The Lower Mississippi River creates one of America's greatest wildernesses - and
wildest - a land subject to chaotic weather and the unpredictable character of Old
Man River. It is a landscape of water and sky, broken only by a horizon of willow
and mixed deciduous forests. Everything is big about it. Imagine floating a bend of
the river that takes twenty miles of delta to complete, skirting around swirling
eddies the size of several city blocks, camping on a sand bar that stretches to
the horizon, and swimming in pristine blue holes. It is America's major waterfowl
flyway, and central artery of barge shipping. Three-screw tugboats pushing tows a
half-mile long are common. Deer, coyote, beaver and possom abound, and bears still
inhabit the bottomlands. It is the flood plain of the second biggest river in the
world, and water levels might fluctuate fifty feet from Spring high to Summer low.
As such, each adventure is slightly different, and itinerary is dependent on river
conditions and prevailing weather.
Quapaw Canoe Company offers wilderness expeditions on the Lower Mississippi River,
its Back Waters, Bayous, Oxbows, and Flood Plain between the levees. Tours can be
arranged by the day or the week. Float trips available on any section between Cairo
(Illinois) and the outlet of the river into the Gulf of Mexico. Also available on
its tributaries are the White, the Arkansas, the Big Sunflower (subject to river
level), and the Yazoo. By canoe or kayak only. No motor power used. Clients must be
willing to paddle and to endure extremes of nature. Storms on the river can be
furious at times and may temporarily stall a journey or change itinerary. Quapaw
Canoe Company has spotless history, not even a single upset canoe. Regardless,
clients must be able swimmers.
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