2019-2020 Mississippi River

Source to Sea

Resource Links

Float Plan

Final float plan with actual miles, destinations and links to blog posts.

Source to Sea Packing List

Packing list was based on July and August paddle from Lake Itasca, MN to Davenport, IA and September and October from Davenport to the Gulf

Mississippi River State Water Trail

The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world, flowing 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. In Minnesota, the river flows through valleys, bluffs, prairies, and woodlands in a variety of flow rates and widths. Portions of the river have been designated as a Wild and Scenic river. There are ten mapped segments of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, beginning at the source and ending on the Minnesota/Iowa border.

Mississippi River Guide

Boating the Mississippi River from Hastings MN to the Iowa Border

Army Corp of Engineers - Upper Mississippi River

Navigation charts for the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, MN to Cairo, IL

Army Corp of Engineers - Lower Mississippi River

Navigation charts for the Mississippi River from Cairo, IL to the Gulf of Mexico

Upper Mississippi Portages

There are twelve portages on the river from the source at Lake Itasca to the first lock and dam in Minneapolis. They range in distance from 50 yards to 1.5 miles.

•Alternate Routes to the Gulf of Mexico•

Atchafalaya River

The Atchafalaya (or in Cajun Chafliya) was our preferred route to the Gulf. If you are not wild about sharing the river with hundreds of ocean going ships the last 150 miles, then this route is for you. The Atchafalaya has been been trying to capture and reroute the Mississippi for over 100 years. In fact, 1/3 of the Mississippi's water is diverted to the Atchafalaya, an Army Corp compromise to keep the ports of Baton Rouge and New Orleans in business. So, it is a legit option for Source to Sea paddlers. Remember, your trip, your rules!

Army Corp of Engineers - Atchafalaya River

Navigation Charts from Old river lock to the Gulf of Mexico

Wax Lake Route

You can paddle the Atchafalaya all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, so why take the Wax Lake detour? The Atchafalaya will take you through Morgan City, then on to the final 30 miles to the Gulf. The downside is, you need to get back to Morgan City for your final pick-up. That means either paddling 30 miles back up river, or finding a fishing boat to bring you back. All possible, but much more complicated. You finish up on Hog Bayou at Burns Point Park, an easy pick-up point and less that two hours away from New Orleans, LA.