Mile 173.0 LBD — Bringier Point

John Ruskey

26 Apr 2026 � 1 min read

Possible all-weather, all-water camping at point, up to 30BR, but beware nearby dirt removal operation. Quieter low water sandbar at lower end.

Bringier Point allows the river to make a tight bend to the north a couple of miles past the town of Donaldsonville. Although not as tight as Smoke Bend around Eighty-One Mile, Bringier is slightly more than a right angle bend, and makes for hazardous crossings because immediately downstream (two miles) Houmas Bend makes an even tighter bend around Houmas Point. This double bend zig-zag causes freighter pilots to sweat bullets, and the last thing they want to see is a canoe in the middle of the river. If you hear two toots in sucession that means “hullo!” But if you are shook by a prolonged blaring horn that means the pilot thinks you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Re-assess your line of travel and make any possible adjustments. Sometimes commercial pilots mis-judge what us paddlers are capable of, and react with anger, or maybe fear. Ultimately, paddlers will have to make their own best decisions about what is the best line of travel, and suffer whatever consequences come what may.

Several beautiful sandbars emerge along the East Bank (left bank descending) as you come around Bringier Point. While these look delectable, you might carefully inspect before striking camp. Nearby dirt removal operations, and 4WD activity might cause some upset to your peace & quiet. Big tall sandbars continue downstream one mile, but are all subject to removal by big machines. Another mile downstream, willow woods reach down to the river, and sandy camps can be found within during low water. In medium or high water cross over to Point Houmas for the best camping/picnicking.

The Bringier family, for whom Bringier Point is named, owned several impressive plantation homes along the banks of the Mississippi above New Orleans. Texcuco, located between Burnside and Grammercy, was built in 1855 by a Bringier. Bocage, built in 1801 and remodelled in the 1840's, was a wedding present for a Bringier daughter. The Hermitage, Union, and Ashland, as well as other plantations in the area, were all homes of various members of the Bringier family. (Braggs)

More from this section

Mile 19.0 RBD — Fort Jackson Beach

Best camping along this stretch of river in low/med water, up to 10NO. The levee falls back and the batture becomes wider around Jackson Point, allowing for the return of natural shorelines and good camping for one mile from 19.5 to 18.5 RBD. It is so rare

Mile 22.0 LBD — Bolivar Point

Low/medium water camping, up to 12NO, underwater above that. Best camping is found on the first sandbars located close to main channel on East Bank as you pass mile marker sign 22LBD. This is a beautiful location, with the river making a right angle turn, freighters proudly plowing by,

Mile 23.5 LBD — Neptune Pass

Three openings in rip-rap allow quick exit from storms, waves and wind, and high banks behind might make for good camping. There are three openings around the Neptune Light on the East Bank between 24 and 23 LBD. Paddlers could quickly exit the main channel through any of these small

Mile 29.5 LBD — Point Pleasant

Good low/med water camping on grassy shelves. Paddlers will find several miles of natural wild shoreline below Point Pleasant on the East Bank, from 28 - 31 LBD. If you seek a campsite, stop at the first good-looking place you find. Further down the campsites are corrupted by noise

Mile 33.0 RBD — Sixty-Mile Point

Low water only. Natural wild shoreline with possible low-water camping and picnicking, but shallow approach. Watch for tides and waves from passing ships. Partially due to the bend of the river here, and partially due to the Nairn 1973 Flood Crisis, a widening of the batture is found on the

Mile 60.0 LBD — Poverty Point

Possible low bar in low water, but not reliable campsite, goes under above 5NO. Poverty Point makes for a good picnic site in low/med waters, fine for light weight canoes, kayaks or paddleboards, but could prove to be a difficult shallow bank for any larger vessels. Just below the