The Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
LBD 850 – 737 Options For Paddlers in the Caruthersville Stretch
Caruthersville Area River Routes
Caruthersville is located midway down a series of tight looping river bends followed by long straightways with islands that offer a plentitude of paddling routes, including a number of day trip options above and below the city. It is the ideal launch site for for canoeists, kayakers and stand up paddleboarders in the Lower Missouri Bootheel/Dyersburg, Tennessee area. For the long distance expedition, Caruthersville is the best re-supply/R&R stop between Cape Girardeau and Memphis,with a friendly riverbank downtown and all of the amenities a paddler could want.
Above Caruthersville:
1) Main Channel:
The fast water goes left bank after swirling around Kennedy Point/Lee Towhead, and then converges into a wide tongue of water in between Robinson Bayou dikes and Island 14, and then erupts downstream middle river into Little Prairie Bend. Watch out for tow traffic entering and exiting the Caruthersville Harbor.
2) Robinson Bayou Back Channel:
After coming through the bend around Kennedy Point/Lee Towhead, paddlers can stay right bank for a quick run through the Robinson Bayou Back Channel. Good flow in medium and high water levels, no flow at 15 Caruthersville Gauge, closes off around 10 CuG.
3) Is 14 Back Channel:
After coming through the bend around Kennedy Point/Lee Towhead, paddlers can stay left bank for the long run behind Island 14 with great opportunities for bird watching and other wildlife. Opens at medium water with good flow in high water. Back channel sandbars, inlets and side channels throughout. Watch for fleeted tows after exiting and starting around Island 15.
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awesome town on edge of river, good people, long walk to food store.