The Lower Mississippi River Water Trail

Addendum: take-out in Greenville, or Lake Village

[CLICK HERE: Map of Paddling into Greenville]

Some paddlers might find it more convenient to take-out on the Mississippi side of the river (as opposed to ending on the Arkansas side in Arkansas City).  Continue downstream from Choctaw Island around Choctaw Bend past Huntington Point, around right-angle elbow Yellow Bend through the Ashbrook Cut-off.  (The Arkansas City Gage that we have been using for this section of river is located RBD 544 in Yellow Bend).  If you have an extra day you might want to jump into the Old Channel of the Greenville Bends, a fantastic 20+ mile detour through deep woods down a meandering back channel with high muddy banks, birds and prolific wildlife.  Start cutting in to the massive opening seen RBD below mile 555.  If you don’t have enough river time, stay main channel on around Miller Bend through Tarpley and Leland Neck Cut-Offs.  For take-out in Greenville start approaching the left descending bank as you float into the Leland Cut-Off mile 539 being ever-vigilant for busy tow activity in this area.  Cut into slackwater harbor below last point of land 537.5 and cross over to south side to locate the narrow entry into the County Boat Ramp located within Warfield Point State Park. If the river’s high the State Park might be closed.   You will have to paddle approximately 5 more miles up the Greenville Harbor to the Greenville Boat Ramp which is on the levee next to the Greenville Casino.  Or you can continue 6 miles down the main channel past Warfield Point around Walker Bend.  As you come around this right-angle bend slide over to the Arkansas shore RBD for take-out at the Sunnyside Landing RBD 531.5 which is located within a small cut-out eddy a couple hundred yards upstream of the old Highway 82 Bridge.  Do not go to the new bridge!  (Or you will have gone too far!).  Now that the new bridge is completed and the old bridge is being dismantled there is rumor that Sunnyside Landing might become privatized by a local hunting club.  This would be disastrous for paddlers in the Greenville area, or any long distance paddlers on their way through.  Sunnyside at present is the only landing that has guaranteed access to the main channel of the river regardless of river level for dozens of miles upstream and the same downstream.

 

Best Campsites Along lower mississippi water trail

End of the Trail 

Choctaw Island marks the southern terminus of the introductory 104 mile section of the Lower Mississippi River Water Trail from northern end Buck Island.  I decided to start here with the wildest and most beautiful section of the river.  Later, after this section is made into a reality, I will continue adding sections until the entire Lower Mississippi River is completely covered with good descriptions for paddlers to safely and successfully enjoy the biggest and greatest river in North America, including (from top to bottom):

 

Missouri Bootheel: Cairo to Caruthersville

Chickasaw Bluffs: Osceola to Memphis

Upper Delta: Memphis to Helena

Middle Delta: Buck Island to Choctaw Island

Lower Delta: Choctaw Island to Vicksburg

Loess Bluffs: Vicksburg to Baton Rouge

Chemical Corridor: Baton Rouge to Venice

Birdsfoot Delta: Venice to the Gulf

 

With expanded sections describing the paddling in and around Memphis, Greenville, Vicksburg and Natchez.

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