Condition Report — Mile 592.1 — John Ruskey

John Ruskey — May 3, 2026 — Greenville: 31.0 ft

Condition Report — Mile 663 — Robert Cheek

Robert Cheek — May 1, 2026 — Helena: 21.7 ft

Condition Report — Mile 663 — Robert Cheek

Robert Cheek — May 1, 2026 — Helena: 21.7 ft

Condition Report — Mile 667.3 — John Ruskey

John Ruskey — Apr 27, 2026 — Helena: 21.4 ft

Mile 366.0 LBD — Remnants of Cypress Forest

In low and medium water levels, the stumps of giant cypress trees can be seen at the base of the bluffs along the left bank descending and are the remnants of the forests found here that stalled the opening of the Giles Cut-Off (1933).    Lake Concordia in Louisiana was an

Mile 367.0 LBD — Bluff Bars

(Note: We’re talking here about sandbars, not alcohol bars.  Your thirst will soon be satiated at Natchez-Under-the-Hill Saloon, or other nearby establishments!)  At medium and low water levels the adventurous paddler can pull into some highly unusual ledges of sand and mud and collapsing Loess Bluff left bank descending

Mile 372.0 LBD — Fairchild (Skull) Island

Like all Mississippi River islands Fairchild grows and diminishes with the water level.  At high water it is a one-and-a-half mile long willow topped island with scrubby bottoms that are impenetrable in places with swamp privet and vines.  At medium its back channel dries out (around 25NG) and a beautiful

Mile 377.5 RBD — Waterproof Island

Waterproof Island is two giant islands, each several thousand acres big, that have formed like twins, one hugging the other, parallel to the main channel of the river.  Each Island is long and narrow, so long that you’ll think it’s just part of the right bank descending as

Mile 388.0 LBD — Cottage Bend Islands

Cottage Bend Islands are visible from upstream by the bluffs of sand on the tops of the islands in low and medium water) and are found left bank descending opposite Brown’s Field Islands a couple of miles below Bondurant.  These two willow-topped babies are cradled by the enormous Rodney

Mile 415.5 — Togo Island Bend & Dikes

The Mississippi makes a tight bend at Togo, a one hundred and eighty degree about face.  The waters running northwesterly past Big Black Island find themselves turned around at Togo Island and made to exit this bend running southeasterly!  That’s some wrangling of forces, water and land, the land

Mile 415.5 RBD — Big Black Island

Due to the ever meandering nature of the big river, Big Black Island is now landlocked and connected to the east bank, although it is still legally considered Louisiana.  Great all water level and all weather camping can be found around the entire perimeter of the tight bend of river

Mile 415.5 RBD — Togo Island

About a mile below the last bump of sand (during high water) on Newtown, RBD near mile 416, you will find an opening in the wall of willows.  This is the entrance to the back channel of Togo Island.  Always an interesting place to make a stop and stretch your

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Mile 420.0 RBD — Newtown Bend Sandbar

Long beautiful sandbar at low and medium water levels, possible picnic and campsites found along entire length.  Newtown sizzles in the summer sun like a slice of fatback in the griddle, and shimmers like an alaskan snowfield by the winter moonlight.  In any season it creates a balanced layer of

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Mile 427.5 LBD — Below Racetrack Dikes/Towhead

You can stay Left Bank Descending and cut behind a small island that has formed around one of the dikes for variety of paddling and wildlife viewing.   Opens around 25VG, island goes under around 40VG.  Good campsites all around a high ridge of willows and cottonwoods.  A long bay forms

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Mile 431.0 RBD — Racetrack Towhead Main Channel

Luxurious Sandbars and harbors found along length of Racetrack, paddlers looking for a campsite will have plenty of good choices, but the proximity of the power plant will mean it will not be a quiet night.    Top end goes under around 30VG, but dry sandy landings can be made further

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Mile 431.0 RBD — Racetrack Towhead Back Channel

Opens up in a shallow trickle around 20VG.  Best to run 25VG and higher.  Good flow at 30VG.  Strong flow at 35 and above.  After descending below bridge make your crossing to the RBD and enter back channel.  Beautiful picnic and campsites found throughout until 30VG.  Top end goes under

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Mile 436.0 LBD — Walnut Hills (Mississippi Loess Bluff #1)

The river dives to over 200 feet as it comes around Delta Point through Centennial Cutoff, forced downward by the Walnut Hills upon which Vicksburg sits.  The turbulent action of the water carving deeper and deeper through the Mississippi Mud makes this one of the deepest holes along the entire

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Mile 234.5 — Mulatto Bend (Wilkerson Point)

Mulatto Bend makes a severe obtuse angle around Wilkerson Point that turns the river “about-right” so that you enter paddling slightly northeasterly and exit due south with an incredible heart-stopping view downstream.  Paddlers brace yourself for this paradigm change.  Gone are the endless trees, back channels and sandbars of the

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Mile 237.0 LBD — Allendale Reach: Fleeted Barges

Stay with the faster water right bank, and avoid the fleeting petro and grain barges left bank descending 238 -235.  In other words, three miles of fleeted barges, or places that tows might getting ready to pull over and detach or re-attach barges for transport elsewhere.  Don’t be surprised

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Mile 237.0 — Allendale Reach (Thomas Point to Wilkerson Point)

After zig-zagging through the hairpin corner Thomas Point the paddler comes around like a billiard ball into the final run downstream into the top end of the busiest port in North America (the port of greater Baton Rouge/New Orleans).  The river flows in a straight channel due east between

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Mile 240.0 LBD — Thomas Point (Mallet Bend)

Warning: Hairpin Bend!  Blind Corner!  As you enter Mallet Bend around Thomas Point pay special attention to any signs of upstream traffic.  Ride the inside of the curve LBD as tightly as possible so that you can run to the shore quickly if needed.  You could also ride the far

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Mile 257.5 LBD — Fancy Point Towhead

Fancy Point Towhead is found left bank descending about seven miles below St. Francisville (or about three miles below the Audubon Bridge).  If the water is above 12 BG the back channel will be open and flowing, but below 8BG it might be impassable, and below 5 it will start

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Mile 271.5 RBD — St. Maurice Island

Two mile long island and about half miles wide, seal shaped from the air, like so many Mississippi River islands, St. Maurice is the best camping between the Tunica Hills and St. Francisville.  Most sand is found spilling onto and over both sides of the top end, one large plateau

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Mile 272.5 LBD — Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Paddlers have a unique opportunity to walk up to one of the largest and oldest trees in the south, the co-champion bald cypress of North America.  If the river is high you can paddle all the way, but it will have to be bank full 30BG or higher.  If it