River Log section: St. Louis to Caruthersville
St. Louis to Caruthersville
846 RBD Isle of Capri Lady Luck Casino (Casino Inn & Suites) The adventurer in need of hotel room and a hot shower can find easy access to the Casino Inn & Suites which is located inland of the Isle of Capri/Lady Luck, and maybe two or three hundred
St. Louis to Caruthersville
846.5 RBD Caruthersville Originally settled in 1794 as the town of La Petite Prairie by French fur trapper Joseph Le Sieur, Caruthersville survived the 1811/12 New Madrid Earthquake, the floods of 1927 and 1937, the depression, and the Civil Rights era. Even though it was threatened by its
St. Louis to Caruthersville
847 LBD Blaker Towhead Long distance paddlers needing a resupply stay bank right for optimal access for the landing in downtown Caruthersville (see below for description). Those continuing on without stopping here might want to enjoy the backwater pleasures of Blaker Towhead. The back channel of Blaker Towhead opens up
St. Louis to Caruthersville
848 RBD Trinity Barge Fabrication Plant After leaving the Caruthersville Harbor the downstream canoeist, kayaker or surfer (stand-up-paddlebpard) will soon paddle by a noteworthy river-related industry right bank descending. Trinity Barge Fabrication Plant specializes in large ocean-going barges. Like many ship-builders they launch their finished product by the “slide method.
St. Louis to Caruthersville
849 RBD Mouth of the Caruthersville Harbor There is a primitive landing RBD over rip-rap at mouth of harbor that is often frequented by local fishermen (and women!). This landing is open at all water levels, but best used during higher water levels when the river covers the rip-rap. At
St. Louis to Caruthersville
850 RBD Caruthersville Harbor Boat Ramp (1/2 mile up harbor) Wide Concrete Boat Launch located within the protected waters of the Caruthersville Harbor. Excellent start place for any expedition. Best landing in area. Also 2nd (older) ramp nearby. Don’t leave vehicles overnight; arrange shuttle. Ramp usable at all
St. Louis to Caruthersville
855 - 850 LBD Island No 15/Little Prairie Bend 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
St. Louis to Caruthersville
855 - 852 RBD Robinson Bayou Bar Robinson Bayou Bar is a triumvirate of islands offering great back channel paddling and great camping. If the river is above 10 CuG You can paddle behind the topmost island and follow the back channel in and out of the other two islands,
St. Louis to Caruthersville
855 - 850 LBD Island No 14 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
St. Louis to Caruthersville
856.2 LBD Fritz Landing Boat Ramp Fritz Landing Boat Ramp is a rough concrete but perfectly serviceable boat ramp on the outside of the bend a mile and a half below Lee Towhead. Frequented by local fishermen. Not useful to paddlers as there are no services. Continue on to
St. Louis to Caruthersville
859.3 - 867.5 LBD Lee Towhead Back Channel The back channel of Lee Towhead is always open regardless of river level (except in extreme low water), and makes for wonderful back channel paddling. It’s no shortcut, in fact it will double your distance at least. But the
St. Louis to Caruthersville
860 - 855 RBD Kennedy Bar Kennedy Bar is another low flat sandbar inhabiting the inside of a big bend, that seem to be so common to this area. These flat bars are not good camping except in the most ideal of conditions where you have no wind, no storms,