River Log section: Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
421-419 RBD Newtown Bend Sandbar Long beautiful sandbar at low and medium water levels, possible picnic and campsites found along entire length. Newtown sizzles in the summer sun like a slice of fatback in the griddle, and shimmers like an alaskan snowfield by the winter moonlight. In any season it
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
423 Diamond Cut-Off Below LeTourneau the canoeist or kayaker enters a five mile southerly stretch and then rounds a right angle bend at Newtown which resolves itself in a northwesterly direction. What was previously a tail wind becomes a side wind or head wind, and vice versa. After all the
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
405-401 RBD Coffee Point Dikes Great low and medium water camping amongst clumps of dense willow topped dunes, arranged esthetically around the entire length of this bend. Best camping between 10 and 20VG, but still possible up to 25. All islands go completely under around 30VG.
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
404 RBD Yucatan Ditch For a safari-like run into the Mississippi River floodplain replete with fishes, amphibians and winged creatures, make a short detour up Yucatan Ditch. Paddle quietly and you will make some remarkable animal encounters. Keep your camera handy. If the river is falling, the ditch runs out.
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
407.8 LBD Grand Gulf State Park Grand Gulf State Military Park is well worth the visit. There is no boat ramp here, and no camping, but you can make landing and walk into the park. Pull your canoe or kayak all the way out of the water and carefully
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
408.5 LBD Big Black River A dynamic alternate put-in for the Mississippi can be made paddling down the last 13-14 miles of the Big Black River from the boat ramp at the Hwy 61 Bridge. There is always some flow in the Big Black, and no shoals to negotiate.
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
414 RBD Palmyra - Togo Island Crossroads At right bank descending 415 the riverbank suddenly yawns up with a big mouth hundreds of yards wide that reveals a watery crossroads where Togo Chute, Palmyra Chute, the Big River Upstream and the Big River Downstream all intersect. A large bay is
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
414 RBD The Crossroads A rare river crossroads is created here at the junction of Togo Island, Palmyra Lake and the Main Channel of the Mississippi. From a paddler's perspective this is a watery paradise. Four distinct routes to follow from the same location!
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
416 RBD Togo Island Back Channel If the river is high enough to get through the willow forest RBD 416 adventurous paddlers can dive through the constriction and enter the cool shady tree-lined Togo Island Channel which is often full of birds and is a known alligator hangout. At low
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
RBD 425 Entrance to Palmyra Lake Back Channel Paddlers intending to go back channel through Palmyra Lake should stay RBD past Reid Buford Point and look for the break in the trees two miles further downstream. Note: the bottom point sandbar lengthens at medium low water and the opening is
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
426.5 LBD Hennessey's Bayou For close-up viewing of birds, amphibians, mammals, trees and flowers, paddlers can make a short detour up Hennessey's Bayou. Popular fishing spot. Possible alligator sightings. Quick left bank exit out of the wind, but not recommended for camping for all of
Vicksburg to Baton Rouge
426 LBD LeTourneau LeTourneau is located in the middle of a ten-mile southerly stretch of river that can create difficult paddling conditions in a south wind. If the wind is above 20mph its best to go to shore and wait it out. If it’s gusting to 25-30mph or above