Mile 200.6 - RBD Maple Island Access Ramp

200.6 RBD Maple Island Access Ramp

(below the Melvin Price Lock and Dam)

Last public launch on the Upper Mississippi, and good place to begin your Middle Mississippi Expedition. This narrow concrete ramp descends into a hollowed-out back channel between the topmost of the Maple Island archipelago and the mainland above. At low water, there is no flow, but the pool is deep and murky, in the summer full of turtles, in the winter full of fish. In high water you will put into an eddy here, with some waters flowing down the back channel, and powerful waters boiling out from the Lock & Dam. Your best and most interesting route downstream is to follow the back channel. If it is flowing, go for it. If there is no flow, you might be in for a dead end round trip, but you won’t have to paddle far to find out. The boat ramp drops from river’s edge at a steep angle. Huge parking lot above. Easy year-round access. Maple Island Ramp bottoms out in a bowl of mud below 8MPG. Good up to Flood stage 21 MPG. Parking okay for daytrips, but don’t leave vehicle overnight. Arrange shuttle. Contact Big Muddy Adventures for assistance.