Mile 533.5 — Vaucluse Bend/Island 84

Below Warfield Point the river opens southwestward up a mile wide into a vast moving pool that flows into and then south around Vaucluse Bend with Island 84 on the left.  Be vigilant for tows that often come to a stop in this area for servicing, crew changes and refueling from the nearby Economy Boat Store.  One of the first points of interest downstream is the Greenville Discharge Area, LBD 536, only visible in low water.  In high water you can stay left bank descending and save considerable mileage, but in low water you will have no choice except to the flow around the perimeter of the wide bend.  Island 84 is a low-lying sandbar with no protection.  Only exposed in low waters, below 25 GG.  Below 15 Island 84 grows into a sprawling 3-mile long sandbar punctuated with numerous inlets and back channel pools that trap fish and attract egrets, herons and occasional bald eagles.  These pools make for wonderful walks, and create a turtle heaven.  The waters get squeezed towards the bottom of the island and carve a cliff of sand along the edge of Is. 84, if the weather is calm you can locate possible camping downstream of this sandy cliff, but again there is no privacy or protection.