Mile 886.5 LBD — Kentucky Point Bar

Beautiful creamy yellow beaches surround Kentucky Point Bar at low water and medium water, but the choices become limited to high dunes closer to the bank in high water. Kentucky Point Bar wraps around the entire top of the Kentucky Bend, seven miles in all in low water. Pick the place that most appeals to your senses. There are several inlets with sandbars behind and off the main channel. Duck behind any of the clumps of willow-topped islands for more privacy and spectacular campsites and exploration. If crossing back to New Madrid for any logistical purposes stay as far upstream as you can for any easier crossing. If you are continuing downstream, follow the flow around the bend for many more miles of choice spots. In high water you can stay left bank descending around the entire perimeter of Kentucky Point Bar for an incredible safari paddle in and out of beautiful islands full of birds and beavers (if you are not making landing in New Madrid). You might want to avoid camping in the stretch around or below 885, however, because of the very noisy power plant and aluminum smelter, and other industry across the channel.