Below is a general description of canoeing in Mississippi and a breif description of each of the following rivers and creeks, click any link to jump to that description:
Canoeing in Mississippi is an adventure whether your a first time canoer and a life-long enthusiast. Mississippi, where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico is the home of hundreds of rivers and creeks that offer some of the best canoeing in the United States. While not famous for whitewater, Mississippi offers beautiful waterways with fishing and natural beauty unparalleled.
If you like canoeing in Mississippi on a regular basis, perhaps you should consider joining the Mississippi Canoe and Kayak Club. Memberships start as low as $10.00 per year and membership includes discounts at many of Mississippi's canoe rental and outfitter locations. Seminary Canoe Rental proudly offers discounts to Mississippi Canoe and Kayak Club members and are proud to be a business member of the organization.
To the left you'll see a list of many of the canoe and kayak rental companies that can take you canoeing in Mississippi. While we do not endorse any of these companies, we provide them as a service to our site visitors. Always be careful when doing business with an unfamiliar company and make sure you fully understand their policies and procedures.
River and Creek Descriptions for
Canoeing in Mississippi
Bear Creek is located in the 1,530 acre Tishomingo State Park. The park offers camping, swimming and an over 13 mile trail system. The creek canoe trip is about a three hour paddle with a few Class I ripples. There are also some rope swings along the way to enjoy some of the natural spring holes. - Back to Top
The Big Sunflower is a lazy, winding river that gently flows through the lowlands of northwest Mississippi. Near Vicksburg, the Big Sunflower empties into the Yazoo River. The river is considered one of the most endangered rivers in the U.S. because of plans from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It's a beautiful flat water canoe location. - Back to Top
The Biloxi River is one of the borders of the 4,020 acre Biloxi River Marshes preserve. Osprey white penguins and the endangered mottled duck can be found here along with many migratory birds. The river is wide and slow and is a combination of fresh and brackish water. - Back to Top
Winding its way through De Soto National Forest, Black Creek is a lazy river for floating. Great fishing spots along the way and beaches to stop and enjoy the water. Wildlife is abundant along the banks as are magnolia trees and wild azaleas.
The Bogue Chitto River and one of its tributaries Maggies Creek are great family fun. Maggies Creek is feed by natural springs and the water is much colder than the river. Along the river are many large sandbars for camping and just enjoying the river. - Back to Top
The Chunky River is a fairly short stretch of water that is an easy float. Much of the banks are steep and heavily wooded making getting off the river a challenge. However, on some of the wider spots on the river are good sized sand bars for a little rest and for picnicking. The scenery is beautiful and well worth the trip. This is a very rural river with no hotels or camping in the immediate vicinity (about 20 minutes away). - Back to Top
The Escatawpa River is one of the cleanist "blackwater" rivers in the United States. The term blackwater refers to the brownish, blackish color the water takes on from the tannic acid caused by leaves falling from the trees on the river's bank. This is one of the most remote and secluded rivers in Mississippi. You won't cross any business and only a few homes the entire length. The water moves fairly fast but is flat and easy to float. Large sandbars along the way make for great primitive camping. - Back to Top
The great Mississippi River is one to be respected for its mighty force, for the importance it has to us as a nation and to its historic contributions to a new and emerging country. One of the great challenges of the Mississippi is the vast amount of traffic, something the canoe or kayak enthusiast must be constantly aware of and not get caught in "no man's land" or river as the case may be. Of course, there is a lot of the Mississippi River north of Mississippi. Many have done the entire length and the northern sections offers pristine waters and beauty. - Back to Top
The Pearl River is an easy, slow moving river that easily offers multi-day trips to the real canoe and kayak enthusiast. Primative camping is available on the sandbars that can be found at vritually every turn in the river. The lower section of the river offers some very remote locations and there is a 50 or 60 mile stretch without even a bridge that passes over the river. Paddlers need to be cautious as the river can have dangerous flooding during heavy rains. None of the floats on the Perl are particular short so paddlers should be aware of their physical conditioning. For the most part the banks are lined with willows, sycamores, and oaks. Along the way you will also pass some farm land and commercial pine forests. There are a few facilities maintained by the state and commercially along the way as well. - Back to Top
The Red Creek offers fast water, a few riffles and a little excitement to a canoe adventure. South Mississippi Canoe Rental (see listing to left) offers two different drips that vary in length. The shorter, lower section is slower and ideal for the novice paddler. There are many large sandbars along the way to enjoy a memorable picnic and to reflect on your day of canoeing in Mississippi. - Back to Top
Bouie Creek is located quite near Hattiesburg but once you're on the river you won't see any development until you get to the end of your trip. The creek has a beautiful overhanging canopy. Note you will likely find a few log jams along the way that will require that your portage around. Near the end of the trip there is a three-four foot waterfall / rapid that is exciting. There's also a great place to stop and rest / dry off once you are over the fall. - Back to Top
The Leaf River is part of a 960 acre parcel of National Forest. Bird watching is a top attraction for canoeing in Mississippi and the Leaf River is a prime spot. Primitive camping and nature trails are also abundant in this beautiful national park. - Back to Top
The Strong River below the D'Lo state park is a beautiful stretch of river with overhanging canopy, wide turns and big sand bars on the banks. Outfitter trips range from less than an hour to five hour floats. While the river can be floatable above D'Lo, canoe and kayks enthusiasts should be aware that you may have to portage around obstacles when water levels are low. This is a beautiful piece of undeveloped river for canoeing in Mississippi. - Back to Top
The Sunflower River begins near the historic Yazoo Pass and flows southward through the Mississippi Delta. It joins with the Yazoo River and then finally in to the Mississippi River. Home to thousands of wildlife species and and an important location for migratory birds. A new group, the Friends of the Sunflower have joined to try and help protect this river. They are planning their second annual meeting now. Be part of the solution and keep the rivers clean and safe for canoeing in Mississippi! - Back to Top
The Wolf River is great for canoeing, kayaking and tubing. Wold River Canoe and Kayak company offers visitors all three options and trips that range from 1 mile tube floats to canoe and kayak trips in excess of ten miles. The Wolf Rivers head waters orginate in TN and lead to the Mississippi River. Wild, rustic and scenic best describe the Wolf and the Wolf Ghost River. Caution must be used as many of the banks along the river are owned privately and no trespassing signs abound. State owned property does not permit camping either. The nearest camp facilities when canoeing or kayaking the river are approximately thirty minutes from the river banks. - Back to Top
While space does not permit us to list every possible creek and river, it's obvious that canoeing in Mississippi is an important part of the cultural and paddlers are friends of the state. Of course, we save our review of the Okatoma Creek for last. As you might guess we're a little prejudiced about our piece of canoeing in Mississippi. The Okatoma is officially the only whitewater in the state of Mississippi. Our mild early spring and late fall temperatures allow canoe and kayak entushiasts an opportunity to stay in rowing shape throughout the normally long off-season of the northern states. Plus familes will enjoy the many beaches, the kids (young and old) enjoy the rope swings and best of all, at the end of your float with us, you have hot showers and your car waiting at the take out. No shuttle is required when you're finished canoeing or kayaking with Seminary Canoe Rental. - Back to Top
