The Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
Baton Rouge Sites and Services of interest to Paddlers
Expedition Services:
For shuttles, resupplies, parking your vehicle, and logistics on the Lower Mississippi River, contact Baton Rouge natives Paul or Michael Orr. These guys have been providing support services for decades on the Lower Mississippi River, and are the experts on the stretch downstream from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico.
Paul Orr <paul@lmrk.org> (225) 300-3902
Michael Orr <michael@leanweb.org> (225) 803-2999
Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper:
The Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper (LMRK) is a non-profit organization in Louisiana that works to identify and reduce pollution into the lower Mississippi River. They might be available to help paddlers with resupply, shuttling, and help with any logistics. Contact them anytime to report a concern, or if you have questions or need help in addressing a problem you see along the river. Contact LMRK through their website, lmrk.org, email paul@lmrk.org or call (225) 928-1315.
Paddles, PFDs and Camping Gear:
The BackPacker
7656 Jefferson Hwy
Baton Rouge, LA
(225) 925-2667
or
Massey’s Professional Outfitters
at the Northgates of LSU
3340 Highland Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 325-3030
http://www.masseysoutfitters.com
Food:
Downtown Grocery at 263 3rd Street Baton Rouge, LA 70801. The most convenient store in Baton Rouge for paddlers but a very limited inventory. At the E in BATON ROUGE walk directly over the levee and you will be at Florida St. keep walking 2 blocks down Florida and Downtown Grocery will be on the corner to your right. This small grocery only has the basics like milk, bread, and coffee; they don’t even have produce.
Our Daily Bread inside Main Street Market at 504 North 5th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 This is a large indoor space with a number of different tenants. Most prepare hot meals for lunch (there is Chinese, Crepes and Cajun/Creole) but there is a small health food store inside called Our Daily Bread which has a small selection of basic groceries for those looking for organic, healthy and allergen free products. They also have some prepared foods, smoothies, and juices. 4 blocks off the river.
Closest Hardware Store:
TrueValue Hardware
2882 Government St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 343-8705
Paddleboard or SUP paddles:
Muddy Waters Paddle Company
4355 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225.937.7564 225.328.5000
http://www.muddywaterpaddleco.com/
230.1 RBD West Baton Rouge Tourist Commission, Court Street Landing
The City of Port Allen has made their old ferry landing into a nice public park. Paddlers should be able to find a place to make landfall but be careful the main channel comes rather close to the right bank in this spot. Access to Port Allen is easy from here but other than a few antique shops there isn’t very much for visitors.
229.6 LBD City Excursion Wharf AKA “The Paperclips”
Locally referred to as “the Paperclips” for reasons that should be obvious when you see it, this is where the American Queen docks when she is in town. Otherwise it doesn’t get much use.
229.6 LBD USS Kidd
A fletcher-class destroyer, first launched in 1943 and sailed extensively during WWII and the Korean War now serves as a museum and memorial in downtown Baton Rouge. Definitely worth exploring for any history or marine buff.
229.4 LBD Argosy Casino
If you think you see a steamboat tied up below the USS Kidd wipe your eyes and save your pocketbook for better things to gamble on, like where you’ll find your next Po-Boy sandwich or Abita Beer. Argosy is now known as the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel. It’s painted to look like a real steamboat, but is not.
229.3 I-10 Highway Bridge “New Bridge”
Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost transcontinental highway in the American Interstate Highway System. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 (SR 1) (Pacific Coast Highway) in Santa Monica, California to I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida.
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