stlouis-to-caruthersville
Best camping below Mosenthein Island is found left bank descending (against the Illinois shore) below the JB Bridge, at the top end of the Carroll Islands (two consecutive islands, each similarly shaped and about a mile long), where a generous bluff of creamy white sand is found thrown up against
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Opposite the River des Peres and downstream of mile 171 are a series of L-shaped wing dams and 2 straight line dams around which sandbars emerge during low water and create some beautiful low-water camping, while medium water camping can be found against the riverbank below these rock walls. This
stlouis-to-caruthersville
As it flows past the Coast Guard Station the channel crosses over to the Missouri side of the river RBD, and you will want to do the same to avoid the giant Marquette Transportation fleeting area on the Illinois side. Every Marquette tow bears the insignia of a solo paddler
stlouis-to-caruthersville
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 and the winds calm. In inclement
stlouis-to-caruthersville
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,” the dangerous Port of St. Louis,
stlouis-to-caruthersville
At 16 feet SLG advanced paddlers can easily negotiate the Chain of Rocks by staying in the broad central tongue of flow found to the right of the old intake structures and riding the rollers over the break. The biggest tongue of water seems to form to the right of
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Big Muddy Mike Clark unofficially designated the stretch of free-flowing river between Duck island and the bottom of Gabaret Island as the “Big Muddy Wild & Scenic Section” (i.e.: the river channel not going through the Chain of Rocks Canal). Paddling this wild stretch involves negotiating the notorious Chain
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Duck Island is a one mile tall forested island with sandy ledge on south (bottom) end good for low, medium and even high water camps. Giant sandbar top end at low water gradually disappears as the river rises and is nowhere to be seen at high water (above 25 on
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Columbia Bottom Boat Ramp is a good quality, low angle concrete boat ramp dropping into the muddy Missouri River 3 miles above the confluence. Fancy concrete outhouses. Paved parking lot. Turnaround at top of ramp. Paddlers will have to jockey for position with fishermen. Arrange shuttle for any overnights or
stlouis-to-caruthersville
This five mile stretch of river is an ungrateful way to say goodbye to the Upper Mississippi. But it’s an accurate precursor of what’s to come downstream in and around the St. Louis Harbor, and then recapitulated big time another thousand miles downstream in the Greater Port of
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Towboats and Buoys Buoys: Red “Nun” Buoys = LBD navigation channel Green “Can” Buoys = RBD navigation channel Towboats: Upstreamers = towboats going up the river Downstreamers = towboats going down the river Towboats and buoys provide endless fascination for Lower Mississippi River paddlers, but also present two of your gravest dangers. Red “nun”
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Not much remains of Island 15, just a few isolated sandbars at low water which diminish rapidly in rising waters, and are completely gone by 20 CuG. As you come around Island No 15, and into Little Prairie Bend, watch carefully for upstream and downstream tows, and tune into VHF