River Log section: Caruthersville to Memphis
Caruthersville to Memphis
LBD 779.8 Old Mouth of the Forked Deer Oftentimes a rough landing (ragged revetment at medium and low waters, driftwood piles at high water) but well worth the visit. Paddle as far as you can up and into the old channel of the Forked Deer where old willows hang
Caruthersville to Memphis
Intro: Caruthersville to Memphis: Welcome to the 2013 update to the Rivergator: Paddlers Guide to the Lower Mississippi River! This section covers the 113 miles of the big river from the paddler-friendly town of Caruthersville, Missouri to the thriving metropolis of Memphis Tennessee, the largest city south of St. Louis.
Caruthersville to Memphis
rbd 783.5 Sans Souci Boat Ramp Excellent Boat Ramp with ample parking on either side. Best ramp above Memphis. Perfect put-in for canoeing or kayaking the four Chickasaw Bluffs into Memphis (which sprawls over and behind the 4th bluff). Don’t leave vehicle overnight; arrange shuttle. As you leave
Caruthersville to Memphis
rbd 785 Osceola Arkansas If you stay main channel watch for anchored tows as you come around Plum Point. Two grain elevators are located within the Osceola Harbor, and a third one found two miles downstream next to a huge coal-fired power plant. As described above, the only access to
Caruthersville to Memphis
LBD Back Channel Island 30 786.5 Narrow concrete ramp dropping into back channel one mile north of Osceola. From Is. 30 Back Channel keep vigilant watch RBD for a small opening and landing beyond, known locally as Jacksonville Landing, but signed as “Neark Landing” by Arkansas Game & Fish
Caruthersville to Memphis
rbd 793-785 Island 30 WARNING: There are two significant falls at low/medium waters, one at top end and one at bottom end of Island 30. See below for more description. Island 30 creates an intriguing back door entrance to Osceola. If the water is high enough (above 25 on
Caruthersville to Memphis
LBD 797 Lower Forked Deer River For an close-up view of the woods, wildlife, and agricultural fields of Western Tennessee paddle 4.5 miles up the Lower Forked Deer into Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge. Only possible above 10 CuG. Be ready for blockages, fallen trees, beaver dams, and other obstacles.
Caruthersville to Memphis
LBD 797 Shoaf Landing Primitive Gravel/Sand/Mud Landing at the mouth of the Lower Forked Deer. Good for paddlers who can easily lift canoes, kayaks or paddleboards up and over any muddy patches or other obstacles. Limited Parking.
Caruthersville to Memphis
rbd 796-791 Ashport Gold Dust Dikes Extensive sandbars at medium and low water levels extending from a long chain of willow-topped island. At high water you can cut behind these islands through any number of openings, the first found at the base of Island 27. Follow your paddler’s bliss
Caruthersville to Memphis
LBD 796 Ashport-Keyes Boat Ramp Well built concrete ramp good at all water levels and year-round access from paved road (Tennessee 19) in between Ashport and Gold Dust. 16 miles east on TN 19 to reach Ripley, home of the famous Ripley tomato.
Caruthersville to Memphis
803-787 Ashport-Keyes Gold Dust Now comes the payback for all the fun river loops! After exiting the wonderful looping river bends of Tamm’s, Barfield, and Island 25, the river makes a dreadfully long run with no bends, all the way down to Plum Point/Osceola, and the downstream paddler
Caruthersville to Memphis
rbd 800-796.5 Island 26 and Forked Deer Island 27 When the river is above 20 CuG the water begins to slowly move into the back channel of Island 26, and by 25 with some flow, and by 30 with good flow. Stay bank right RBD as you come around