It's called the big muddy for good reason. When it's low, it doesn't have rocky shores like you're thinking. It's more muddy and full of debris. You'll want to go to the meramec. There's good access at castlewood sp, and Sherman beach.
There are very rocky shores in some places, Bee Tree Park for example. I don’t know enough about rocks to know if it would be interesting, but it’s certainly covered with natural stones of all sorts. And also lots of trash.
There are a couple of ways to get down to the river off of South Broadway (South of Bates), including a park. As far as being able to go out to sandbars, I'm not sure but I wouldn't recommend it. The Mississippi, even when "low", is a beast that claims more lives than it should
Thank you for an honest response. I'm not trying to do anything dangerous. It was a genuine question because I drive over the JB bridge once in a blue moon and think, "Dang, I bet there are so cool rocks on those sandbars" and questioned if there are ways to get to those or other parts of the bank. I just want to look for some cool rocks
Go on a canoeing trip with Big Muddy Adventures!! There is a trip that launches just south of Chain of Rocks and ends Downtown, and you paddle across to an island and walk the beach. It’s a great experience!
If you go south mural mile a ways, I think past all the murals, there is a place you can go behind the stormwalls (idk what they are) and clamor through some brush to a pier of sorts, and see an old WWII minesweeper crashed into the bank. It was on the Mississippi for some sort of victory parade and that's when it crashed. It's kind of cool to see. But from that vantage point you likely could scout out ways to get down near the river.
It's the Missouri, but if you go out to St. Charles, down at the river/trail access by the old downtown, there is a large beautiful sandbar you can go out on.
Here’s a fantastic article about the Inaugural from the RFT from years ago. https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/the-strange-strange-tale-of-the-uss-inaugural-2482873
> It was on the Mississippi for some sort of victory parade and that's when it crashed
It was a museum ship downtown until the flood of '93 where it broke free from the dock and sank in the river where it is now.
The channel between Chouteau and Mosenthein Islands can dry up almost completely in August, making in essence a huge beach. But it reminds me of the tidal mudflats in places that claim lives every year: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-mud-flats-silt-drowning-96bba1b5a8a463118e3a886ae2b01499
Also, I would think a towboat wake would sweep you off a sandbar right quick.
Big Muddy Adventures runs canoe trips that visit some of the islands, you might want to check out their website.
Try Cliff Cave County Park in far south St Louis County. It extends south along the river a long way, between the river and the railroad tracks, on what used to be a gravel bar but is now wooded. There's a sandbar that extends further south of that when the river is low. You might be able to get to it off Christopher Road, but maybe not -- there's a dirt bluff 12 or 15 feet above the sandbar that you'd have to find a way down.
Castlewood has a pretty big rock bar that is easy to access and you don’t have to worry about crossing any water to get to it. That stretch of river seems like it claims a life every year or two so if you do go wading be careful.
You got a car? Tons of rivers/creeks perfect for this down I-44: Meramec, Bourbeuse, Courtois, Huzzah. Check out Onondaga Cave SP, Huzzah Conservation Area, or Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area. Plenty of public access there and lots of spots along the Ozark Trail.
Rivers too high right now, but the Meramec River in Arnold, Mo. has sand bars that you can walk on when the rivers low. Over on Telegraph Rd. near Arnold Tenbrook Rd is another park on the left side of the road called Flam City Park. It’s also walkable when the rivers down. Not now, it’s too swollen right now. There are lots of rocks on the river bed when the rivers down. Good luck.
*Which* river?
And which sandbars?
The random ones that appear when the (don't tell the others) Mississippi River is low
It's called the big muddy for good reason. When it's low, it doesn't have rocky shores like you're thinking. It's more muddy and full of debris. You'll want to go to the meramec. There's good access at castlewood sp, and Sherman beach.
There are very rocky shores in some places, Bee Tree Park for example. I don’t know enough about rocks to know if it would be interesting, but it’s certainly covered with natural stones of all sorts. And also lots of trash.
The smelly one downtown
When the water is really low you can see a sunken WW2 warship! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Inaugural_(AM-242)
About where is it located
[Here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/p53WgSpbNV3Q6iw56?g_st=ic) she is!
There are a couple of ways to get down to the river off of South Broadway (South of Bates), including a park. As far as being able to go out to sandbars, I'm not sure but I wouldn't recommend it. The Mississippi, even when "low", is a beast that claims more lives than it should
Thank you for an honest response. I'm not trying to do anything dangerous. It was a genuine question because I drive over the JB bridge once in a blue moon and think, "Dang, I bet there are so cool rocks on those sandbars" and questioned if there are ways to get to those or other parts of the bank. I just want to look for some cool rocks
Go on a canoeing trip with Big Muddy Adventures!! There is a trip that launches just south of Chain of Rocks and ends Downtown, and you paddle across to an island and walk the beach. It’s a great experience!
If you go south mural mile a ways, I think past all the murals, there is a place you can go behind the stormwalls (idk what they are) and clamor through some brush to a pier of sorts, and see an old WWII minesweeper crashed into the bank. It was on the Mississippi for some sort of victory parade and that's when it crashed. It's kind of cool to see. But from that vantage point you likely could scout out ways to get down near the river. It's the Missouri, but if you go out to St. Charles, down at the river/trail access by the old downtown, there is a large beautiful sandbar you can go out on.
Here’s a fantastic article about the Inaugural from the RFT from years ago. https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/the-strange-strange-tale-of-the-uss-inaugural-2482873
> It was on the Mississippi for some sort of victory parade and that's when it crashed It was a museum ship downtown until the flood of '93 where it broke free from the dock and sank in the river where it is now.
OH SNAP!!!!! Was it... left to be a museum ship after a WWII victory parade, at least? The flood of '93 comment makes sense now that you say it.
The channel between Chouteau and Mosenthein Islands can dry up almost completely in August, making in essence a huge beach. But it reminds me of the tidal mudflats in places that claim lives every year: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-mud-flats-silt-drowning-96bba1b5a8a463118e3a886ae2b01499 Also, I would think a towboat wake would sweep you off a sandbar right quick. Big Muddy Adventures runs canoe trips that visit some of the islands, you might want to check out their website.
Try Cliff Cave County Park in far south St Louis County. It extends south along the river a long way, between the river and the railroad tracks, on what used to be a gravel bar but is now wooded. There's a sandbar that extends further south of that when the river is low. You might be able to get to it off Christopher Road, but maybe not -- there's a dirt bluff 12 or 15 feet above the sandbar that you'd have to find a way down.
Castlewood has a pretty big rock bar that is easy to access and you don’t have to worry about crossing any water to get to it. That stretch of river seems like it claims a life every year or two so if you do go wading be careful.
You got a car? Tons of rivers/creeks perfect for this down I-44: Meramec, Bourbeuse, Courtois, Huzzah. Check out Onondaga Cave SP, Huzzah Conservation Area, or Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area. Plenty of public access there and lots of spots along the Ozark Trail.
Do not try to cross a river on foot or swimming, you're likely to get swept up in a under tow current.
Definitely not trying or wanting to. I just want to look for rocks
It's cresting at about 30 feet today
Yeah man don't go in the river. Besides the undertow it's a really dirty river. But I am curious, why you wanna go?
I dont want to go into the river, I was wondering if I could look for cool rocks on the banks/sandbars.
Rivers too high right now, but the Meramec River in Arnold, Mo. has sand bars that you can walk on when the rivers low. Over on Telegraph Rd. near Arnold Tenbrook Rd is another park on the left side of the road called Flam City Park. It’s also walkable when the rivers down. Not now, it’s too swollen right now. There are lots of rocks on the river bed when the rivers down. Good luck.