dignity Harbor In May 2012 a colorful riverbank hobo community known as Dignity Harbor was dismantled at this location, one of the few places on the Middle Mississippi people lived right on the banks of the river, like the river rat days of old. Dignity Harbor was
St. Louis to Caruthersville
183.2 Merchants Railroad Bridge Welcome to the Industrial Harbor! The Merchants Railroad Bridge marks the beginning of the trials and tribulations. Stay towards right bank descending and watch carefully for chevrons. Also work boats and small tows might be encountered servicing larger tows. Stay away from bridge abutments, piers,
St. Louis to Caruthersville
184.1 LBD Chain of Rocks Canal (Bottom End) The peaceful respite of paddling with no tow traffic is over as you leave Mosenthein/Gabaret and swing downstream towards the Merchants Railroad Bridge. Tow traffic will now rejoin you on the big river at the bottom (southern) entrance to the
St. Louis to Caruthersville
183.4 RBD The Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing and Rest Area This nine-acre site is on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail, three miles north of downtown St. Louis, just north of the Merchant’s Bridge rght bank descending. This site recognizes the first documented Underground Railroad event in Missouri. In
St. Louis to Caruthersville
187.7 RBD Cementland Dock After genius sculpture artist and engineer Bob Cassilly finished the City Museum he found his next pet project in the abandoned Portland Cement Factory, which sprawls over the side of the bluff in a phantasmagora of industrial waste, giant mounds of earth, vacant warehouses and
St. Louis to Caruthersville
187.8 RBD Big Muddy Adventures (Primitive Mud Ramp) Big Muddy Adventures is located at 539 Scranton, just a short walk over Riverside Park and up the bluff behind the sprawling (and abandoned) cement factory. Call Big Muddy Mike in advance if you need expert guiding, shuttling, food & water
St. Louis to Caruthersville
188 RBD North Riverside Park Boat Access This might be your best access to Mosenthein island and the “Big Muddy Wild & Scenic Section” of the Middle Mississippi, but unfortunately has become silted in with deep Missouri River-type mud over the years, and is never an open ramp with easy
St. Louis to Caruthersville
189 - 185 LBD Mosenthein Island Mosenthein Island offers the best and most reliable camping in the St. Louis area in between the Missouri Confluence and the JB Bridge below. Once past Mosenthein (and adjacent Gabaret Island) you will have to paddle a very challenging 20 miles down “the Gauntlet,
St. Louis to Caruthersville
189 - 184 LBD Gabaret Island Long Narrow Island behind Mosenthein, now connected to Chouteau Island. During Low/Med water a giant sandbar forms in the back channel against Gabaret Island (opposite the bottom end of Mosenthein Is). This bar makes good picnicking and camping if the weather is friendly
St. Louis to Caruthersville
190 LBD Chain Sandbar (Low Water Only) During low water (below 12 SLG) a long narrow sandbar emerges LBD below the Chain of Rocks extending 1/4 mile down to the first dike below the Chain. Good picnic spot, good place to re-group after making a portage or run over
St. Louis to Caruthersville
High Water: 24 - 30SLG: Open Channel At 25 feet SLG the Chain becomes a smooth undulating field of fast-flowing water with minor turbulence. Maybe you will see some big boils and notice a slight undulation in the water as you slide over the ledge, but otherwise you can run