Mile 189.0 - Miles 189-185: LBD Mosenthein Island
189 - 185 LBD Mosenthein Island
Mosenthein Island offers the best and most reliable camping in the St. Louis area in between the Missouri Confluence and the JB Bridge below. Once past Mosenthein (and adjacent Gabaret Island) you will have to paddle a very challenging 20 miles down “the Gauntlet,” the dangerous Port of St. Louis, to reach the next reliable (and fairly wild) campsite, which is found at the top end of Carroll Island, LBD Mile 168 below the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. Two miles below Carroll is Palmer Creek Island.
Mosenthein Island is an almost pristine river island surviving amidst the mass of industrial might and human chaos of north St. Louis. It is nearly the same as when Lewis and Clark passed by and made camp just a few miles upstream. Three miles tall with a three mile long back channel, Mosenthein’s forests are lacerated by some long shallow sloughs that run parallel to the main channel and become filled with water at flood stage. The best camping is normally found top end. Second best choice is mid-island down the back channel where a beautiful plateau of sand emerges as the river drops below 25SLG (but is sometimes muddy). At flood stage 30SLG the only dry spots will be in the woods. At low water sandbars grow around all seven wing dams emerging from the island on main channel. But the biggest and broadest and wildest sandbars will be found back channel.
At high water you can enjoy the fast water pouring over the Chain of Rocks and position yourself in the channel below for a landing at the top end of Mosenthein, which is usually the best camp/picnic spot. This will place you opposite the parking area in NorthRiverfront Park. A small sliver of sand will be visible at the very tippy-top of the island until the river climbs above 25 SLG. If you see others already camped, slide down either side to find your own place, usually the back channel has more offerings as it it has the highest forest bottoms. At flood stage 30 SLG, only a few acres at the top end of Mosenthein will be dry, and at 35 the entire island will be under flowing water.
Big Muddy Mike operates his Big Muddy Adventures directly across the main channel from Mosenthein Island, here is his description of a circumnavigation of the island:
“Ferry cross the river from North Riverside Park Boat Access (long portage to Put-in). Paddle across the chaotic wing dike boils into the eddy they form, bringing you along the island, top side. Follow the last remnants of water flowing into Mosenthein chute, a small river channel, at times so shallow as only to be able to walk and line the canoes. It runs perpendicular to the main channel, a strong eddy effect, winding and shoaling against the bottom side of the dike. Beware, two of its off chutes run out of water, like nubbed fingers. Land canoe at best location nearest the forest on the sand bar. Long portage gear over final wing dike to Mosenthein Blue Holes Paradise.
“To circumnavigate, follow the back channel of Mosenthein and enjoy the pristine sand bars. Follow the cut bank to the bottom end and come around. Paddle along Mosenthein Island upstream, using the eddies and slack water created by the wing dikes. To cross the wing dikes, choose a suitable breach in the rocks and Paddle Hard! With good strong and rapid strokes as well as a couple of good stern moves, you can climb above the dike and into another stretch of eddy. Continue this route until you are back at the top of the island.
“The final maneuver involves using the eddies created by the wing dikes, the same ones you crossed over to get to the back channel. Continue to move upstream until you are above parallel with the North Riverfront Park Boat Access, then Paddle Hard! and ferry cross to the best landing available.” (from Big Muddy Adventures website)