Mile 3.0 RBD — Missouri River
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 multi day trips. No vehicles allowed overnight.
Paddlers putting in at the Columbia Bottom Boat Ramp can enjoy the last three miles of the Big Muddy Missouri River, and entertain thoughts of the two thousand miles upstream this great waterway has flowed. The Big Muddy Missouri the longest arm of the longest river in America, reaching up through the Middle of Missouri and in between Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and then up through the Middle of the Dakotas to define the center of Montana with the Yellowstone branching south into Wyoming, its three tributaries branching off at its head to reach into the top of the Continental Divide between Montana, Wyoming and Idaho via the Absorokas, the Firehole Basin (Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful), and the Bitterroot Range.
In low water the Missouri flows around 3mph here, warm brownish-green in color, moving too slow to keep much mud in suspension. But in high water the Missouri scoots along at 7, 8, 9mph -- and sometimes faster -- barreling along downstream full of trees, trash and other detritus in a deep chocolate brown soupy broth that sometimes borders on the consistency of chicken gravy. Paddle out of the swirling sediment-laden eddy at the bottom of the Columbia Bottom Boat Ramp and get in the flow, and then sit back and enjoy the sensation of the Big Muddy Missouri. You only have three miles so you might as well make the most of it. Unless the wind is contrary, or you’re in a rush to get somewhere, you can float along all the way down to the Upper Miss Confluence. You might see fishermen and maybe other paddlers, but there is rarely any commercial traffic on the Missouri. Enjoy the quiet ride while it lasts!
Columbia Bottom State Conservation Area
Columbia Bottom State Conservation Area; protected bottomlands which includes over 4,300 acres of fields intersected by lines of willows, cottonwoods, and sycamores, and is full of wildlife. Important birding area. Managed hunting allowed. Paved boat ramp (see above) for river activities and a primitive boat ramp for canoes or kayaks (at base of Duck Island). The Conservation Area also includes paved walking and biking trails, viewing platforms overlooking the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers and a Visitors Center. Visitor Center is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Open Wednesday through Friday 8am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm. 801 Strodtman Road, St. Louis, MO 63138, Phone: 314-877-6014.
Driving directions from I-270: Going north on Riverview Drive from I-270, look for sign announcing Columbia Bottom State Conservation Area. Take a right onto Upper Columbia Bottom Drive/Madison Ferry Drive. Follow pavement. Bear left at roads split and follow Upper Columbia Bottom Drive 1.6 miles. Boat ramp on left beyond large parking lot. 38.824012,-90.163829
Google Map:
Stopping at the Confluence
As you are approaching the confluence make plans for landing on one side or the other, (or float into the meeting not stopping at all). You have two choices for stop for photographs and stretching your legs. They are on opposite sides of the actual meeting of the rivers, separated by a half mile of fast-flowing water, so you will have to decide one or the other. Your most intimate visit would be Jones-Confluence State Park, LBD at the narrow meet place of the waters. Here you can disembark and wiggle your toes in the two rivers as they mix. You might get a better view from the Confluence Overlook of the Columbia Bottoms State Conservation Area, but it also feels a little removed.