Mississippi River Water Trail
Welcome to the Mississippi River Water Trail, a 300 mile water trail on the Upper Mississippi River from Saverton, MO to Cairo, IL
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Water Trail Information & Maps
The Mississippi River water trail does consist of 4 sections.  In addition to the Mississippi River a trail segment will be developed on the lower 80 miles of the Illinois River.

Hard Copy Maps are available of Pools 24, 25, and 26/27 at the Rivers Project Office or National Great Rivers Museum in Alton, IL.  To request by phone please call 636.899.2600 or 618.462.6979.

Pike's Passage (Pool 24):

  • Pike's Passage was chosen as the name of this section of the water trail, since the Mississippi River is bordered on both sides by Pike County, Illinois and Missouri.  Zebulon Pike for which the two counties are named, was a soldier and explorer.  He was the leader of the Pike expedition in 1806 to map out the south and west portions of the Louisiana Purchase. 
  • Pike's Passage (Pool 24) is 27.8 miles long. 
  • The cities of Louisiana and Clarksville sit along the Mississippi River and provide paddlers the best opportunities to access convenience stores, restaurants, lodging, and equipment repairs.
  • There are some structures, such as wing dikes and chevrons, around shorelines or islands, which direct the main flow of water into the channel and/or improve aquatic habitat.
  • Built in 1873, the Louisiana Railroad Swingspan Bridge is 2,150 feet long.
  • Lock and dam 24 provides an average lift of 15 feet.  The Dam is 1,340 feet long with 15 tainter gates and one lock chamber. 

Maps for Pool 24
Saverton to Ashburn
Ashburn to Louisiana
Louisiana to Clarksville
Gosline Crider Island
Pharrs Island to Lock and Dam 24
Ted Shanks


Pinnacle Pass (Pool 25):

  • Pinnacle Pass (Pool 25) is 27.8 miles long.
  • The highest point on the Mississippi River is located in Clarksville, Missouri, and is known as "The Pinnacle".  It sits more than 900' above sea level and has a panoramic view of Pools 24 and 25.
  • In early settlement times salt was produced at salt springs north of Clarksville and transported downstream by canoe to be sold in St. Louis.
  • The City of Clarksville sits along the Mississippi River and provides paddlers the best opportunity to access convenience stores, restaurants, lodging, and equipment repair.
  • Locks and Dam 25 provides an average lift of 15 feet.
  • The Dam is 1,296 feet long with 13 tainter gates, 3 roller gates and one lock chamber.  The first day of operation was May 18, 1939.
  • There are some structures, such as wing dikes and chevrons, around shorelines or islands, which direct the main flow of water into the channel and/or improve aquatic habitat.
  • Mississippi River Flyway hosts approximately 40% of the nation's migratory birds through the spring and fall migrations.

Maps for Pool 25

Clarksville to Rip Rap
Rip Rap to BK Leach


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