Mile 745.0 - Middle Hickman

LBD 745 Middle Hickman

Top end of Middle Hickman boasts the tallest sandy/grassy island in the area. At flood stage it’s the about the only possibility for a dry landing along all of Hickman. The vegetation has been growing thicker through the years. Mosquitoes might be thicker too in the hot months, but the protection will be better also, from sun or wind. In winter months it would be an ideal camp. A few tall cottonwoods dot the top amongst dense foliage (including poison ivy). As you move down the island the thicker vegetation thins out, and you will discover some gorgeous grass-covered sandy parklands several hundred yards down. This would probably be your best bet for a suitable camp at high water. Open areas found on frontside and backside. Further down Middle Hickman declines into a wetlands (in high water). As the river drops huge sandbars emerge around the frontside of Middle Hickman, steep banks at first, gradually leveling out in low water and extending hundreds of yards out from the central high parkland described above. A big tongue of main channel water sluices above the top of Middle Hickman and rolls into the back channel. Water flow declines as the river drops and then cuts off completely at low water. When that happens you can’t do any more back channel paddling, of course, but you can walk over the high ground for great birding, wildlife viewing, rock hounding and swimming in the clarified water.