The Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
About “Cancer Alley”:
This charming term for the South Louisiana river parishes got a lot of play during the 1980s, especially after an epidemiologist named Vivien Chen reported an elevated incidence of lung cancer among white males here, mainly in New Orleans. Interestingly, white females and minorities of either sex did not show elevated lung cancer rates, meaning that the effect might be better explained by patterns in cigarette smoking than by exposure to industrial chemicals. Dr. Chen and other researchers later reported that, for most other cancers, incidence here is lower than or equal to that of the rest of the country. At this point, it’s worth noting a distinction between incidence and mortality. Many of these cancers have elevated mortality rates in South Louisiana, even without elevated incidence. This may be an indication of the quality of public health care here. Bottom line: If you’re worried about cancer, the time to worry is before you get here. Protect your skin from solar radiation with long sleeves, floppy hats, gloves, and (not or) sunscreen. Far too many paddlers arrive in Baton Rouge looking like a bunch of raw hamburger gone bad. (Mike Beck)
Possible Highwater Campsites along the Lower Mississippi River
Baton Rouge to New Orleans
All of this information will be updated in the 2015 edition of the Rivergator www.rivergator.org. The below list Indicates places that might have a piece of dry flat sand to make a stop, stretch your legs, have a quiet picnic, or pitch a tent, and stands high enough to make a safe camp during times of high water.
Warning: most of these places go under if the river is above Flood Stage in Baton Rouge (35.0). RBD = Right Bank Descending (“West Bank”), LBD = Left Bank Descending (“East Bank”).
? = unverified means I haven’t actually witnessed this location during highwater. Please send updates and add to list! John Ruskey. Quapaw Canoe Co. john@island63.com. (662) 902-7841. Thank You!
220 LBD
Duncan Point
Human foot-traffic (fishermen) possible
214-215 RBD
Manchac Point
First and best “remote” feeling camp below Baton Rouge
210 LBD
Bar above Plaquemines LBD >20
Nice Sandbar mid channel, only exposed at medium or below.
209 LBD
Plaquemines LBD >30
Sand & Gravel Bar, sand collection operation behind, drydock nearby
195 LBD
Bayou Goula Sandbar LBD >25
Last real island on the Lower Mississippi River! Forested island with sandbars becoming exposed around 20, huge sandbars 15 or below.
194 LBD
Point Claire LBD >35
Huge open Sandbar
177 LBD
Eighty-One Mile Point LBD >30
Tall Sandbar, Gravel Operations behind
171 RBD
Pt. Houmas >30
Possible cattle grazing nearby & some industry behind
154 LBD
College Point >30?
Great Camp, no visible industry
149 LBD
Pauline Bar (Magnolia Landing) LBD >30
Beautiful undulating dunes & willow thickets. Owned by a very paddler friendly, the Poches. Contact them ahead of time if at all possible for support in this stretch of river.
143 LBD
Belle Point LBD >30?
Small high point inside eddy at Marquez
RBD 132
Bonnet Carre Island >25?
Last Island on the Mississippi River
130 LBD
Thirty-Five Mile Point LBD >30?
Small Gravel & Shell landing with woods behind
129 LBD
Bonnet Carre Upper LBD >40
Camping along spur of levee at top end of Spillway
127 LBD
Bonnet Carre Lower LBD >40
Camping along spur of levee at bottom end of Spillway
*Note: Boat Ramp. No more public launches until Venice.
109 RBD
Opposite Twelve Mile Point RBD >35?
Possible Camp above refineries
95 RBD
Algier’s Point
Beware of unfriendly foot traffic! Never leave your vessel or gear unattended here.
94.7 LBD
The Moonwalk — French Quarter and French Market
Restaurants, Pubs, Groceries. Concrete staircase over rip-rap. It’s not a boat landing, and no camping here. But, could be a temporary stop. Never leave your vessel or gear unattended here.
11 LBD
Mouth of Baptiste Collette Bayou
Beautiful bluff of sand
Beware waves. Heavy oil rig traffic through Bayou.
10 RBD
Mouth of Grand Pass
Possible slivers of sand in low water. Cattle grazing on island.
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