Mile 49.0 — Cape Bend Chute (Marquette Island Back Channel)

John Ruskey

26 Apr 2026 � 1 min read

In low water the back channel of Marquette Island (Cape Bend Chute) can be accessed through a break in the dike LBD near mile 51. You will avoid a lot of industry and busy traffic located in this short stretch of river by taking Cape Bend Chute. There is an almost continuous line of dikes across the top of the back channel, but you will find an wide opening at the base of Giboney Island LBD near mile 51 which opens around 12 CGG with slow flow. This opening becomes turbulent around 15 CGG with a strong eddy below. By 25CGG the dikes are all under water and medium flow can be enjoyed below. A cross-channel dike is located 2 miles down Cape Bend Chute (near mile 48.3) which can produce big waves and strong turbulence. In low water you will have to run through the notch in the center of the dike. In medium water the dike goes under, and the best flow concentrates in a powerful V-line tongue of water mid stream. If you feel like exploring a blue hole full of wildlife, make a landing LBD below the dike and follow the big eddy around in a big circle and make a landing on the big bluff of gravel LBD. Tie off your vessel and walk up and over riverbank. If you walk quietly and stay low you might sneak up on some unsuspecting wildlife like egrets or herons, turtles and deer. In warmer months this pool makes for a fabulous swim hole. When the conditions are right it will be brim full of clear deep water, cool on a hot day and warm on a cool day. The enjoyment of a Mississippi River blue hole!

More from this section

Mile 0.8 LBD — Fort Defiance

The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers confluence around Fort Defiance. It is the southernmost piece of the State of Illinois, and simultaneously the northernmost mile of the Lower Mississippi River. This strategic location has been a military stronghold since the Mississippian era, and figured importantly in the Civil War. At 279

Mile 1.3 — Cairo Highway Bridge

Last bridge on the Middle Mississippi River! Looking under this bridge you can see the confluence and the end of the Ohio River beyond. The excitement is building: the last mile of the Middle Mississippi River, and the thrill of the biggest river confluence in North America. Enjoy the feeling

Mile 3.4 LBD — Angelo Chute

WARNNG: 3-foot drop over rock dike at 24CGG. Very fast and very turbulent opening LBD along mainland bank. As you leave the main channel you will be confronted with a wall of rock the size of the Great Wall of China (t seems like) that completely occludes Anglo Chute, except

Mile 3.4 LBD — Angelo Towhead

Angelo Towhead is the last island on the Middle Miss, and makes for excellent picnicking or camping, and at certain water levels its back channel is a whitewater roller coaster. Angelo is a god all-season, all level camp island, but sometimes it’s difficult to access the top end because

Mile 17.5 RBD — Thompson Towhead

There never seem to be good landings along the steep muddy rip-rap banks right bank descending from mile 20 to mile 18, maybe a few sandy bluff purchases in high water, and at low and medium water a lot of slimy muddy flats seem to accumulate around the bend below

Mile 20.5 LBD — Dogtooth Bar

If you are watching your compass as you round Brown’s Bar you will be surprised to see that the next ten miles the river actually folds back on itself and flows back towards St. Louis, as if it’s not sure if it wants to continue down south with