River Log section: Memphis to Helena
Memphis to Helena
700 Fitzgerald’s Casino Surprisingly (and thankfully) enough you see very little of the casinos as you float behind their bustling enterprises. Fitzgerald’s however delivers an intriguing and enchanting view to the passing paddler with its greenish walled castle through the tall cottonwoods and sycamores lining the banks of
Memphis to Helena
701 Gold Strike Casino The highest building in the State of Mississippi is the 29-story tall hotel of the Gold Strike Casino which shimmers like a golden mirage over the face of the river when viewed from upstream or downstream. It is anchored into one of the deepest alluvial floodplains
Memphis to Helena
703 Buck Island (No. 53) Not to be confused with the other Buck Island (Prairie Point Towhead) located at mile 660 above Helena, Arkansas. This Buck Island has migrated from right bank to left bank, and although it is firmly planted amidst all of the Tunica County casinos, it is
Memphis to Helena
RBD 693.8 Just below the Basket Bar light you can duck into a steep-walled ravine leading to Lost Lake. Lost Lake is the all that remains today of the Commerce Cut-Off (see below). Deep swampy forests full of vines and exotic flowers fill this ravine making it feel like
Memphis to Helena
LBD 699.5 Wide well maintained boat ramp. Best access in North Mississippi. Best year-round boat ramp between Memphis and Helena. Besides the Memphis Yacht Club this is the only place on the Lower Mississippi that you could possibly leave your vehicle overnight without fear of it being broken into.
Memphis to Helena
712-695 Paddler’s Routes around Cat Island and the Casinos https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217859314001592865582.0004e5b28098823213633&msa=0&ll= 34.843932,-90.356433&spn=0.009739,0.013111 http://goo.gl/maps/rGaET You can stay main channel around Cat Island and down the
Memphis to Helena
LBD 710.8 Starr Landing Concrete ramp descending to river over rip rap. Spacious parking. Sometimes called Norfolk, or Star, or DeSoto Landing. First possible landing below Memphis (approx. 25 miles below Mud Island). Trashy, rough and ragged place. Never leave a vehicle here. Nice 10-mile daytrip from here to
Memphis to Helena
711-705 Cat Island No. 50 Cat Island is the biggest and wildest Island in this stretch of river boasting deep hardwood forests, willow/cottonwood flats, wild floodplain fields, and miles upon miles of sandbars and (at low/med water) gravel bars. Supreme camping found surrounding the island on all sides,
Memphis to Helena
718-713 Cow Island Bend The Mississippi River makes a hairpin turn around Cow Island No. 48, running into the Cow Island Bend due west and turned around to exit below Cow Island in a southeasterly direction. Blue Holes form around the dikes top end at low water levels, and an
Memphis to Helena
720 Josie Harry Bar The Josie Harry Steamboat sank in 1878 and created a sandbar island that has now been assumed by the Tennessee/Mississippi shore LBD. If you are in the main channel through this area you will have a long uninterrupted stretch of rip rap and revetment to
Memphis to Helena
726-717 Armstrong/Dismal Point/Ensley Bar As noted above, the long chain of forested islands found along Armstrong/Dismal/Ensley is the best camping to be found below Memphis. Approximately fifteen miles downstream of Mud Island and light years away. (Note: another beautiful location awaits another 15 miles downstream at
Memphis to Helena
Dismal Point/Ensley Bar/Cow Island Bend Area Miles 727-712 https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217859314001592865582.0004e5b14907de9d93765&msa=0&ll= 34.994566,-90.245647&spn=0.077766,0.104885 http://goo.gl/maps/bsUTA