Mile 663.0 - RBD Helena-West Helena

663 RBD Helena-West Helena

Mark Twain said that Helena occupies “the prettiest situations on the Mississippi River…” Twain should have also added: “and the driest...” Thanks to Crowley’s Ridge Helena has the distinction of being the only remaining population of any size to be found directly on the main channel in between Memphis & Vicksburg, some 300 miles of river. This fact in of itself deserves special attention. Other locales such as Rosedale, Greenville and Arkansas City that used to be “sho-nuf” river towns sitting right on the banks of the main channel and serviced by water vessels have been abandoned by the unstoppable shifting nature of the big river. Crowley’s Ridge provides Helena high ground and squeezes the river enough that you can still walk over the levee from downtown Cherry Street and watch towboats go sailing by, stick your toes in the water, and board your canoe. The American Queen Steamboat will resume passage in spring 2012 with stops here.

As such, Helena is the most logical place for a stop-over and resupply for the long distance paddler, and the best choice in the region as a one-stop push off location to base your Lower Mississippi Water Trail adventure from. (see below for second choice Clarksdale, Mississippi, which is located 10 miles inland from the river). Conveniences like the Post Office, Groceries, Book Store and the Library can all be found within walking distance, but be sure to hide or secure your canoe when you leave to walk into town. If you’re traveling in a team leave someone as guard. For Wi-Fi visit the library or the Delta Cultural Center. If you’re staying overnight in one of the many B&Bs, or need transportation anywhere, call Quapaw Canoe Company (870) 228-2266 for assistance. Recommended high quality overnight: Edwardian Inn. www.edwardianinn.com Tell them we sent you for a special paddler’s 10% discount.

You will want to visit the Delta Cultural Center in downtown Helena, just over the levee from the Harbor. There are two annexes, both dedicated to the history & culture of the Delta, and both definitely worth the extra hour or two for a visit. If you arrive mid-day, you can sit in on one of Sunshine Sonny Payne’s legendary King Biscuit Time Radio Program on AM1360, which broadcasts live from the Delta Cultural Center every day Monday-Friday from 12:15 - 12:45pm. www.deltaculturalcenter.com

For all around Helena information, visit the new website www.VisitHelenaAR.com. Helena happenings of interest to paddlers: Farmers' Market April - October, Second Saturday April- September, Warfield Concerts September - May, King Biscuit Festival second weekend in October, Wild Hog Motorcycle and Music Festival last weekend in April, Civil War Museum, Freedom Park, the Ft. Curtis replica, and much more. The Phillips County

Visitor and Relocation Guide has everything in it you could possible want to know about Helena and the County. Go to the website to look through the Guide at wwwphillipscountychamber.org.

[CLICK HERE: Helena Accommodations]

[CLICK HERE: Helena Services]

Quapaw Canoe Company -- Helena Outpost

Quapaw Canoe Company is located just over the levee from the River Park at 107 Perry Street with a 5,000 square foot warehouse full of canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards. QCC keeps river maps, county maps and state maps, and also books, magazines and other literature of interest to the big river paddler. Paddler’s support equipment such as paddles, life jackets, ropes, bailers, sponges, and etc. QCC offers workshops on Big River Canoe & Kayak Safety, as well as self-rescue and canoe building. QCC works with the local KIPP Delta Public Schools in an after-school canoeing program. Shuttles, re-supply, storage and any other services for the paddler can be found here. (870) 228-2266. www.island63.com

Helena’s “Low Road” into St. Francis National Forest

The “Low Road” north of Helena runs along the base of Crowley’s Ridge and provides land access to the mouth of the St. Francis River, and the Three-Mile Boat Ramp also on the St. Francis River. This is one of the most beautiful drives in the region with the unique environment of steep Crowley’s Ridge hardwood ridges with ash, pawpaws, persimmons, rhododendron, ferns and equisetum on one side and cypress bottoms on the other side of the road. Trees and plants that grow on one side don’t grow on the other. The road is the dividing line between two distinct biota, and so the driver gets a doubly rich safari! This gravel road is appropriate for bicyclists and hikers. Little traffic. Lots of side roads to explore, including roads to Horner Lake and Porter Lake. No maintained trails, but being National Forest you can follow game trails, or your own line of direction and wander through thousands of acres of ridges, ravines and wetlands without encountering a single other person! Avoid leaving road during hunting season. Watch for poison ivy, snakes, spiders, and lots of briars. Carry a map and GPS.

King Biscuit Blues Festival

(2nd weekend of October)

Every fall, during the second full weekend of October, one of the world’s greatest blues festivals takes place on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Helena. As you paddle down the main channel of the river the sounds of towboats and cicadas in the river valley is replaced with the scintillating vibrations of the purest music tradition that was born out of the cotton fields of the deep south -- the music that broke down the barriers of segregation and led to the birth of rock & roll -- the downhome Delta Blues!

Imagine listening to world-class blues artists from where you sit on the levee, incredible blues performances in front of you, the Mississippi River flowing behind! Traditionally the music starts Thursday at noon and runs through Saturday night. Music is presented at five different stages in the downtown, and historic Cherry Street becomes a pedestrian mall lined with food vendors, arts & crafts booths and street musicians. You can camp directly on the banks of the river in the Helena River Park, or you could camp on Buck Island and paddle in for the music. For your own safety please don’t drink & paddle, and exercise special caution when paddling at dusk, or after dark. Use running lights in case of close encounters with yachts, party boats and other motorized craft that frequent the harbor during festival time.

For more information about the King Biscuit Blues Festival, visit their website: www.kingbiscuitfestival.com


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