Memphis to Helena
677-676 Shoo Fly Bar Shoo Fly is what paddlers have come to name a dynamic low-lying open bar that forms below the Tunica Runout and is only visible in low water conditions, and goes completely under around 20HG. Paddlers should avoid camping here except in the most perfect of conditions.
Memphis to Helena
677-674 Stumpy Island Three mile long island (at low water) topped with a young willow/cottonwood/sycamore forest with beautiful camping all around. In high water levels best camping is found top end above the trees, and there is ample water flowing through the back channel. (Cutoff resident Rick Howe
Memphis to Helena
679-677 Hardin Cut-Off The main channel of the Mississippi explodes out of Walnut Bend and into a five mile southerly run through Hardin Cut-Off towards the mouth of the St. Francis. Here you will get your first views of Crowley’s Ridge, which meets the Mississippi at Helena. The faint
Memphis to Helena
RBD 679 Walnut Bend Boat Ramp (AKA Battle Axe Boat Ramp) A functional but primitive boat ramp located in a strategic place right bank descending at the bottom of Walnut Bend. Partly revetment, partly gravel, partly rock. Located on the Arkansas bank on the edge of a giant eddy. Those
Memphis to Helena
LBD 677.4 (Pass into Tunica Lake) The Tunica Runout slices a two hundred yard wide meandering canyon three-and-a-half miles through the thick trees and mud to reach Tunica Lake. (Note: In general, most river bends cut off from the River are described as a “cutoff” with the ditch or
Memphis to Helena
Tunica Runout LBD 677.4 The Tunica Runout is a dynamic three-and-a-half mile long passage connecting the big river and the giant oxbow Tunica Lake. Enter deep woods east off the river and paddle over rock weir 1/4 mile upstream of mouth (passable above 10HG). Channel curves increasingly southward
Memphis to Helena
680 Whitehall Crevasse The rampaging Mississippi broke through at Whitehall on April 15, 1927, and the gap enlarged rapidly until it was 2,400 feet wide, The St. Francis River flows within a mile of the Lower Mississippi in the vicinity of Whitehall, and the great crevasse very nearly allowed
Memphis to Helena
682-679 Whiskey Chute/Walnut Bend The main channel slows down momentarily as it exits Mhoon Bend and slides into Whiskey Chute where the banks open up to almost a mile wide. It’s a lovely piece of river with tall trees on either side. Your best route of descent is
Memphis to Helena
689-685 Mhoon Bar You can find good camping on Mhoon Bar (at the inside of Mhoon Bend) at almost any water level up to flood stage. At low and medium water levels camp anywhere you see a good spot around the entire four-mile perimeter. In high water the choices narrow
Memphis to Helena
687.5 Mhoon Landing Rough revetment landing with paved access to Tunica and Highway 61. Popular party spot. Don’t leave your vehicle overnight. County park just beyond with bathrooms. Possible camping, but expect company, usually of the friendly sort. Ten mile walk into town. If you need to resupply
Memphis to Helena
690 Rabbit Island Great camping at all but the highest water levels. For paddlers on the main channel Rabbit Island seems to go on forever, especially with a head wind. During high water you can cut the corner. As the river approaches flood stage the back channel swells open a
Memphis to Helena
690-683 Mhoon Bend Leaving Mhoon Landing the downstream paddler riding the outside of the bend needs to be wary of a very turbulent eddy about a mile and half downstream near LBD 686.5. Below medium water you will see a lot of fresh rip rap where the Army Corps