River Log section: Memphis to Helena
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
Memphis to Helena
695-690 Commerce Bend Right angle bend running westward and then south slightly eastward around Rabbit Island. Commerce Bend is as good as any in demonstrating the dynamic and irascible nature of the big muddy river in a big muddy landscape. Commerce, Mississippi, had a hopeful beginning and was a thriving
Memphis to Helena
700 Basket Bar This long series of luxurious sandbars are full of birds and thick with fish -- and broken up into in a long line of wild islands -- and are found opposite the thickest concentration of casinos outside of Vegas and Atlantic City! During higher water levels above
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