stlouis-to-caruthersville
Not much remains of Island 15, just a few isolated sandbars at low water which diminish rapidly in rising waters, and are completely gone by 20 CuG. As you come around Island No 15, and into Little Prairie Bend, watch carefully for upstream and downstream tows, and tune into VHF
stlouis-to-caruthersville
After coming through the bend around Kennedy Point/Lee Towhead, paddlers can stay left bank for the long run behind Island 14 with great opportunities for bird watching and other wildlife. There are some open bars around 855 against the forested banks at low and medium water levels, but you
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Below Cherokee the river rolls into a distinctive S-shape formed by Little Cypress Bend revolving 180 degrees westward, followed by the Chute of Island 14, which revolves 180 degrees eastward. Total distance through the big S is around 15 miles. Low-lying bar of Island No 13 fans outwards from Cherokee
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Few things impressed early voyagers on the Lower Mississippi more than the beautiful tree for which this bend was named. In Little Cypress Bend and other areas. the bald cypress grew to tremendous heights and sizes. The spreading branches, with light feathery foliage, and the massive trunks surrounded by the
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Like many of the giant sandbars in this area, Stewart Towhead is very wide, shalllow and exposed. Great picnic site, but not recommended for camping in winds or oncoming storms. There is one small (tiny in relation to the bar) clump of scrubby willows set on a medium high sandy
stlouis-to-caruthersville
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
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Some serious rock work has been done over the years around the outside of Slough Bend where the river makes its southernmost run around Donaldson Point before rolling ten miles north up to New Madrid. At low and medium water levels miles and miles of dikes along the outside of
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Good north wind protection: there are several miles of steep narrow sandbars thrown up against the interior bank RBD from 902 downstream, the best found around 901 RBD. These would make for tight quarters, but would also be excellent protection for a cold north wind. You could pull in here
stlouis-to-caruthersville
Donaldson Point Conservation Area occupies 5,785 acres on a unique point of land facing southwards between Island No 9, No 10, and Slough Neck (Bessie’s Bend). The Mississippi River forms part of the east and west boundaries as it slides down and around the point, first south running,
stlouis-to-caruthersville
A seven mile series of sandbars and willow clump forest islands has grown up along the Donaldson Point Dikes, RBD along Donaldson Point. From mile 907 all the way down to mile 900 there are 11 dikes in all and almost each one has a sandy island or a flat
stlouis-to-caruthersville
The best and most extensive gravel bar is found below French Point when the water falls below 20CG, and even better below 10CG. The river washes rocks, fossils and other hard objects like glass shards and brick and lumps of coal, from hundreds of miles upstream, maybe thousands, and they
stlouis-to-caruthersville
While not easily accessible by foot from the river, paddlers should be aware of this natural wonder that lies just over the levee, with state and national trees such as the pumpkin ash, rusty blackhaw, eastern cottonwood, slippery elm, shumard oak, bur oak, swamp chestnut oak, pawpaw, persimmon, possumhaw, swamp